This is a comprehensive reference site on optics for educators. It includes biographical data on those who have contributed to the science of optic, concise explanations of the concepts, and a number of interactive Java tutorials. Teacher resources and students activities are also provided.
Type of Material:
Reference
Recommended Uses:
Lecture supplement, homework assignments, and class activities.
Technical Requirements:
Interactive tutorials require Java.
Identify Major Learning Goals:
As a reference site, a large variety of topics in optics are covered. There is extensive coverage of the relationships between light and visual perception, as well as the function and uses of optical instruments.
Target Student Population:
Middle and high school students.
Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:
Prior knowledge of basic wave properties (such as wavelength, frequency, and amplitude) is assumed.
Content Quality
Rating:
Strengths:
The breadth of the coverage is impressive, including many topics (e.g birefringence) that are not commonly found elsewhere. A java interactive demo on this topic is also available. Many other less common interactive demonstrations are also included, such as the focusing in the human eye, color mixing, and color temperature.
Concerns:
The applet that illustrates lens function doesn't always behave properly. It is possible to adjust the surface curvatures so that the lens is clearly diverging (thicker at the edges than at the middle); however, the applet assumings that the lens is converging whenever the left surface is convex.
Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool
Rating:
Strengths:
The site includes a number of student activities and teacher resources to supplement them.
Concerns:
none
Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty
Rating:
Strengths:
The site is well organized and can be browsed either by topic or by material type. Applet controls are very intuitive and mostly work flawlessly (see however, the concerns under content quality).
Concerns:
none
Creative Commons:
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