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MCC Daily Tribune Archive

Summer Optics Sizzler


Monroe Community College partnered with Rochester Regional Photonics Cluster (RRPC), and East High to conduct a Summer Optics Sizzler for 11 East High School students.  The sizzler was held at the Applied Technologies Center on June 28 – 30, 2010

The Summer Optics Sizzler was intended to introduce the “Wow” factor about light, optics, and photonics as the students learned the underlying principles and math behind the phenomenon of light. 

After learning about optics with demonstrations by Josh Cobb and Marcelo Guimaraes, the students were divided into four teams, each given a project to research and build, along with expectations to meet.  Each team had an optics professional as a team leader to provide guidance and assistance.

·         Team Spectra - breaking white light in the colors of the spectrum

·         Team Lightbender – constructed a light guide to bend light

·         Team Projection Science – made an LCD projector

·         Team Stereo Vision –created 3D images

The students created PowerPoint presentations and presented their findings to a panel of optics professionals, who offered supportive comments on their findings and presentation skills.  The students also fielded questions from panelists without their team leaders to assist them.  The setting was designed to put them into the professional circumstance of presenting to known and unknown parties where information had to be transmitted effectively.

The students completed an evaluation at the end of the sizzler and everyone agreed that the sizzler should be longer.  They enjoyed the experience, teamwork and making the presentations. They rated the team leaders and the learning experiences a  4.8 out of  5.

According to Tom Battley, RRPC Director, “All I can say is that superlatives fail me.  These kids shattered preconceptions and stereotypes about City High school students for everyone who participated in the Sizzler.  The presentations were professional, articulate and informative, and the students fielded questions with aplomb and composure.” 

According to Paul Conrow, East High technology teacher, “The Summer Optics Sizzler was possibly the best experience for high school students that I have been a part of because the work was challenging, goal-oriented, and relevant, and the students learned how much they could learn in 2 days time.”

In addition to the memories and experiences that the students received, they also went home with a tote bag full of optical goodies including laser points, flash drives, diffraction cards, and career information.

Team Leaders:                                                                   Students:

Joshua Cobb – Corning Tropel                                         Josette Allwood

Paul Conrow – East High School                                     Ariel Barkley

Jim Crittenden – ITTSSD                                                 Ashley Davidow

Marcelo Guimaraes – MCC                                              Carlos Gracia

Jen Kruschwitz - JK Consulting                                       Sterling Jonasse

Jim Vankouwenberg – Optimax Systems                         Daniel Ly

                                                                                          Mary Maddox

Panelists:                                                                           Jeremy Major

Dan Balonek – Lasermax                                                  Brinnette Marrero

Katherine Hasman – ITTSSD                                           James Schuler

Elise Michaels– ITTSSD                                                   Erica Wright

Dianna Phillips – MCC                                                     Seanté Wright

Alexis (Spillman) Vogt – Bausch and Lomb

Sponsors:

Tom Battley – Director RRPC

Dianna Phillips PhD - Dean, MCC Technical Education

Support:

Ross Micali

Debbie Smith

ATC Staff

RRPC Members

Dianna G. Phillips
Dean, Technical Education Division
07/13/2010