What is OPTYCs?
TYC faculty face challenges, including isolation (due to small numbers, geographical separation, and high workloads), lack of opportunities for networking and professional development, and a dearth of information students, departments, and programs nationally. OPTYCs aims to mitigate these challenges through our programs.
The Organization for Physics at Two-Year Colleges (OPTYCs) provides professional opportunities for instructors teaching physics-related content in the two-year college (TYC) setting. Whether you teach physics, astronomy, or physical science, OPTYCs is for you!
Our vision is to create a community of practice for physics at TYCs, to provide guidance and benchmarks for faculty growth and development, and to improve the diversity and participation in the STEM workforce through increased student success.
We offer various programs, from continuing professional development workshops, to year-long Leadership Institutes, to multi-year DEI change programs and New Faculty Development Series. We are revising the TYC Physics Program Guidelines; we are sponsoring a comprehensive survey of TYC physics faculty, students, and institutional programs through the American Institute of Physics' Statistical Research Center; and we are providing mechanisms for mentorship and networking.
OPTYCs is a large collaborative project and its foundation is based on community engagement. We will continually expand our community of leaders, workshop facilitators and participants. We envision a growing number of project directors, more leaders incorporated to the OPTYCs team, and a gradual and healthy change of project leadership over the years.
Evaluation Reports
How well is OPTYCs reaching our goals? Find out in our annual reports - the analysis is based on your feedback!
History
As far as we know, the initial idea for the creation of a national overarching TYC organization such as OPTYCs originated decades ago with the influence of the esteemed colleagues Mary Beth Todd Monroe and Curtis J. Hieggelke. During the summer of 2021, approximately 30 TYC physics faculty across the nation volunteered to work on a general sketch of what this organization could look like. A small team wrote a proposal to the NSF, funding was awarded July 1, 2022 and OPTYCs was born. (NSF-DUE-2212807)
The OPTYCs Vision
A future in which TYC physics faculty and students thrive.
- TYC faculty are embraced within and empowered by an inclusive national physics education community, and
- TYC students experience excellent evidence-based physics instruction which prepares them for their future endeavors.
Our Long-Term Goals
The quality of physics education in TYCs is reinvigorated and improved. TYC physics faculty use more evidence-based classroom practices, resulting in direct benefits to students in their classrooms.
TYC physics faculty feel connected to a national TYC community of practice.
TYC physics faculty have the support they need to thrive professionally.
TYC physics is integrated within national physics education in terms of attitudes and structure; TYC and non-TYC physics educators feel that TYC faculty and institutions belong and matter, and physics education research and implementation efforts honor TYCs contributions.
OPTYCs is recognized as the organization and community for TYC physics faculty professional growth and development, supporting sustainability and serving as a national model for other STEM disciplines.
Faculty Interests and Needs: Poll Results
During 2022, an anonymous poll of TYC faculty who teach physics-related classes was done informally to find out what were the most pressing needs and interests of this group of people. As of Dec 1, 2022, there were 146 responses to the poll. We estimate approximately 1800 full-time, and 2000 part-time instructors teaching physics-related classes nationally. Below is a summary of the poll results.
Characteristics of TYC Instructors Teaching Physics-Related Courses
Full-Time/Part-Time Status: The majority of respondents (80.1%) were full-time at a two-year college, and at an institution that defines itself as such.
Teaching Experience: Respondents were spread across a range of years teaching.
Commonly Taught Courses: The most frequently taught courses were calculus-based physics, but the poll reached instructors of a wide variety of physics-related courses. The distribution of the most frequently taught course did not change from before 2020 and after.
Workshop Interests
Of the topics that were provided, the ones of greatest interest were:
- Pedagogical Strategies
- Competency-based Grading
- Research Projects for TYC Students
- Assessment Tools
- Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in TYC Physics
- Coding and Programming in the Physics Classroom
- Interdisciplinary Concepts and Applications
- Teaching Physics Online
There was variation in level of interest in each topic, depending on the number of years of TYC teaching.
Mode of Delivery: Approximately half of the respondents preferred in-person workshops, but virtual synchronous and asynchronous were also popular modes. Conferences may provide a good venue for workshops, given that nearly 60% of respondents attended a conference at least annually.
Assessments and Tools
Respondents indicated a general familiarity with research-validated assessment tools, although many created their own assessments.
Assessments of learning outcomes were often used to inform and adapt teaching strategies.
However, few instructors were aware of or use the Data Explorer tool offered by PhysPort.org.
Physics Education Research & Validated Assessments
Respondents indicated some awareness and/or connection with physics education research.
And that they were possibly interested in expanding their physics education network.
Nearly 80% of respondents were interested in or were already collecting data using research-validated assessment tools. However, interest in publishing data was mixed.
In terms of physics education research and pedagogical currency, the majority of faculty are not part of a thriving community. Especially concerning is the level of isolation for new and part-time faculty members.
Future Directions
A more comprehensive and wider-reaching survey of physics-teaching faculty at two-year colleges will be conducted in collaboration with the American Institute of Physics Statistical Research Center, tentatively scheduled for Spring 2023 (Chairs or Discipline Leads), and Spring 2024 (all faculty). Please participate so we can all learn more about our community!
About Us
OPTYCs has a wide range of talent contributing to its various programs.
