Teaching with Physlets®: Examples From Optics

12th Education and Training in Optics and Photonics Conference, 2014

The "LuNa" (La natura della Luce nella luce della Natura-The nature of Light in the light of Nature) Project is devoted to the experimental teaching of optics in the different school grades. The basic idea of the Project is that the history of optics and the debate about the nature of light are a meaningful example of how science proceeds in the development of a physical model. Moreover optical phenomena can be presented at different levels of complexity in order to be accessible to students of different age. At the core of the Project are several portable setups that support experimental and partially interactive lectures covering all the aspects of optical phenomena, from geometrical optics to single-photon interference passing through atmospheric optics, spectroscopy, holography and theory of perception. When possible, the setups are realized with simple and easy to find materials so as to be reproducible by teachers and students. Of course, for the most complicated setups (interferometers and holography) research materials are used. Each module is calibrated to fit teachers' requirements either to be included in the curricula of their classes or to be used as an expansion of the optics program.

Physics Education, 2012

In order to increase scientific literacy and the knowledge of science and technology of Europe's citizens, the European Commission suggests a more student-centred implementation of natural sciences in education systems. Inquiry-based learning (IBL) is not only an accepted method to promote students' interest and motivation, it also helps students learn the scientific method and fosters their research skills. However, IBL is rarely used in European classrooms. The main reason is that due to the strict curricula teachers do not have the time for preparation and they do not feel well equipped and trained in the use of IBL methods in class. The Photonics Explorer programme addresses these problems on the European level. Within the programme, a pan-European collaboration of professors, teachers and photonics experts have developed the Photonics Explorer kit for the teaching of optics and light-related topics in physics across various European secondary school curricula. It is designed for intra-curricular use and contains specially designed, hands-on experimental components, worksheets based on guided IBL and multimedia material. Additionally, the kit provides a teacher guide with a suggested lesson outline and sufficient background information for each topic.

Geometrical optics is one of the core topics in physics instruction in lower secondary. Numerous learning difficulties and students' conceptions have been identified by Physics Education Research (PER) during the last decades. This knowledge about domain specific learning problems has rarely been used for the rearrangement of instruction. PER shows that conventional instruction is in many cases not able to help students understand basic scientific concepts. In a few research projects learning environments and content structures were empirically evaluated which proved to be significantly more successful than conventional instruction. Or aim was to design and evaluate student material for a research based optics course following the paradigm of Design Based Research.

The Physics Teacher, 2005

1995 International Conference on Education in Optics, 1995

Under the auspices of a joint NSF[DOE grant for science and mathematics, the Electrical Engineering Department of the Engineering School at Western New England College developed a program of instruction in optics and optical applications for local Junior High School students. College level juniors and professors in the electrical engineering department, after the juniors had taken a one semester introductory course in optics and electro-optics, served as instructors in teaching and laboratory instruction in such diverse areas as solar cells/light detection, light sources, simple optics, optical fibers, liquid crystals, and lasers. Concepts such as seismic monitoring, Fourier transforms, power generation, information transfer, and many other applications were explained at level by the college sturients to the junior high school students with great effectiveness. Students at the lower level caught the enthusiasm of those at the upper level and learned with retention. Seven years into the program, the pros and cons are presented, the now-college bound students and their observations are detailed, and the learning experience for all is assessed, with scenarios for alternate programs suggested.

Education and Training in Optics and Photonics, 2003

A set of demonstrations suitable for use in classrooms at the secondary, undergraduate and graduate level, and for public use in museums and science centers were developed to exhibit basic optics principles, vision science, and adaptive optics techniques. This paper will exhibit these demonstrations, and how they can be used to promote understanding of optics principles in a wide range of applicable areas. Demonstrations include units showing image formation, orientation, and scale; a unit showing 3-dimensional ray tracing through optical systems using a scattering medium and laser diodes; a unit allowing users to directly observe the color sensitivity of their eyes; and a demonstration directly demonstrating wavefront errors, image distortion, and a Shack-Hartmann sensor for wavefront measurement. Together, these bring real-world optical principles into the hands-on regime, and demystify optics principles that are difficult to visualize in three dimensions. These demonstrations are currently in use at the Keck Observatory in Hawaii, at Nauticus in Virginia, at the Yerkes Observatory and at Carthage College in Wisconsin, as well as at several middle and high schools in Illinois and Wisconsin. They have also been integrated into a unit in the Hands on Universe program published by the Lawrence Hall of Science.

