Teaching (and learning) optics using interactive simulations: the JavaOptics course

We present an educational resource based in an optical software package for undergraduate students. It consists in a web based textbook with several applets for illustrating the theory and simplify the teaching tasks in the classroom. These programs are also used as a method for self-learning in an on-line environment. Applets are written in Java language using the Java Network Launching Protocol (JNLP) for avoiding problems related with the use...