Shaping the future of photonics education: integrating simulation-based learning with theoretical instruction

As photonics continues to expand into advanced computing, sensing, and communication applications, educational approaches must evolve to prepare students with both theoretical foundations and practical modeling skills. This paper presents two instructional implementations of photonic device simulations using Ansys Lumerical in distinct educational settings: a high school outreach program and an upper-division undergraduate optics course. In the outreach program, high school students explored photonics concepts through guided, Graphical User Interface-based simulation activities involving ring resonators, diffraction patterns, and microscopy models. Worksheets and instructor-facilitated discussions helped students investigate key parameters and interpret device behavior. In the undergraduate course, students engaged in script-based simulation assignments, building and analyzing models of directional couplers, Mach-Zehnder interferometers, and ring resonators. These tasks emphasized parameter control, spectral analysis, and scripting. Student feedback from both programs indicates that simulation-based instruction enhanced engagement and conceptual understanding. While novice learners benefited from structured scaffolding and visual tools, more advanced students found scripting exercises to be valuable for bridging the gap between theory and applied design. Student feedback also revealed challenges, including the need for clearer onboarding resources. This paper demonstrates how simulation activities can be tailored for diverse learners, ranging from high school students to advanced undergraduates, and provides practical guidance on incorporating simulation tools into photonics education. By tailoring simulation strategies to match the learners’ experience levels, instructors can support both conceptual exploration and technical skill development.