LASER-TEC, Center for Laser and Fiber Optics Education
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Join Us >
      • Academic
      • Industry
    • About
    • Mission and Goals
    • Our Team
    • Our Partners
    • Our NVC Members
    • Contact Us
    • Optics and Photonics College Network (OPCN)
    • Listing of NSF ATE Laser and Photonics Awards
  • Resources
    • Textbooks
    • Lab Kits and Manuals
    • Laser-Photonics Online Courses
    • Educational Modules
    • Lab Tools and Equipment
    • Information and Outreach
    • Career Preparedness Workshops
  • Bootcamps
    • Current Schedule
    • List of Camps >
      • Arduino and Python Coding
      • Arduino I - Visible Light Spectrum
      • Arduino II - Wireless Technologies
      • Arduino III - Game Programming
      • Electronics Maker
  • Students & Parents
    • Find a LASER-TEC College
    • Explore Applications
    • Discover Careers
    • Why Study Lasers & Fiber Optics?
    • Find Out More
  • Educators
    • K-12 Teacher Workshops
    • Laser-Photonics Online Courses
    • Lessons and Course Teaching Materials
    • Optics and Photonics College Network (OPCN)
    • OPCN Newsletter
  • Graduates
    • Our Graduates
    • Graduate Testimonials
    • Career Resources
  • Veterans
  • Industry
    • Recruit Photonics College Grads Ready for Employment
    • Find a LASER-TEC College
    • Laser-Photonics Online Courses
    • Industry Network
  • News & Events
    • News & Events
    • Newsletter Archive
  • Reports
    • Executive Report
    • Evaluation Report
    • NVC - National Visiting Committee
    • Analysis of Incoming Students Report

Information and Outreach


Classroom Posters

Picture

Laser Safety

The laser safety poster identifies the different laser classes, common hazards, safe work practices, common formulas and data used by students when introduced to laser safety.
 
Recommended use
​
STEM, electronics and photonics  technology classes in high schools and colleges 
Picture

Nd:YAG Lasers​

This poster features general definitions, energy levels, advantages, common applications, and technical information specific to Nd:YAG lasers.

Recommended use
STEM, electronics and photonics technology classes in high schools and colleges 
Picture

Helium–Neon Lasers​

This poster features general definitions, energy levels, advantages, common applications, and technical information specific to helium-neon lasers.

Recommended use
STEM, electronics and photonics  technology classes in high schools and colleges 
Picture

Fiber Lasers

This poster features general definitions, energy levels, advantages, common applications, and technical information specific to fiber lasers.

Recommended use
STEM, electronics and photonics technology classes in high schools and colleges 
Picture

​Diode Lasers​

This poster features general definitions, energy levels, advantages, common applications, and technical information specific to diode lasers.

Recommended use
STEM, electronics and photonics  technology classes in high schools and colleges 
Picture

Women in Photonics 

This poster was created to inspire high school girls to pursue photonics, but it can also be used in middle schools and colleges.

Recommended use
middle schools, high schools, colleges 

    Classroom Posters Request Form

    Each poster is available as a high-resolution digital download at no cost to educators. Please complete the form below to submit your request.
Submit

Outreach Materials

Picture

Veterans Brochures

Description
This set of 4 brochures guides active military members and veterans on how to transfer their military training to college credit. 


Available resources
Webpage with links to education benefits and programs in optics and photonics

Recommended use
Veterans’ Affairs personnel, active military, veterans, military family members. 

​

Picture

​​Where do Robotics and Photonics Technicians Work Brochure

Description
This brochure maps industries that hire robotics and photonics technicians; technicians’ common job tasks, titles, and average wages. A useful document to share during outreach events. 


Recommended use
middle school students, high school students, parents, counselors, advisors, teachers, school and college administrators 
Picture

Is your Program 21st Century Ready Flyer

Description
This document explains importance of infusing emerging technologies into college electronics programs and  how LASER-TEC can help. 

Recommended use
Faculty and administrators of college Electronics Engineering Technology or related programs 
Picture

How are Lasers Used Infographic

Description
This brochure shows major applications of lasers and interesting facts about laser technology.

Recommended use
Middle and high school students, parents, teachers, advisors and counselors, members of general public during outreach events. 

Picture

Adult Learners: Upgrading Your Career

Description
​This booklet examines the lives and careers of 10 exemplary photonics technicians.

​These technicians were all educated in two year associate degree programs at U.S. community and technical colleges. After completing high school they chose to go to work in a job requiring low knowledge/skills, or they entered higher education in an unrelated field; frequently in a major that did not prepare them for a career. Through a variety of experiences these adults learned about photonics and decided to return to college and prepare to become photonics (laser/optics) technicians. They discovered that rewarding careers in lasers and optics were available for hands-on learners who complete these college programs. In college they found the technical courses interesting and achievable. When they completed their coursework they had multiple job offers that paid good salaries. They are now employed in interesting, well-paying jobs, with unlimited career opportunities.

