Optics experiments for secondary schools using diode lasers

Abstract

Optics is one of the important topics covered in the physics curriculum of secondary schools. However, it is one of the least appreciated and hardest to teach because of its abstractness, the lack of preparation of teachers, and the lack of teaching materials for the laboratory and lecture components of the subject matter. To make matters worse, most secondary schools do not have enough funds to purchase or construct their own teaching materials for this topic. Thus, the students' comprehension of the topic is very limited.
The study conducted was aimed at addressing the aforementioned problems. Equipment for laser diode-based optics experiments was improvised and laboratory manuals for teachers and for students were written. In addition, the study includes the determination of the appropriateness of the experiments and the usefulness of the manuals developed. This goal was achieved by having the students and the teachers evaluate the manual using specially designed questionnaires.