logo 

Fiber Optics Study Guide For

IMSA/FOA Certified Fiber Optic Technician

OSP Banner


Lesson Plan: Introduction To Fiber Optics - Online Course With Certificate of Completion

 
What You Will Learn In This Self-Study Program:
  • What is fiber optics?
  • How is it used in communications?
  • How does a fiber optic link transmit signals?
  • What components are used in fiber optic cable plants?
  • How are fiber optic cables spliced and terminated?
  • How does one test a fiber optic cable plant or network?
  • What is involved in designing a fiber optic network?
  • How are various fiber optic cable plants installed?


Introduction
This lesson is focused on the practical aspects of fiber optics,  the things one needs to know in order to design, install, test and use fiber optic networks. It will explain the variety of the components and technological approaches used and how to choose among them.
It will inform the student of the methods used to install, splice, terminate and test the cable plant

This program has been developed as a cooperative effort of IMSA and FOA. If you have comments or suggestions on how to improve it, please contact us.


How This Self-Study Program Works:

This IMSA/FOA online self-study program will divide the basics of fiber optics into a 10 Lesson Plans corresponding to chapters in the textbook. Each topic will have a brief introduction to the subject, telling you what you should learn from that lesson, and will then send you to the reference materials  (the
printed textbook or online Guide, with some optional videos) to study. Each lesson plan will have online versions of the chapter quizzes for you to test your comprehension. Each quiz is self-grading, providing your with the graded questions, the correct answers for each question you miss and the rationale for the answer.

After you finish each Lesson Plan, you should take the quiz and check your answers, returning to the study materials to find out why you missed any questions.
Each quiz is strictly for you to test your comprehension; it is not reported to your instructor, so don't hesitate to take it several times if needed to ensure your comprehension. When you finish all lessons, you will be well-versed in the basics of fiber optics and ready for your class.


Have Questions? Need Help ?
You have an instructor available. Directions sent to you with the textbook for this course include the email address of your instructor. You can contact them with any questions you have about this course.


Get Your Certificate of Completion
When you finish all the lessons in this self-study program, you will be directed to take a final exam that will also test your comprehension and will give you an IMSA/FOA Certificate of Completion which is a prerequisite for taking the classroom course. You will have 3 tries to pass the final exam. Your results will be sent to your instructor to verify your completion of the course in preparation for the classroom course with its extensive hands-on labs.

More details on getting the IMSA/FOA Fiber Optic Certificate of Completion are in the last lesson.

Reference Materials:

You will take this Fiber U Online course using these reference materials - the FOA Reference Guide to Fiber Optics or the 
  FOA Online Reference Guide website. Some lessons will also offer optional videos you can watch instead. All cover the same basic material, so you can choose depending on how you like to study best.


Textbook:  FOA Reference Guide to Fiber Optics
textbook or the FOA Online Guide.

IMSA/FOA Fiber Optics textbook



Online:
  Lessons will provide links to the same material on the 
FOA Online Reference Guide website if you do not have your textbook available.


Video: Some lessons may also provide optional references from the FOA YouTube Videos.  
 


Lennie Lightwave
 Let's get started!


Lesson Plan:
Read the materials linked on each lesson plan and take the quiz to check your comprehension.

Lesson 1: Introduction, The Basic Overview Of Fiber Optics, Standards, Safety  
Lesson 2: Fiber Optic Jargon - The Language of Fiber Optics     
Lesson 3: Fiber Optic Communications   
Lesson 4: Fiber Optic Transmission Systems and Components   
Lesson 5: Optical Fiber    
Lesson 6: Fiber Optic Cables  
Lesson 7: Splicing and Termination  
Lesson 8: Fiber Optic Testing  
Lesson 9: Fiber Optic Network Design  
Les son 10: Fiber Optic Network Installation 


How To Get Your Certificate of Completion For This Course 




This information is provided by The Fiber Optic Association Inc. for those interested in teaching, designing, manufacturing, selling, installing or using fiber optic communications systems or networks. It is intended to be used as an overview and/or basic guidelines and in no way should be considered to be complete or comprehensive. These guidelines are strictly the opinion of the FOA and the reader is expected to use them as a basis for learning, as a reference and for creating their own documentation, project specifications, etc. Those working with fiber optics in the classroom, laboratory or field should follow all safety rules carefully. The FOA assumes no liability for the use of any of this material.




 


(C)2023, The Fiber Optic Association, Inc.