Pushing the boundaries of hands-on optics experiments with interactive digital simulation

Abstract Practical work in optics is essential to understand complex abstract phenomena. Consequently, hands-on experiments are part of most physics’ curricula, despite the fact that they can be hard to set up and maintain. In this article, we present a virtual laboratory tool, called SHIRE, which a...

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Main Authors: Vincent Casamayou, Bruno Bousquet, Justin Dillmann, Nathan Salin, Jean-Paul Guillet, Lionel Canioni, Martin Hachet
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Springer 2025-08-01
Series:Discover Education
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1007/s44217-025-00718-w
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author Vincent Casamayou
Bruno Bousquet
Justin Dillmann
Nathan Salin
Jean-Paul Guillet
Lionel Canioni
Martin Hachet
author_facet Vincent Casamayou
Bruno Bousquet
Justin Dillmann
Nathan Salin
Jean-Paul Guillet
Lionel Canioni
Martin Hachet
author_sort Vincent Casamayou
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Practical work in optics is essential to understand complex abstract phenomena. Consequently, hands-on experiments are part of most physics’ curricula, despite the fact that they can be hard to set up and maintain. In this article, we present a virtual laboratory tool, called SHIRE, which allows students to carry out optical experiments from a desktop computer. SHIRE’s optic simulation is self-adaptive so that it allows the user to set up any optical assembly from scratch. The software includes pedagogical contents that facilitates autonomous work, and it also allows synchronous and asynchronous collaborative work. After a description of how this tool works, we present some examples of use as well as the opinions of the first users. We believe that this new digital tool can help transform current teaching practices in the teaching/learning of optics.
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spelling doaj-art-a3eb2486a4f64761bcf960804b4fb26c2025-08-20T03:42:52ZengSpringerDiscover Education2731-55252025-08-014111810.1007/s44217-025-00718-wPushing the boundaries of hands-on optics experiments with interactive digital simulationVincent Casamayou0Bruno Bousquet1Justin Dillmann2Nathan Salin3Jean-Paul Guillet4Lionel Canioni5Martin Hachet6Université de Bordeaux - CNRS -Bordeaux INP - LaBRI UMR5800Université de Bordeaux - Mesures Physiques - IUT BordeauxUniversité de Bordeaux - CNRS -Bordeaux INP - LaBRI UMR5800Université de Bordeaux - CNRS -Bordeaux INP - LaBRI UMR5800Université de Bordeaux- Génie Électronique et Informatique Industrielle - IUT Bordeaux - IMS UMR CNRS 5218Université de BordeauxUniversité de Bordeaux - CNRS -Bordeaux INP - LaBRI UMR5800Abstract Practical work in optics is essential to understand complex abstract phenomena. Consequently, hands-on experiments are part of most physics’ curricula, despite the fact that they can be hard to set up and maintain. In this article, we present a virtual laboratory tool, called SHIRE, which allows students to carry out optical experiments from a desktop computer. SHIRE’s optic simulation is self-adaptive so that it allows the user to set up any optical assembly from scratch. The software includes pedagogical contents that facilitates autonomous work, and it also allows synchronous and asynchronous collaborative work. After a description of how this tool works, we present some examples of use as well as the opinions of the first users. We believe that this new digital tool can help transform current teaching practices in the teaching/learning of optics.https://doi.org/10.1007/s44217-025-00718-wOpticsEducationPractical experimentsSimulation
spellingShingle Vincent Casamayou
Bruno Bousquet
Justin Dillmann
Nathan Salin
Jean-Paul Guillet
Lionel Canioni
Martin Hachet
Pushing the boundaries of hands-on optics experiments with interactive digital simulation
Discover Education
Optics
Education
Practical experiments
Simulation
title Pushing the boundaries of hands-on optics experiments with interactive digital simulation
title_full Pushing the boundaries of hands-on optics experiments with interactive digital simulation
title_fullStr Pushing the boundaries of hands-on optics experiments with interactive digital simulation
title_full_unstemmed Pushing the boundaries of hands-on optics experiments with interactive digital simulation
title_short Pushing the boundaries of hands-on optics experiments with interactive digital simulation
title_sort pushing the boundaries of hands on optics experiments with interactive digital simulation
topic Optics
Education
Practical experiments
Simulation
url https://doi.org/10.1007/s44217-025-00718-w
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