Recommended use

advisors, EET faculty, college administrators 
Picture

High School Students: Find a Rewarding Career in Photonics 

Description
​​This booklet examines the lives and careers of 11 exemplary photonics technicians.

These technicians were all educated in two year associate degree programs at U.S. community and technical colleges. While they were still in high school they discovered that rewarding careers in lasers and optics were available for hands-on learners who complete these college programs. In college they found the technical courses interesting and achievable. When they completed their coursework they had multiple job offers that paid good salaries. They are now employed in interesting jobs, with unlimited career opportunities.


Recommended use
high school students, parents, counselors, advisors, teachers, school and college administrators 
Picture

Success Stories in Photonics Careers 

Description
​This booklet features 24 exemplary photonics technicians inducted into the Photonics Alumni Council for Technicians (PACT) in 2016. The PACT  book answers questions about the lives and careers of these technicians who graduated from community and technical colleges throughout the country.

Recommended use
high school students, parents, counselors, advisors, school and college administrators

    Outreach Materials Request Form

    All of the outreach materials above are available as a digital download at no cost to educators. Please complete the form below to submit your request.
Submit

Information for Students and Graduates

Picture

How to make Your First Year on the Job a Success
Advice from Recent Photonics Grads

This booklet offers specific advice from recent photonics graduates on how new graduates can successfully navigate their first year on the job as a photonics technician.

Recommended use
EET students, graduates, and faculty
Picture

How to Search For and Find Your First Job
Advice from Recent Photonics Grads​

This book shares tips from recent photonics graduates on how new graduates can search for and find their first job.

​
Recommended use
EET students, graduates, and faculty

    Information for Students and Graduates Request Form

    The above resources for students and graduates are available as a digital download at no cost to educators. Please complete the form below to submit your request.
Submit

Monographs & White Papers

Picture

The National Skill Standards for Photonics Systems Technicians

Description
​The National Skill Standards for Photonics Systems Technicians are intended to define the basic knowledge and skills of technicians who may work in any specific photonics application, such as fiber-optic communications, manufacturing/materials processing, defense/aerospace, medical equipment, university research labs, energy/environmental, integrated photonics, etc.

Recommended use
Colleges, photonics technician employers

Picture

The National Precision Optics Skill Standards for Technicians – 2nd Edition

Description
This document represents the consensus of a broad cross-section of U.S. employers regarding the technical and workplace skills required of entry-level photonics technicians. It details 7 critical work functions and 8 technical skills, which employers and educators can customize to meet local industry needs. It is designed to give educators and employer advisory committees a solid foundation for generating courses and programs that will enable U.S. two-year colleges (and their feeder high schools) to produce globally competitive workers.

Recommended use
Educators and employers of photonics technicians
Picture

Using Current Photonics Students to Recruit New Students

Description
This monograph proposes a plan and describes a strategy for developing and maintaining strong, effective student recruitment to support program enrollment.

Recommended use
College program recruiters and faculty
Picture

Improving Student Retention in Photonics Technician Education

Description
This monograph presents successful student retention strategies of seasoned photonics faculty members to other faculty members so that they may greatly increase their students’ completion rates.

Recommended use
Photonics faculty members
Picture

Successful Job Placement for Technician Students

Description
This monograph presents successful job placement strategies in seven steps for community college instructors and their technician students based on recommendations from seasoned photonics educators and employers. Appendices include skill standards, career information, sample resume and cover letter, and advice from alumni.

Recommended use
Educators and employers of photonics technicians
Picture

Photonics Program Planning Guide for High Schools (2018)

Description
This guide is for high school administrators, counselors, and/or teachers who are looking for ways to provide their students with opportunities for a bright future in photonics—a fascinating, intellectually challenging, and fast-growing technical area. Photonics includes lasers and fiber optics, as well as all other technologies that use light to enhance the quality of life. Through this document, you will learn in less than 30 minutes what photonics is, the opportunities it offers your students, the requirements for offering this technology in your school, and the assistance you can receive in implementing photonics instruction. As a bonus, the document will describe the steps necessary to enhance your school’s current STEM program or implement a new one.

Recommended use
High school administrators, counselors, teachers
Picture

Photonics Systems Technician Curriculum Guide (2018)

Description
Curriculum guide designed to support implementation and successful teaching of Photonics Systems Technicians program and courses. Contains some information to help colleges plan new PST programs. Provides assistance to faculty who will be developing laboratories and teaching courses in the PST curriculum. Information included to assist faculty in acquiring lab equipment, designing efficient (laser-safe) lab facilities, teaching maintenance/troubleshooting, lab book preparation, and systems integration.

Recommended use

College faculty and adminstrators
Picture

​Career Pathways for STEM Technicians

Description
Career Pathways for STEM Technicians is a book compiled by Dan Hull to offer a practical solution to America’s technician shortage in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields.

Recommended use
High school teachers, college faculty, and administration

    Monographs and White Papers Request Form

    The above monographs and white papers are available for download at no cost to educators. Please complete the form to submit your request
Submit
Picture