Integrating undergraduate research into the electro-optics and laser engineering technology program at Indiana University of Pennsylvania

Abstract

Bringing research into an undergraduate curriculum is a proven and powerful practice with many educational benefits to students and the professional rewards to faculty mentors. In recent years, undergraduate research has gained national prominence as an effective problem-based learning strategy. Developing and sustaining a vibrant undergraduate research program of high quality and productivity is an outstanding example of the problem-based learning. To foster student understanding of the content learned in the classroom and nurture enduring problem-solving and criticalthinking abilities, we have created a collaborative learning environment by building research into the Electro-Optics curriculum for the first-and second-year students. The teaching methodology is described and examples of the research projects are given. Such a research-integrated curriculum effectively enhances student learning and critical thinking skills, and strengthens the research culture for the first-and second-year students.

Project-Based Learning Case in Photonics Engineering Course: Implementation of a Spectrophotometer

“…In this new paradigm, students must look for the practical solution of a specific problem, for which they must use their skills both in their theoretical knowledge and in finding technological solutions to the specific application they face. The fundamental idea of this paradigm is to endow the student with a certain autonomy when it comes to focusing on the solution of the problem, fostering both his/her technical/technological ability and critical thinking in the interpretation of the obtained results [5], [6].…”