INTRODUCTION TO PHOTONICS

An Online Continuing Education Course for Educators

Registration and Scholarship Forms Click Here

What is Photonics? Photonics is the practical application of light and optics. It is an enabling technology that integrates lasers, optics and electronics to develop applications in industries such as telecommunications, information technology, entertainment and displays, lighting, consumer products, precision manufacturing, biology and medicine, environmental sensing, homeland security and defense, astronomy and aerospace, and research.

What is this continuing education course about? In this eight-week online course you will learn about the science and technology of photonics through reading, problem solving, hands-on activities and discussion with your peers. The overarching theme of the course is “How can I teach optics/photonics to my own students with the resources I have at hand?”

What background do I need to succeed in this course? The course is taught at an algebra/trig level and some knowledge of physics (energy, power) is helpful but not required. The course includes online tutorials for most of the math and physics topics we cover, and is designed for high school and community college educators from both science and technology instructional areas.

What is the expected time commitment?  In the past, students have reported spending 4-6 hours per week on the course, depending on previous knowledge of optics/photonics. The course will have three 2-week optics/photonics units plus a “get acquainted” week and a summary week.

Is this course self-paced? No, it is not. Although you can work at your convenience, you will be expected to log into the course several times per week, and to engage in timely discussions with class members. The course will be presented on WebCT Vista through the Three Rivers Community College.

Can I earn CEUs for this course? Yes, CEUs are available for successful completion of the course. A processing fee is required for CEUs.

What is the cost of the course? The course tuition is $250. If you don't have the supplies for the hands-on activities (see below) you can purchase an Optics Discovery Kit from Edmund Optics for about $20. The CEU processing fee is $20.

Is financial aid available? Yes, scholarships funded by a grant from SPIE are available from the New England Board of Higher Education. Scholarships are awarded after successful completion of the course.

OK, what do you mean by successful completion? A successful online student will engage in the hands-on activities, collaborate with other students and apply the material in a practical way. For this course, we mean the successful student will

1. post a thoughtful comment, question or response to both the technical and implementation discussion threads each week.
2. complete the three unit quizzes with a passing grade
3. submit a short description of how you will implement the material of the course in your classroom

Additional information will be provided on the course web site.