Scientific and Technological Education in Photonics

美国工业中光子技术人员的严重短缺可以通过有效的副学士学位课程部分弥补。作为一名成功的光子技术人员所需的知识和技能可以通过副学士学位获得，公司通常更喜欢两年制大学的毕业生。但是，为了应对培养合格光子技术人员的挑战，社区和技术学院需要更多最新的教育材料和训练有素的教师。他们还需要一个更大的高中毕业生谁拥有良好的学术技能，谁，通过接触光子学通过衔接，倾向于并准备进入为期两年的光子学课程。光子学科学和技术教育（STEP II）项目正在提高社区和技术学院培养更多合格光子学技术人员的能力。该项目通过以下方式实现这一目标：（1）开发最新的光子学课程材料（包括新材料和通过NSF资助的STEP I项目制作的材料的更新版本，光子学基础;（2）在社区和技术学院推广，传播和促进项目材料的使用;和（3）演示如何衔接技术课程，从九年级开始，一直持续到学士学位，通过从高中到高中的过渡，提高光子学副学士学位的价值-此外，我们亦会继续提供副学士学位以外的教育选择。除课程材料外，该项目正在制作一些辅助项目，包括作为今后课程和评估编制指南的《国家技术人员光子学技能标准》（1995年）的更新和重新配置版本;新的或更新的分组课程框架;在线补充材料;两年制中学后光子学学生数学补习指南;以及一个课程规划指南，描述了实施两年制中学后光子学课程或将光子学课程融入现有技术课程所需的后勤步骤。该项目正在两年制学院和技术学校传播和促进项目材料的使用，并为新教员提供专业发展（有些通过网络提供）。预计，由于该项目的传播工作，到2003/2004学年，将有20至30所社区和技术学院使用STEP教材。

The critical shortage of photonics technicians in U.S. industry can be remedied, in part, through effective associate degree programs. The knowledge and skills needed to succeed as a photonics technician are obtainable via associate degrees, and companies often prefer graduates of two-year colleges. But, to meet the challenge of producing qualified photonics technicians, community and technical colleges need more up-to-date educational materials and well-trained faculty. They also need a larger pool of high school graduates who have good academic skills and who, through exposure to photonics via articulation, are inclined and prepared to enter two-year programs in photonics. The Scientific and Technological Education in Photonics (STEP II) project is enhancing the ability of community and technical colleges to produce larger numbers of qualified photonics technicians. The project is addressing that goal through (1) development of up-to-date photonics curriculum materials (including both new materials and an updated version of the materials produced through the NSF-funded STEP I project, Fundamentals of Photonics; (2) promotion, dissemination, and facilitation of the use of project materials at community and technical colleges; and (3) demonstration of how articulated technical curricula, beginning in the ninth grade and continuing through the baccalaureate degree, enhance the value of associate degrees in photonics by making the transition from high school to two-year colleges seamless and by providing options for education beyond the associate degree level. In addition to curriculum materials, the project is producing a number of supporting items, including an updated and reconfigured version of the National Photonics Skills Standard for Technicians (1995), which serves as a guide for future curriculum and assessment development; new or updated clustered curriculum frameworks; online supplements; a math remediation guide for two-year post-secondary photonics students; and a curriculum planning guide describing the logistical steps necessary to implement a two-yearpost-secondary photonics program or to infuse photonics courses into existing technical programs. The project is disseminating and facilitating the use of project materials at two-year colleges and technical schools and providing professional development (some delivered via the web) for new faculty members. It is anticipated that, as a result of the project's dissemination efforts, 20 to 30 community and technical colleges will be using STEP materials as of the 2003/2004 school year.