Workshops

Learning Outcomes:
This course will enable you to:

1. Present information considering audience and location.
2. Use artificial intelligence (AI) prompts and didactic tools to alter an activity to maximize engagement for their audience.
3. Recognize when a presentation is “over the heads” of a prospective audience.
4. Learn how to “speak simply.”
5. State the important factors that are required for effective presentations to varying audience
6. Teach others the approaches learned in the workshop

Key topics include:

• Applying the CDIO methodology to develop experiential learning modules that bridge classical computer with quantum computer concepts.
• Incorporating industry-relevant competencies, such as innovation, leadership, and sustainability, into technological engineering training.
• Strategies for designing curriculum that addresses real-world challenges and equips students for professional success in modern quantum industries.
• The session will feature case studies, including a successful quantum awareness program at South East Technological University, which linked classical computing principles with quantum applications. Participants will engage in collaborative activities to co-design modules tailored to industry and academic needs.
• This workshop is ideal for educators, researchers, and curriculum developers seeking to align educational practices in electronics and quantum-based computers with the evolving demands of technology and industry. Participants will gain actionable insights into enhancing student competencies and preparing them for cutting-edge advancements in the field.

Learning Outcomes:
This workshop aligns with ETOP 2025’s themes by focusing on education and training strategies that integrate classical optoelectronics with emerging quantum applications, preparing students for future challenges in photonics and quantum technologies. Participants will explore innovative pedagogical approaches, curriculum design, and hands-on strategies to enhance learning outcomes in engineering education.
 
By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:

A. Strengthen Pedagogical Strategies for Teaching New Technological Concepts
Analyze and apply innovative teaching methodologies that enhance student engagement in classical electronics and quantum education.
Design and implement active learning strategies, such as project-based and inquiry-driven learning, to improve conceptual understanding.
Develop interdisciplinary teaching modules that integrate electronics subjects and quantum science within existing curricula.

B. Bridge Classical and Quantum Principles in Education
Evaluate key differences between classical and quantum principles and integrate these concepts effectively into educational frameworks.
Define the milestone for designing course content that transitions students from classical electronics principles to quantum applications, reinforcing foundational knowledge.
Introduce experimental and computational approaches that illustrate the transition from classical to quantum principles in a hands-on manner.

C. Align Education and Training with Industry and Research Needs
Identify essential competencies required for students entering photonics and quantum-related industries.
Incorporate industry-aligned skills into curricula, including problem-solving, critical thinking, and technical expertise in quantum applications.
Explore accreditation and certification frameworks that validate student proficiency in optics, photonics, and quantum technologies.

D. Develop Evaluation Techniques for Educational Purposes
Implement feedback-driven evaluation methods to enhance learning outcomes and student performance.
Utilize data-driven initial approaches to assess the effectiveness of innovative teaching strategies.

E. Foster Collaboration and Outreach in Quantum Education
Engage in discussions on interdisciplinary collaboration between educators, researchers, and industry professionals to advance quantum technologies education.
Develop strategies for outreach education in electronics-based photonics, targeting diverse student populations and promoting inclusivity in STEM fields.

Explore funding and partnership opportunities to support curriculum innovation and research in quantum education.

Can students learn content material, structured problem solving and teamwork all at the same time? Problem Based Learning (PBL) is designed to do just that by engaging students in authentic real-world problems while supporting their problem-solving skills. Developed for use in medical education in the 1970s, PBL is a student-centered approach to teaching and learning. Studies show that PBL leads to deeper learning and better retention of material.
In this workshop, participants will learn more about PBL and the PBL Projects’ “Challenges” (case studies) that have been developed with industry and research universities, the majority in optics/photonics.
Participants will take the part of a student and solve a PBL Challenge from an MIT semiconductor fab, developed in partnership with FUTUR-IC. In the process they will learn how to enhance students’ content knowledge, critical thinking skills, and ability to work in teams. Participants should bring laptops or another means of accessing the PBL website.

