Maryland MESA Sponsors Hands-on Optics Training

On Nov. 3–4, 2006, APL hosted a “Hands-on Optics” (HOO) workshop for teachers participating in the Mathematics Engineering Science Achievement (MESA) program. Approximately 25 teachers from Maryland middle schools and their “optics volunteers” familiarized themselves with three of six modules of HOO, which is an inquiry-based informal science education program for students who have traditionally been under-represented in the field of optics and photonics.
The program is sponsored by the Optical Society of America, the International Society for Optical Engineering (SPIE) and the National Optical Astronomy Observatory. Participating teachers receive all of the materials they need and are matched with volunteers from the sponsoring organizations.

As part of the Maryland MESA program, teachers and advisors are regularly provided with professional development opportunities, such as workshops and training. According to APL MESA director R. Floyd, of the Human Resources and Services Department, Maryland MESA became involved with the HOO program through its affiliation with MESA USA and now receives support from advisory board member A. Johnson. Johnson is director of the Center for Advanced Studies in Photonics Research at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, and received a National Science Foundation grant to support MESA’s participation in the HOO program. Heparticipated in the November event and had high praise for the workshop, explaining that the teachers he spoke with were very excited about the training and HOO program.

The HOO material is taught to students in informal settings, usually in after-school programs, but can also be used to augment classroom lessons. The six modules cover lessons that include lasers, kaleidoscopes, magnification, polarity, ultraviolet and infrared light, and communicating with light. This is the second consecutive year that Maryland MESA has been involved in the HOO training initiative. “This is a great hands-on opportunity for the students,” says Floyd. “We feel
this program is another avenue to nurture students’ interest in science and technology.”