Materials Developed by the PHOTON Projects (1995-2010) with grants from the National Science Foundation Advanced Technology Education program
THE COMPLETE LIST OF PBL CHALLENGES contains many that were developed with the optics/photonics industry. Problem Based Learning (PBL) is an educational method that engages students in inquiry based “real world” problem solving. The PBL Projects team continues to develop Challenges (multimedia case studies) with optics/photonics companies and research universities. At the same time, we assist teachers and faculty in the implementation of PBL in their own classrooms.
LIGHT – INTRODUCTION TO OPTICS AND PHOTONICS is a 15 chapter algebra/trig based textbook for high school and college students published by Laurin Publishing (Pittsfield, MA) (link)
Laboratory Materials
THE PHOTON2 LAB KIT (PDF)
A complete laboratory kit with industry-quality components and mounts as well as educational optics. The kit is no longer available (although individual items may be purchased from suppliers), but the components are listed here for reference.
TEACHERS’ MANUAL FOR PHOTON2 LAB KIT EXPERIMENT (PDF)
This 100 page manual contains 25 different labs that can be performed using the PHOTON2 Lab Kit. Video demonstrations are available on the NEBHE PBL Projects channel.
ENRICHING MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL MATH WITH OPTICS
These lessons were developed with outreach grants from SPIE, the international society for optics and photonics. Applications of mathematics from middle school through pre-calculus were developed by Judy Donnelly and Matthew Donnelly, Head of the Math Department at St. Bernard School in Montville, CT. Topics vary from geometry (pinhole images) to matrix methods (lens design). Some can be adapted for simple materials.
ONLINE INTRODUCTION TO OPTICS/PHOTONICS COURSE
This online introductory course was developed at Three Rivers Community College (Norwich, CT) around 2000, one of the first online courses of the time and the college’s first fully online lab course. It was revised during the PHOTON2 project to incorporate best practices for distance learning, creating a more student-centered course. Over a dozen years of so it was offered to students from industry, teachers and faculty, and college students, often combining those 3 groups in one class. A very basic course, it assumed only high school algebra and some trigonometry.
EMAIL LISTSERV
The PHOTON email listserv is a virtual community of high school and college educators and industry mentors who answer technical questions on optics and photonics science, applications and careers. Postings can include essential teaching materials, useful web links, and information on programs and grants. To sign up for the listserv, or for more information about it, please contact pblprojects@nebhe.org
