In their 11th-grade Physics class, students immersed themselves in the fascinating world of optics under the guidance of teachers Ivar Moreno and Juan Carlos Mejía. Beyond learning about light rays and the physical laws that govern us, this unit aimed to achieve something deeper: to connect theory with reality. How do we see? Why do we see this way? And how can the human eye be deceived?
Throughout the unit, students explored fundamental concepts of light physics—from its dual nature as both wave and particle to its properties of reflection, refraction, and absorption. They learned how images are formed in mirrors and lenses, how the human eye functions, and what happens when something goes wrong with our vision. The theoretical foundation was robust, ranging from the basic principles of geometric optics to more advanced topics like the refractive index and Snell’s Law.
But the most valuable aspect of the project was how this knowledge moved beyond paper into hands-on applications. Students experimented with concave and convex lenses, observed optical illusions, and analyzed how different conditions can affect vision. This approach embodies the concept of Deeper Learning, aiming to ensure that knowledge acquired in the classroom can be applied to real-life situations.
As a final exercise, students worked in groups to design and build an object that simulates an optical illusion, applying everything they had learned during the unit. This culminating activity allowed them to test their creativity, technical skills, and understanding of optics in a collaborative and challenging project. The result was an immersive educational experience, where students not only understood the physical world but also learned how to approach it with curiosity, analysis, and creativity—with every refracted ray and every distorted image.