Content of Photonics Explorer

The Photonics Explorer provides teachers with a class-set of components for hands-on experiments together with an inquiry-based didactic framework.

Components for hands-on experiments

To let students experience the excitement of doing science with their own hands, they need robust, versatile and safe experimental equipment. Each Photonics Explorer kit will therefore contain a class set of the components for hands-on experiments. The provided experimental equipment is sufficient to let a class of up to 30 students work in small groups of 2 to 3 students:

10 aluminium mirrors (7x7 cm)

10 colour filter sets (7x4 cm) including red, green, blue, cyan, magenta and yellow

10 LED modules with red, green and blue LEDs

10 sets of robust plastic lenses with the focal lengths 30 mm, -30 mm, and 150 mm

20 polarisers (7x5 cm)

5 m polymer optical fibre

10 eyesafe Lasers

10 diffraction gratings

10 foils with slit and double slit for optical diffraction experiments

2 sets of diffractive optical elements

Some examples of the equipment in photos:

Didactic framework

In addition to these components, the didactic framework will include 8 educational modules with worksheets, factsheets, and notes for teachers. Three modules feature videos, which are specifically produced to support the suggested lesson outlines.

The didactic framework will help teachers to put the experiments into a meaningful context. It consists of relevant background information for the teacher, worksheets and other tools that make it easier to prepare the lessons and save the teachers time.

This framework will have a modular structure that allows teachers to adapt the material easily to the needs of their students and teaching situation. Each module will discuss a specific topic and cover clearly defined educational targets generally found in national curricula. Modules can be used independently form each other and are designed for about 1 to 4 lessons (à 45 min), depending on the topic.

Teachers will further be supported with a multimedia collection containing photos, posters, and articles. This material will enrich the class room discussion and additionally visualize physical concepts and their application.

Educational modules

The following 8 educational modules are currently prepared for the field tests:

For lower secondary (ca. 12-13)

Light signals – discussing the basic properties of light and its use in telecommunication

Colours – colours as perception and colour blindness; additive and subtractive colour mixing

Lenses and telescopes – refraction and imaging

Eye and vision – comparing the optics, sensing and perception of human vision to digital cameras

For upper secondary (ca. 16-18)

A scientist's job – discussing what scientists and engineers do in their every-day work, as well as the gender-issue in science careers

Making light – comparing light sources, lasers

Diffraction and interference – wave optics, diffraction on slits and gratings, optical spectrometry

Polarisation – the use of polarisation in displays and biology applications

Fast Answers

What is it all about?

The Photonics Explorer program will equip Europe’s secondary schools with up-to-date educational material on topics related to light and its technical use. The Photonics Explorer provides teachers with a class-set of components for hands-on experiments together with an inquiry-based didactic framework. It will be distributed free-of-charge and support teachers to engage, excite and educate students about the fascination of working with light.

What is photonics?

Photonics is the art of making light work for you. Just as electronics has changed the world by turning electrons into our every-day workhorses, photonics has changed our way of living by harnessing photons, small energy-units of light. We use them to carry information around the globe (e.g. for the internet), to generate electric energy, to detect diseases and heal, to cut and weld metal, to measure without touching or simply to read when it's dark outside. From the generation and shaping of light, to the transportation to its destination and its exactly controlled impact, photonics encompasses all aspects of handling electromagnetic radiation.

Why is it needed?

As more as teenagers like to possess and use the latest technological gadgets, as less they seem to be interested in what actually happens behind the user interface. At the same time, our society and everyone individually becomes increasingly dependent on science and technological progress. This raises the questions: Who is going to work on the scientific answers to the challenges we face as a society? How can we motivate young people to engage in the informed discussion about steering the efforts of scientists and the responsible use of technology?

The best place to raise young people’s interest in sciences is at school. Teachers play a key role in encouraging the next generation of scientists and engineers. The Photonics Explorer program therefore aims to support teachers in their efforts to make science an exciting and fun subject, while giving students a clear understanding of physical concepts and showing their relevance to the student’s every-day life.

For whom?

The work in this program is done for school kids. To make them experience the fascination of working with light first-hand, the Photonics Explorer will equip teachers for more engaging and exciting science lessons.

Who are we?

The Photonics Explorer program is teaming up teachers, scientists in pedagogy and experts in photonics to design an intra-curricula educational kit for secondary schools. More than 30 educators from 10 countries volunteer their time and expertise to ensure a high educational value and an easy integration of the material into the regular teaching.

This educational program is actively supported by sponsoring companies from several European countries.

The program is coordinated at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (Belgium) and scientifically evaluated by the Leibniz Institute for Science and Mathematics Education in Kiel (Germany).

How can I get involved?

The Photonics Explorer program builds on the enthusiasm of many volunteers that donate their time and expertise to improve science education in Europe. There are several ways you too can get involved, and each support is appreciated: