Development of a fibre-optic measurement system for teaching an advanced course in optoelectronic components for optical communications

Abstract

This paper presents a system which introduces to students the cutting-edge instruments and tools used to teach an advanced course in optoelectronic components for optical communications. It helps them to understand how to connect the system components in a proper way and configure their parameters in a specialised software environment. Finally, they can read various results graphically and numerically while performing the assigned task. This is an essential advancement since the previous exercises in the field of optoelectronics were mainly old-fashioned and more theory-oriented. The new practice gives students the opportunity to see and feel the subject matter that is being taught, while working on real problems and using modern instruments and software. They get the chance to experience new and sophisticated fibre-optic technologies, with technical support from the laboratory staff, which was not the case in the previous practice. The evaluation showed that the students were generally very satisfied with the modified course, primarily with the practical laboratory exercises. © Manchester University Press.