Studies in Philosophy of Science and Education, 2020

We, as budding researchers, try to present science in the form of comics. We present the theory of optics by Christiaan Huygens and Sir Isaac Newton in a short comic strip. As we know, the Huygens principle explains that each wavefront can be considered to produce new wavelets or waves with the same wavelength as the previous one. A wavelet can be likened to a wave generated by a rock dropped into the water. The Huygens principle can be used to explain the diffraction of light in small slits. When passing through a small gap, the wavefront will create an infinite number of new wavelets so that the waves do not just flow straight, but spread out. By doing so, Huygens discovered his telescope. In this paper, we then illustrate his telescope through a simple comic.

visual.physics.tamu.edu

A comprehensive reform of the first-year physics course for engineering and science majors is proposed. Visual Physics embraces a number of innovations 1 that build upon two decades of pedagogic research in how students learn physics and how best to address their conceptual and problem-solving road-blocks. The reform also offers students the option to integrate instruction in technical writing, for which the laboratory reports are the writing assignments. The lab reports are written in the genre of the short technical report, the most common mode of written communication in all of the engineering and science disciplines.

International Journal of English literature and Social Sciences, 2022

Simulation is an approach used in teaching to enhance students learning especially when the concept being taught is abstract and hands on activity is not possible. However, it serves its purpose only if it is effectively implemented in the real classroom situation. Using a mixed method approach, a study on the effectiveness of simulation in teaching Geometrical Optics in class IX physics was conducted in one of the schools of Bhutan. For the quantitative approach quasi-experimental design was employed involving 70 students (35 experimental, 35 control group) and two physics teachers. Five students from experimental group and two subject teachers were interviewed. The findings of the study revealed that students taught using the simulation approach performed better than those using the conventional method. The finding also revealed that the simulation approach enriched students' attentiveness and self-exploration in learning physics. Some of the recommendations from the study included the need to provide professional training on simulation to teachers, and make adequate ICT facilities available in the schools to support learning through simulation. The study also recommends future researchers to replicate this study in other subjects to find the effectiveness of the approach.

American Journal of Education and Technology

This phenomenological study explored the experiences of pre-service science teachers in using PHET interactive simulations to learn optics. It used a qualitative research approach and involved six participants enrolled in a science education program. Data were collected through observations and semi-structured interviews, and thematic analysis was used to analyze the data. The findings revealed that the participants had an enhanced understanding of optics concepts through PHET simulations and experienced high levels of engagement and interactivity. However, technical difficulties, challenges to internet connectivity, and gadget accessibility were identified. The study concluded that PHET simulations are beneficial in learning optics but need improvements in technical aspects. This implies key contributions to the existing literature on interactive simulations in science education, alignment with constructivist learning theory, and insights into cognitive load effects. In practice, t...

Education Sciences

In this article, we analyze the basis of a proposal that allows teaching the notions of reflection, refraction, interference and diffraction from a unified perspective, using Fermat’s variational principle, recovered by Richard Feynman in his formulation of the paths sum for quantum mechanics. This allows reconsidering the notions of geometrical and physical optics, using the probabilistic and unified model of quantum mechanics by means of mathematical notions that are accessible to high school students.

Journal of Educational Sciences, 2022

The laboratory has an important role in the learning of physics. The experimental characteristics and abstract concepts of physics that cause difficulties in the physics learning process. Tools and materials are limited often used as an problem in the practicum activities. This study aims to develop a learning media of optics visualization based website as an alternative the limited of laboratory tools. This research includes research and development with ADDIE model (Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation and Evaluate). To collect the data, instrument are used to analyze such as a validation questionnaire. The data analysis were used the Aiken,s V formula. Based on the results of the validity test by experts, the optics visualization learning media web-based was declared valid with an average rating of 0.87 on the design aspect, 0.89 on the pedagogic aspect, 0.88 on the content aspect and 0.84 on the technical aspect. Thus the optics visualization learning media web-based d...

Physics …, 2006

This paper introduces a new suite of computer simulations from the Physics Education Technology (PhET) project, identifies features of these educational tools, and demonstrates their utility. We compare the use of PhET simulations to the use of more traditional educational resources ...

SPIE Proceedings, 1995

Under the auspices of a joint NSF[DOE grant for science and mathematics, the Electrical Engineering Department of the Engineering School at Western New England College developed a program of instruction in optics and optical applications for local Junior High School students. College level juniors and professors in the electrical engineering department, after the juniors had taken a one semester introductory course in optics and electro-optics, served as instructors in teaching and laboratory instruction in such diverse areas as solar cells/light detection, light sources, simple optics, optical fibers, liquid crystals, and lasers. Concepts such as seismic monitoring, Fourier transforms, power generation, information transfer, and many other applications were explained at level by the college sturients to the junior high school students with great effectiveness. Students at the lower level caught the enthusiasm of those at the upper level and learned with retention. Seven years into the program, the pros and cons are presented, the now-college bound students and their observations are detailed, and the learning experience for all is assessed, with scenarios for alternate programs suggested.

AIP Conference …, 2008

Research Based Proposal To Learn Optics Better. [AIP Conference Proceedings 992, 205 (2008)]. María C. Menikheim, Guillermo Skop, Antonio Castellano, Liliana I. Perez. Abstract. During many years of teaching Physics at ...