An innovative context-based module to introduce students to the optical properties of materials

A context-based module to introduce secondary school students to the study of the optical properties of materials and geometric optics is presented. The module implements an innovative teaching approach in which the behaviour of the chosen application, in this article, the optical fibre, is iteratively explored and modelled by means of a combination of hands-on experiments and computer simulation. Focus on design aspects provides the students with the opportunity to further deepen their knowledge of the physics principles at the basis of the optical fibre functioning. Examples of hands-on and computer activities are described in detail, together with some emblematic results of students’ achievements. The reported evidence suggests that context-based proposals exploiting the proposed approach have the potential to improve the teaching of some ‘traditional’ physics content as well as of more advanced topics.