Bringing STEM to Light - Teaching about Light and Optics (Canvas net)

Offered by Laser Classroom,
Bringing STEM to Light - Teaching about Light and Optics (Canvas net)

Light is a fascinating and familiar topic for children and adults. It’s also rich and complex, which is great if you are teaching a graduate level course in Quantum Mechanics. But how do you lay the foundation for this exciting topic? What do you teach to the youngest would-be scientists? This self-paced, 5 week course is designed for both formal and informal educators who want to teach children ages 6-14 about the science of light and optics.

Starting with a simple kit and some basic activities, we’ll work through understanding the basics of light, color, shadows, reflection and refraction. Each module offers easy to digest science content, application of science process skills, connections to real world technologies and engaging activities designed to build your comfort and confidence with light and optics. Throughout each module, guidance (suggestions) on how to use and create learning experiences for children will be provided through online discussions and other opportunities for self-reflection and sharing. This process will support the completion of a final project.

Note: This course is currently not available.

Related Courses

The Discovery of the Higgs Boson (FutureLearn) FutureLearn
University of Edinburgh

The Discovery of the Higgs Boson (FutureLearn)

Should we be excited about the Higgs boson? Find out more about particle physics and understanding the universe. The discovery of a new fundamental particle at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), CERN is the latest step in a long quest seeking to answer one of physics’ most enduring questions: why do particles have mass? The experiments’ much anticipated success confirms predictions made decades earlier by Peter Higgs and others, and offers a glimpse into a universe of physics beyond the Standard Model.

Self Paced
5-12 Weeks
Philosophy, Science and Religion: Science and Philosophy (Coursera) Coursera
University of Edinburgh

Philosophy, Science and Religion: Science and Philosophy (Coursera)

Philosophy, Science and Religion mark three of the most fundamental modes of thinking about the world and our place in it. Are these modes incompatible? Put another way: is the intellectually responsible thing to do to ‘pick sides’ and identify with one of these approaches at the exclusion of others? Or, are they complementary or mutually supportive? As is typical of questions of such magnitude, the devil is in the details. For example, it is important to work out what is really distinctive about each of these ways of inquiring about the world. In order to gain some clarity here, we’ll be investigating what some of the current leading thinkers in philosophy, science and religion are actually doing.

Aug 3rd 2026
5-12 Weeks
Pensamiento Científico (Coursera) Coursera
Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México

Pensamiento Científico (Coursera)

¿El pensamiento científico es sólo para científicos? Su utilidad va mucho más allá, ayudando a las personas a tomar mejores decisiones todos los días. El objetivo de este curso es fomentar en pensamiento científico en los alumnos para ayudarles a tomar mejores decisiones profesionales, personales y sociales.

Aug 3rd 2026
5-12 Weeks
Digital Badge: Rockets to the Rescue! (Canvas.net) Canvas Network
4-H Youth Development

Digital Badge: Rockets to the Rescue! (Canvas.net)

In October 2014, millions of young people across the nation—like you—will become scientists for the day during the seventh annual 4-H National Youth Science Day (NYSD). NYSD is the premiere national rallying event for 4-H Science year-round programming. It brings together thousands of youth, volunteers and educators from the nation’s 109 land-grant colleges and universities to simultaneously complete the National Science Experiment. The 2014 National Science Experiment, Rockets to the Rescue, provides the opportunity to explore firsthand how aerospace engineering can be used to solve real world challenges—such as food distribution in emergency situations—to make a positive impact in our world.

No sessions available
No Information
Inside Cancer: How Genes Influence Cancer Development (FutureLearn) FutureLearn
University of Bath

Inside Cancer: How Genes Influence Cancer Development (FutureLearn)

Understand how genetics influence the development and spread of cancer, with this free, introductory online course. What is the one thing that all cancers have in common? They begin as mutant or rebel cells! In this course we will explore how changes in cancer genetics and epigenetics enables these cells to grow uncontrollably, by exploiting our blood vessels and immune system along with other systemic changes.

Self Paced
4 Weeks
Science & Cooking: From Haute Cuisine to Soft Matter Science (chemistry) (edX) EdX
HarvardX,Harvard University

Science & Cooking: From Haute Cuisine to Soft Matter Science (chemistry) (edX)

Top chefs and Harvard researchers explore how everyday cooking and haute cuisine can illuminate basic principles in chemistry, physics, and engineering. Learn about food molecules and how chemical reactions can affect food texture and flavor. During each module of this course, chefs reveal the secrets behind some of their most famous culinary creations — often right in their own restaurants. Inspired by such cooking mastery, the Harvard team will then explain the science behind the recipe.

Self Paced
Self-Paced
Introduction to Genetics and Evolution (Coursera) Coursera
Duke University

Introduction to Genetics and Evolution (Coursera)

Introduction to Genetics and Evolution is a college-level class being offered simultaneously to new students at Duke University. The course gives interested people a very basic overview of some principles behind these very fundamental areas of biology. We often hear about new "genome sequences," commercial kits that can tell you about your ancestry (including pre-human) from your DNA or disease predispositions, debates about the truth of evolution, why animals behave the way they do, and how people found "genetic evidence for natural selection." This course provides the basic biology you need to understand all of these issues better, tries to clarify some misconceptions, and tries to prepare students for future, more advanced coursework in Biology (and especially evolutionary genetics). No prior coursework is assumed.

Aug 3rd 2026
5-12 Weeks
Climate Change and Water in Mountains: A Global Concern (Coursera) Coursera
University of Geneva

Climate Change and Water in Mountains: A Global Concern (Coursera)

What is climate change? How are mountain regions affected by the evolution of water resources and their uses? What kind of risks need to be considered? Mountains are recognized as particularly sensitive physical environments where intense and rapid changes have in the past, and may increasingly in the future, place pressure on their resource base.

Aug 10th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Intellectual Humility: Theory (Coursera) Coursera
University of Edinburgh

Intellectual Humility: Theory (Coursera)

Faced with difficult questions people often tend to dismiss and marginalize dissent. Political and moral disagreements can be incredibly polarizing, and sometimes even dangerous. And whether it’s Christian fundamentalism, Islamic extremism, or militant atheism, religious dialogue remains tinted by arrogance, dogma, and ignorance. The world needs more people who are sensitive to reasons both for and against their beliefs, and are willing to consider the possibility that their political, religious and moral beliefs might be mistaken. The world needs more intellectual humility.

Aug 3rd 2026
3 Weeks
Philosophy, Science and Religion: Philosophy and Religion (Coursera) Coursera
University of Edinburgh

Philosophy, Science and Religion: Philosophy and Religion (Coursera)

Philosophy, Science and Religion mark three of the most fundamental modes of thinking about the world and our place in it. Are these modes incompatible? Put another way: is the intellectually responsible thing to do to ‘pick sides’ and identify with one of these approaches at the exclusion of others? Or, are they complementary or mutually supportive? As is typical of questions of such magnitude, the devil is in the details. For example, it is important to work out what is really distinctive about each of these ways of inquiring about the world. In order to gain some clarity here, we’ll be investigating what some of the current leading thinkers in philosophy, science and religion are actually doing.

Aug 17th 2026
5-12 Weeks