K-12 Educational Investigation Using Glucose Sensors

Graduate #88
Discipline: Science and Mathematics Education
Subcategory: Education

Julaunica Tigner - Tuskegee University

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The aim of this study is to increase the K-12 students’ interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) by conducting an engaging hands-on activity that discusses STEM concepts through a pre-college teaching module. The topic of this teaching module was glucose sensors for diabetes management. First, the topics of sensors, diabetes and glucose sensing were introduced. They were shown pictures of current research being conducted to develop devices used for the detection of glucose that were non-invasive in comparison with the current technology being used today to monitor glucose levels. Then, K-12 students acted as investigators whose objective was to identify the sick patient by testing two glucose solutions with glucose concentrations representing healthy and unhealthy patients. The K-12 students conducted their hands-on investigation using commercially available Relion® glucose sensors and glucose testing strips. The results suggested that the activity increased the K-12 students’ interest in science, engineering, chemical engineering, and knowledge on the topics related to sensors, diabetes, and glucose for the 192 students who participated in the activity.

K-12 Educational-ERN.docx

Funder Acknowledgement(s): The National Science Foundation is gratefully acknowledged for an IGERT: Nanomedicine Fellowship (DGE0965843)

Faculty Advisor: Tamara Floyd-Smith, tfloyd@mytu.tuskegee.edu