PHOTON Projects Curriculum Materials
Problem Based Learning Challenges in Photonics (PBL Projects page) Problem Based Learning (PBL) is an educational method that engages students in
The complete list of PBL Challenges
(link)
Contains many that were developed with the optics/photonics industry.
THE LIGHT-INTRODUCTION TO OPTICS AND PHOTONICS TEXTBOOK
(link)
At the same time, we assist teachers and faculty in the implementation of PBL in their own classrooms.
Lab 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.
Teacher’s Manual for PHOTON2 Lab Kit Experiments (PDF)
This
Explorations In Optics (PDF)
The PHOTON Explorations are adapted from the favorite demonstrations and activities of PHOTON projects participants. This booklet illustrates how to quickly and inexpensively demonstrate various optics concepts. It describes 16 hands-on classroom activities and demonstrations that can be adapted for middle school through college level courses. Video demonstrations are available. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLmsD3juPTCb7TVywRUyiGkOhZv_0FfDjJ
Dumpster Optics http://lasertechonline.org/lasertechonline/Dumpster_Optics.html
This is a set of eight classroom lessons based in part on the Explorations in Optics. The lessons use only commonly found equipment and they have been field tested with 4th through 8th grade students. Each lesson consists of a PowerPoint presentation with illlustrated instructions for students (some animated), an observation/data page for students and complete instructions for teachers, including what can go wrong and what to do if there’s a problem. The lessons have been translated into Spanish by graduate students at the Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León in Mexico.
Enriching Math with Optics http://lasertechonline.org/lasertechonline/Math_and_Optics.html
These lessons were developed with outreach grants from SPIE, [ www.spie.org] 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).
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