The OPTYCs Leadership Team
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Lyle Barbato
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Matthew Cass
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- Coordinator for the Mentoring & Networking Program
- Southwestern Community College, NC
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Miranda Chen Musgrove
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- External Evaluator
- Goshen Education Consulting, IL
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| Abigail Daane |
- Coordinator for the DEI Capacity Building Program
- South Seattle College, WA
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| Dwain Desbien |
- Co-PI; Lead for the New Faculty Development Series, Leadership Institutes, DEI Change Teams Programs, and TYC Physics Program Guidelines
- Estrella Mountain Community College, AZ
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| Karim Diff |
- Coordinator for the PER Interest Group, and AIP-SRC Survey
- Santa Fe College, FL
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| Anthony Escuadro |
- Coordinator for the PER Interest Group, and AIP-SRC Survey
- Harold Washington College, IL
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| Brooke Haag |
- Coordinator for the New Faculty Development Series, and Leadership Institute
- Pathstream, CA
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| Joe Heafner |
- Coordinator for the Continuing Professional Development Workshops, and Tandem Meetings
- Catawba Valley Community College, NC (retired)
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| Rachel Ivie |
- Co-PI; AAPT Liaison & Grants Advisor
- AAPT, MD
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| Kris Lui |
- PI & Director for OPTYCs; Lead for the Mentoring Program, Continuing Professional Development Workshops, Tandem Conferences, DEI Change Teams Programs, and Website Resources
- AAPT, MD
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| David Marasco |
- Coordinator for the Mentoring & Networking Program
- Foothill College, CA
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| Tom O'Kuma |
- Coordinator for the Continuing Professional Development Workshops, Tandem Conferences, and New Faculty Development Series
- Lee College, TX (retired)
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| Sherry Savrda |
- Co-PI; Lead for the PER Interest Group, AIP-SRC Survey, DEI Change Teams Programs, and TYC Physics Program Guidelines
- Seminole College, FL (retired)
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| Krista Wood |
- Coordinator for the New Faculty Development Series, and Leadership Institute
- University of Cincinnati - Blue Ash College, OH
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| Glenda Denicolo |
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| Bob Hilborn |
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| Stephanie Chasteen |
- Former External Evaluator
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| Renee Lathrop |
- Former Coordinator for the Mentoring & Networking Program
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Team photo, taken January 2024 in New Orleans, Louisiana.
It was a dark and stormy evening, with museums and restaurants closing early due to heavy rains and high winds. We had our team meeting over dinner in the hotel bar/restaurant.
Far side of table (L to R): Renee Lathrop, Sherry Savrda, David Marasco, Joe Heafner, Alexis Knaub.
Near side of table (L to R): Dwain Desbien, Karim Diff, Brooke Haag, Anthony Escuadro, Kris Lui.
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Team photo, taken January 2023 in Portland, Oregon.
It was early, and the morning light was glaring in our eyes. The room we were in had floor-to-ceiling windows and a gorgeous view of mountains in the distance.
Back Row (L to R): Glenda Denicolo, Sherry Savrda, Karim Diff, Tom O'Kuma, Brooke Haag, Krista Wood
Front Row (L to R): Renee Lathrop, Kris Lui, Joe Heafner, Dwain Desbien, David Marasco.
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The Advisory Board
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- Eric Baer (Pure and Applied Sciences Chair, Highline College, WA)
- Geraldine Cochrane (Assistant Professor of Professional Practice in the School of Arts and Sciences and the Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rutgers University, NJ)
- Anne J. Cox (Professor of Physics, Eckerd College, FL)
- Alexis Knaub (Project Manager for the Physics and Astronomy STEMM Equity Achievement (SEA) Change project, AAAS/AAPT, MD)
- Todd Leif (Dean of the Division of Science, Math, and Technical Programs, Cloud County Community College, KS - retired)
The Inaugural OPTYCs Luminaries!
We are delighted to announce the 2024 OPTYCs Fellows (aka our Luminaries)! These individuals are recognized for their extensive contributions to the two-year college physics and astronomy community by their commitment to professional development through OPTYCs participation and leadership.
2024 Luminaries
Our Luminaries have the opportunity to share their stories of OPTYCs involvement and impact at a national AAPT meeting, travel and fees paid by OPTYCs.
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Philip Blanco
Lecturer
Grossmont College
El Cajon, CA
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Forouzan Faridian
Associate Professor
Santa Monica College
Santa Monica, CA
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Raeghan Graessle
Associate Professor
Harper College
Palatine, IL
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Brian Lee
Associate Professor & Physics Coordinator
Santa Fe College
Gainesville, FL
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Keith Madden
Associate Professor
Ivy Tech Community College
South Bend, IN
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Angela McClure
Associate Professor
Estrella Mountain Community College
Avondale, AZ
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Anthony Musumba
Associate Professor
Riverside City College
Riverside, CA
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Elizabeth Schoene
Associate Professor
South Seattle College
Seattle, WA
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Dean Stocker
Associate Professor
University of Cincinnati - Blue Ash College
Cincinnati, OH
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Larry Weaver
Professor
Johnson County Community College
Overland Park, KS
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Criteria for Luminary Induction
We look at hours of participation on all of OPTYCs programs, facilitation of workshops and discussions, and volunteerism in the organization.
