April 10, 2025 Issue #46

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.

Upcoming events

• Aurora Magnetic Fields 2025 April 19, 2025 from 1:00pm - 3:00pm EDT
  This workshop will use aurora and associated data as a way to teach about magnetic fields. The auroral currents in the ionosphere will be modelled as current-carrying wires. We will work with Biot and Savart’s law, with wires with current, and with the right hand rule. Real field data from auroral were obtained from the Magnetic Observatory Network. Facilitator: Francesca Viale (Northern Virginia Community College, VA)

• Textbooks 2025 April 25, 2025 from 3:00pm - 4:00pm EDT
  What does research have to say about what makes an effective textbook? What is the impact of textbook choice on student success?  What factors make it more likely that students will actually use a textbook? In this PER-Interest Group session on textbooks, we’ll begin by reviewing some of what research has shown about textbooks and how they are used. There will also be time for a discussion of textbooks, with the opportunity for participants to share their insights with other TYC faculty.

• The Physics of Climate Change 2025 May 10, 2025 from 12:00pm - 2:00pm EDT
  Climate Change is something that is adversely affecting everyone worldwide, and unfortunately, those who have contributed the least are being affected the most. Join us for this free and virtual event where Climate Scientists from Caribbeans For Climate will guide us on through some critical information on Earth's Climate System and Climate Change followed by a hands-on python tutorial analyzing climate data for current and future-possible climates. 

• Hands-On Quantum: Teaching Core Quantum Concepts with Bloch Cubes June 14, 2025 from 1:00pm - 3:00pm EDT
  Quantum mechanics is an abstract subject, and therefore challenging to teach. To help improve student understanding of quantum concepts, in this workshop, we will discuss how you can use the Bloch Cube, a hands-on educational tool. Bloch cubes can help your students learn key quantum concepts without equations.

• NRAO Info Session 2025 May 2, 2025 from 3:00pm - 4:30pm EDT
  The National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) is more than just astronomy—we have opportunities for those interested in fields like physics, computer science, engineering, data science, and science education. During this session, you'll learn about our student programs, undergraduate curriculum, and citizen science projects. Facilitator: Valarie Bogan (National Radio Astronomy Observatory.) 

Recent events

Learning Assistant Programs - OPTYCs Session by the PER Interest Group (April 04, 2025)

“Have you ever overheard students complaining after a test that it covered material you never presented in class? But you distinctly recall having covered it?” asks Sandra McGuire in her book Teach Students How to Learn (Stylus Publishing, 2015). Both you and your students are correct. The issue is that you, as an expert, subconsciously fill in gaps in content when you present it. Our students, however, don’t realize there are gaps, so need help. Textbooks or other resources can help connect content for students. McGuire urges students to use their textbooks, even if they are not required. However, she also urges instructors to explain to students how to use a textbook. Students may not realize there is a table of contents nor an index, for example. McGuire also outlines a methodical way to actively read a textbook. First, turn headings into questions, and subsequent reading attempts to answer that question. Read the first paragraph, then pause and paraphrase the main point of that paragraph. Read the second paragraph, paraphrase its main point and (this is the crucial step) incorporate the previous paragraph’s main point. For each paragraph, incorporate its main point into the ongoing summary. While this method is slow, it requires the reader to only read the text once and the synthesis of main points helps students remember the material deeply.

• Astronomy in other cultures: Resource guide
• An Ancient Universe AAS publication on how we know the age of the universe, written for the general public
• TEAM UP Scholars: Administered at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The opportunity is open to TYC students across the country, with an application deadline of April 15th. Flyer to share with students. 
• Physics and Astronomy REU at East Texas A & M. The deadline was March 16, but application continues until filled 

• Instructor Workshop: Teaching Near-surface Geophysics to Undergraduates from Intro to Majors

• Instructor Virtual Workshop: Teaching in the field with SfM and RTK-GPS/GNSS

Veritasium: What Everyone Gets Wrong About AI and Learning – Derek Muller Explains

• 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.