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Externship Summary

RCNGM Leader: Peter Poulos, Engineering Technology Professor
Manchester Community College

Externship: UCONN Photonics Research Center

(Go to this link to find out about the curriculum project)

Lessons Learned:

There were two useful components of this externship. First, was gaining knowledge about the mechanics and use of detectors in optics and related engineering disciplines. Second was the time spent at the Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology (CCAT); developing relationships with the scientists and engineers at that facility with the goal of augmenting MCC’s manufacturing program by using equipment and facilities in place at the East Hartford location. It became clear that what happens at CCAT could significantly improve our programs at the community college.

The most challenging aspect of this externship centered on completing the research and co-authoring a paper on mode-locked and q-switched lasers that was accepted and presented at the SPIE conference held August 2006 in San Diego. Unfortunately, I was unable to attend the conference due to illness.

Impact on Teacher and Student Learning

The implementation of my curriculum plan met all my expectations. Not only did I discuss the RF detection circuit and resonance in a superheterodyne receiver but was able to extend this concept to photon detection with a photomultiplier. Here, the photon enters the instrument and strikes a photocathode. The photoelectric effect tells us an electron will be released from the cathode surface whereby a “chain reaction� or “cascading� of low energy electrons are released until a pulse of current can be detected. It was at this point where I discussed the interdisciplinary nature of engineering and biology as illustrated by the detection process. Our eyes detect light. When all is said and done, the pulse which provides for the detection of the photon is similar to the result of light striking our eyes. When this occurs, the resulting nerve impulse generated stimulates the optic nerve

It was my hope that I would provide motivation for my students to continue their study of engineering. The material was presented in my “Introduction to Engineering� class and was well received. The students in the class are exceptional and I used this lesson to drive home the point that “concepts’ are important to the study of engineering because they provide you the ability to cross disciplines.

Externship Sustainability:

At this point there are no plans for sustaining this kind of externship activity. However, I will discuss with CBIA, Karen Birch and others the opportunity to continue and expand the program. It should be a line item in community college budgets.

I have shared this material with one physics and one engineering faculty member. In January 2007, I will share this material with three additional engineering/computer faculty members.

 


The Regional Center for Next Generation Manufacturing is funded through a grant from the National Science Foundation Advanced Technology Education program. Copyright 2005. All rights reserved.