This workshop introduces participants to innovative methods for integrating sustainability into STEM education through hands-on photonics experiments. Using a structured and experiential learning activity centered on the “Rainbow Peephole” experiment, attendees will explore the intersections of engineering, sustainability, and societal impact. Participants will assume diverse technical roles to balance sustainability priorities in designing photonics-based solutions, fostering skills like perspective-taking, systems thinking, and professional negotiation.
The workshop will explain the symmetrical structure to design, emphasizing the application of photonics in sustainability and including discussions on integrating transversal skills into higher education curricula. Attendees will be equipped with tools and methods to inspire sustainable innovation in their teaching and learning environments.

femtoPro is an interactive, virtual-reality (VR) femtosecond laser laboratory simulator for teaching and training of linear and nonlinear optics. In femtoPro, users follow step-by-step tutorials and learn how to set up and operate laser experiments in an eye-safe manner. The completion of practical tasks and compliance with laser safety rules are automatically checked, enabling users to efficiently learn the correct and safe handling of laser beams and to acquire the technical skills necessary to work in optics and photonics research or industry. The simulation is based on physical models for the calculation and visualization of Gaussian beam propagation, ultrashort optical pulses, their modulation through optical elements, and nonlinear optical effects. femtoPro includes a full practical lab course on how to construct, align and operate optical experiments such as telescopes, optical delay lines, and interferometers as well as setups for ultrashort pulse characterization. The software is available as a free download for Meta Quest and Pico standalone VR headsets.

The software can also be tried out at the ETOP exhibition. For more information, please visit the femtoPro website: https://www.femtopro.com

Learning Outcomes:
This workshop will give you an overview of the contents of femtoPro. In addition to technical details such as the installation and usage of the software, you will gain an impression of how the software can be implemented in practical teaching and training.

The package-level convergence of photonics and integrated photonics with microelectronics, is opening up new opportunities not only for more resource-efficient (low power, low material consumption) systems in datacom, wireless, sensing/imaging and AI applications; it is also suggesting new impact potential in the consumption of resources and mitigation of waste for high volume manufacturing and product end-of-life recovery. In this game-based learning education tool, learners practice the analytical process of Life Cycle Thinking, to better identify the opportunities for electronic-photonic convergence to impact both the performance and the manufacturing of advanced technology systems

Learning Outcomes:

• Describe and map the semiconductor manufacturing supply chain
• Infer the presence and impact role of photonics manufacturing within the semiconductor manufacturing supply chain
• Describe Life Cycle Thinking
• Estimate the scale of resources consumed and waste generated in high volume manufacturing processes

Introduction to XR in Education

• Brief overview of XR technologies: Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), and Mixed Reality.
• Context and relevance for Optics and Photonics education.

Hands-on Demonstrations

• VR Clean room Training
  Explore a fully immersive virtual clean room environment to simulate laboratory preparation and Scanning Electron Microscope image acquisition.
• AR Companion App for Optics Labs
  Experience interactive AR tools to complement lab experiments and visualize complex optical concepts.
• DIY Tool set for Remote-Controllable Experimental Setups
  Learn how to create and use remote-controlled experiments to support hybrid and distance learning.
• Game-Based VR App for Laser Alignment
  Engage with a gamified VR tool designed to teach and practice precise laser alignment skills in a virtual setting.

Interactive Session

• Open discussion on applying XR tools in educational settings.
• Sharing ideas, addressing challenges, and exploring solutions with fellow participants.

Conclusion and Feedback

• Wrap-up of key takeaways and collection of participant feedback to guide future improvements
  

Learning Outcomes:

• Participants will get an overview on state-of-the-art XR Learning resources.
• Participants will learn how to implement special XR tools into their own curricula.
• Participants will experience the positive effects of XR tools from the perspective of a learner.

Learning Outcomes:

• Experience the challenges faced by individuals from diverse backgrounds in STEM through an interactive role-playing exercise.
• Identify common barriers that prevent equal participation in STEM outreach initiatives.
• Learn evidence-based strategies to design outreach activities that are more inclusive and impactful.

Develop an action plan to implement inclusive practices in their own outreach efforts.