Green activities to interest high school students in electro-optics

摘要

Engineering and science technicians are urgently needed in photonics (lasers and electrooptics). Twenty-eight post secondary institutions offer education for technicians in this field; however their enrollments are low because there are not sufficient efforts to attract high school students through interesting, relevant activities in science and technology classes. This paper describes three activities, using light-emitting diodes, which have been developed by faculty in the Electro-Optics Program at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. These "green energy" related topics are provided in "hands-on" activities for nearby high school students and teachers. They have successfully generated interest by the students to enroll in photonics after high school graduation