OPTYCs SPOTLIGHT 2024 Issue 27

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OPTYCs SPOTLIGHT 2024 Issue 27

April 11, 2024 Issue #27

SPOTLIGHT is the OPTYCs bi-weekly newsletter. It brings you OPTYCs activity updates, highlights from recent publications related to physics education, and news & resources for Two-Year colleges.

OPTYCs News

AIP Survey 2024

Did you know that the American Institute of Physics Statistical Research has surveyed TYCs about physics and astronomy twice in the past (1995-1996 and 2011-2012)? OPTYCs is funding a third survey and it is open to faculty right now! Please check your email for a message from stats@aip-info.org. By taking time to do this survey, you are helping our community to gather current data on our students, our courses, our faculty, and our institutions!

Upcoming events

Parallel Pedagogy 2024 Workshop April 27, 2024 from 12:00pm- 2:00pm EDT
Parallel Pedagogy is a curriculum that introduces core concepts simultaneously, helping students apply physics to different scenarios. This workshop is intended for anyone interested in curricular changes that guide students away from approaching problem-solving as plug-and-chug problems and towards improved applications of physics concepts. Facilitators: Dean Stocker (University of Cincinnati - Blue Ash College) Pete Schwartz (California Polytechnic State University) Jennifer Klay (California Polytechnic State University)
Physics Education Research (PER) outside the R1 Institution May 3, 2024 from 3:00pm - 4:00pm EDT
In this session, we will engage in a community dialogue around how DBER can be conducted and used at institutions such as Two Year Colleges (TYCs) and comprehensive regional universities. In addition, we will discuss our individual, institution, and community goals for work in DBER and how the community can support these goals. Facilitators: Andrew Morrison (Joliet Junior College) and
Mel Sabella (Chicago State University).

Recent OPTYCs events

April 06, 2024: AI In the classroom (workshop)

Kris’ corner

Tips, summaries, and musings from Kris Lui (OPTYCs Director)

Learning does not happen in a vacuum, and if we are to continue learning and improving as teachers, we need support. Jessamyn Neuhaus describes in her book Geeky Pedagogy: A Guide for Intellectuals, Introverts, and Nerds Who Want to Be Effective Teachers that the best way to be more effective at teaching is to have the time and opportunity to observe, discuss, and reflect with other teachers. Find two or three other colleagues to form a teaching circle. Think of the process of observing, discussing, and reflecting together as another academic peer review, with the goal of improvement, and not judgment. Consider a teaching mentor, one whose teaching acumen is known; you may even wish to have mentor(s) outside of your own institution so that there is separation away from possible conflicts of interest. Remember that OPTYCs has a mentoring program that can match you up with a traditional mentor, or can help you find a group of peers to be in your teaching circle.

Teaching Resources

Register for the AAS/APS Interactive Virtual Workshop on Inclusive Teaching! Are you interested in improving your inclusive teaching skills? Join leaders of the Physics & Astronomy Faculty Teaching Institute for a free virtual workshop on inclusive and effective teaching practices on 19 April from 3-5pm ET. This virtual workshop is open to all college and university instructors in the physics and astronomy communities.

Supporting physics programs with collections of knowledge, experience, and proven good practice for responding to challenges and engaging in systematic improvement. https://ep3guide.org/

Guide to Essential Websites For Astro 101 Instructors

An updated, annotated guide to websites that are of particular interest to those who teach introductory astronomy, compiled by educator Andrew Fraknoi, is now available at: http://bit.ly/astro101sites The guide includes descriptions of, and links to, 27 websites that can help a new instructor be more effective at finding free materials, designing effective courses, and providing enrichment materials for students. Some of the resources may even be new to some returning instructors.

Books, Articles, and Media

Science centres inspire scientific literacy and diversity in STEM
(Physics World Podcast)

Frederic Bertley – President and CEO of COSI (Center of Science and Industry) in Columbus, Ohio. Bertley explains how science centres like COSI can boost scientific literacy and talks about the Color of Science initiative, which he founded to highlight and promote diversity in science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics.

Tim Stelzer: A Particle Physicist's Adventures in Physics Education Research

Resources

The American Association of Physics Teachers
Committee on Physics in Two-Year Colleges (AAPT area committee)
Join the TYC Google group: Send an email to tycphysics@googlegroups.com
PhysPort Recommendations about teaching methods, assessment, and results from PER
PER Central A resource collection for physics education researchers
Physics Review Physics Education Research Fully open access journal for PER
arXiv Physics education The arXiv repository for physics education papers
AIP Statistical Research Center Data on education, careers, and diversity in physics, astronomy and other physical sciences

optycs.aapt.org

The work of OPTYCs is supported by NSF-DUE-2212807.