Abstract

In our emerging Society of Information, Light and Optics have a crucial importance not only in Science and Technology but also in the widest range of aspects of our every day life. In this communication we will present a project presented to the EC program Socrates action Comenius 3. The project aims the establishment of a network, the OPTICA XXI network, involving eighteen educational institutions from seven European countries and a transnational consortium (CoLoS - Conceptual Learning Of Science). Our activities are focused on the development and promotion at European scale of new positive good practices on teaching optics and optics related technologies at basic and secondary schools by leading the students to an active volunteer and committed participation in the teaching/learning process through practice and experimentation, making intensive use of the new instruments and resources of the Information Society. Text and workbooks with electronic interactive versions will be produced in all languages of the countries involved. Educational hands on kits of experiments with different levels of difficulty, from basic optics to photonics and telecommunications, will be produced and commercialised. Interactive web sites and virtual simulation tools and labs will be established. Two international conferences will be held as well as a number of courses for schoolteachers and contests and activities for school students.

© 2001 Optical Society of America