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The most common problems of students attending courses of optoelectronics are discussed in the presented paper. On the basis of these problems, three computer programs for the computer-aided education (CAE) in optoelectronics have been developed to support the student's understanding of complex phenomena. 'Gaussian Beam' serves for simulations and computations in paraxial optics, 'Optical Fiber' is used for visualization of the electromagnetic field distribution in an optical fiber, and 'General Dielectric Waveguide' performs the full-wave finite-element analysis of arbitrary longitudinally homogenous waveguiding structures. All the programs have been designed for Windows'95 with the emphasis on unified user's managing. Index Terms - Computer-aided education, fiber optics, optical waveguides, paraxial optics.

Abstract - Photonics is becoming an increasingly important area of study for those involved in applications typically considered within the domain of electrical engineering. This report describes how the conventional undergraduate electrical engineering curriculum can accommodate, and be enriched by, an infusion of optical-related subjects., Electical engineering graduates with qualifications needed by the photonics industry can be produced by enriching the electrical engineering curriculum. Basic and elective courses on Photonics should be included in university and college curricula since Photonics is significant to the electrical engineering and not merely an applied technology which can be rendered obsolete in time. Photonics is applicable to several important areas such as computers, communications and circuits among others.

This paper describes a set of experiments in optoelectronics for first-year engineering students. This laboratory experience is comprised of five inexpensive and transportable modules that provide a hands-on introduction to optoelectronics, these modules include different types of emitters, light-emitting diode (LED) colors, optical voice link, total internal reflection, and waveguiding. Designed by a senior electrical engineering student, these modules appeal to students with various learning styles. Two hundred eight-five first-year engineering students at Bucknell University and the University of San Diego have performed these experiments. Student response to the laboratories has been enthusiastic with 80% of the students rating the lab as very good or excellent overall. Further assessment of the experiments by the instructor and the students is also discussed. Index Terms--Freshmen, laboratory, learning styles, optoelectronics.