nanoHUB-U: A science gateway ventures into structured online education

nanoHUB.org is arguably the largest online nanotechnology user facility in the world. From an initial user base of about 1,000 users, nanoHUB has grown to support over 250,000 users annually. nanoHUB supports users in 172 countries with materials for research and education, along with a wide variety of simulation tools covering many nano-related areas. Preliminary assessments of user behavior patterns have shown that nanoHUB´s open access approach enables published resources to be integrated directly into classrooms. However, there is an increasing demand for pedagogically sound, workforce-ready, advanced courses that allow users to gain depth in topical areas related to nanotechnology. This paper explores an initial case study where an evolving cyber environment, based on the powerful HUBzero platform, begins to offer structured online courses to its massive audience through an experiment known as nanoHUB-U. This paper describes the impetus for this new offering and discusses how new and cutting-edge content formats are being combined with online simulations in significant ways. Further, it explores in-depth the outcomes related to one of the most popular courses offered to date.