This is not an exhaustive list of resources related to teaching physics at two-year colleges. If you regularly use a resource and wish to share, please let us know: OPTYCs @ AAPT.org.
TYC physics Google group
Request to be added to this email group by sending a message to TYCphysics @ Googlegroups . com. The two-year college physics and astronomy community uses this group to communicate opportunities and ask questions. It is maintained by volunteers, and grew out of the American Association of Physics Teachers (now retired) list-serv. We, at OPTYCs, send out regular messages about our events, programs, and opportunities through this group.
Get the latest on OPTYCs events! Spotlight also features some teaching tips, helpful publications, and data about the TYC physics community.
Repository for physics and astronomy education resources.
Supporting and Advancing Geoscience Education at Two-Year Colleges (SAGE 2YC) was a change-agent program to infuse effective instructional practices in the geosciences. Many resources are relevant for any STEM class.
Particularly helpful are various peer-reviewed studies that support recommendations, and instructor checklists which provide summaries of different aspects of good teaching.
A flexible curriculum designed to help students critically examine scientific fields and take action for equity, inclusion and justice.
Includes a collection of instructor resources (plus a handy section on Student Resources), evidence-based instruments to assess teaching, learning, and student attitudes.
To support undergraduate (mostly four-year) physics programs, from APS and in collaboration with AAPT, from student retention, improving department climate, and skill-building.
Provides resources to implement the framework for universal design with the goal of developing expert learners.
We share resources that provide guidance on effective pedagogy.
The Science of Learning Physics, by Jose P. Mestre and Jennifer L. Docktor, describes specific strategies you can use in your classes to support student learning. They provide examples as well as references to the research that underpins their recommendations.
From the jacket: “This book offers a collection of practical, research-based strategies for designing and teaching courses as well as assessing students’ learning”. This was published in 2016 by Richard M. Felder , professor emeritus of chemical engineering at North Carolina State University, and Rebecca Brent, president of Education Designs, Inc. a North Carolina consulting firm. The book was reviewed in Education in Chemistry and in Physics Today.
Traditional demonstrations often do not convey to students the phenomena that we intend for them to notice. However, interactive lecture demonstrations (ILDs) are a way to engage students' conceptual understanding and research supports their efficacy in improving student understanding. Sokoloff and Thornton have created a wide series of ILDs for introductory physics classes. They have recently created at-home ILDs and are distributing these freely.
In this tab, find useful tools for your teaching. These may be physical, virtual, or skills-based tools.
The NEXUS Project has created an online textbook for physics courses geared towards students who are majoring in life sciences.
Also, check out the Living Physics Portal, which is a repository of physics activities related to life sciences.
Using the MARVLs interface, Michelle McColgan and Jason Morphew developed a phone app to help students visualize physics phenomena in 3D. Difficult concepts, such as electric fields, may be better grasped with manipulation in all three dimensions. This tool requires the use of their cube (which can be printed on paper and folded) that acts as a guide for the app. The app is available from Apple and Google.
This free app, developed by educator Rebecca Vieyra and developer Christian Vieyra, enables students to use their phones as sensors. Depending on the phone model, different sensors are available. The app includes games to help users explore different physics phenomena. The app can be used for a wide variety of measurements, such as at amusement parks, for planetary transits, acoustics, pressure, and magnetism.
E&M Field Visualizations/Simulations
Here are some resources we have found to help support students. Some are high level classroom changes that an instructor can make, others are inclusive lessons, and some can be shared directly with students.
This report surveys a broad range of literature on models of undergraduate research opportunities offered to students in STEM disciplines. It also makes a series of recommendations to improve the current state of affairs. The book can be read online or downloaded for free here. Ebook versions can also be purchased.
Findings include evidence of important connections with faculty at 2-year colleges, such as positive engagement with them inside the classroom, as well as during office hours and general advising. NB: The article may be accessed through institutional subscriptions.
Video recording of a forum hosted by The Chronicle of Higher Education (2022-Feb-22).
The Underrepresentation Curriculum: This free resource includes adaptable lessons that employ scientific skills to examine the field of science itself.
CAST.org: Designer of the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) framework. They have a wide variety of tips to help all learners in the Tips and Free Resources part of the website.
Types of Learning Disabilities: Here, learn about some common learning disabilities. The Learning Disabilities Association of America has a variety of resources for students and educators at all levels.
Teaching Students with ADHD: While this guide is more for K-12, the sections "Teaching Strategies for Students with ADHD" and "How Do You Motivate Students with ADHD" are both relevant at the college level.
From the American Physical Society (APS), this guidebook helps students explore their strengths and skills, build their networks, and investigate effective interview practices.
Click here to access the guidebook.
A short instructional video from YouTube about dimensional analysis.
IVETs are a freely available, web-based product that guide students through interactive video clips towards expert-like approaches in solving physics problems. IVETs involve branching multiple-choice questions to keep students engaged, and feedback and hints are provided for each incorrect and correct response, much like one would provide during office hours. Over 30 tutorials are currently available, covering most chapters taught within a two semester introductory physics course, and all can be distributed to students using web links or embedding them directly into your LMS.
Click here to access these tutorials.
Resources from the Carl Weiman Science Education Initiative (University of British Columbia). Includes videos on how to study, advice seniors give to first-year students, and various links on how to learn effectively.
Click here to access this resource.
Here are some resources for those teaching astronomy.
This PDF is a list of useful websites for introductory astronomy courses. It includes links to free online textbooks, videos, labs, and apps. There are also links to simulations, online-teaching guides, and suggestions for new instructors.
Click here to access the list.
This program provides: (i) Informational webinars for TYC instructors; (ii) curated materials for introductory astronomy courses; (iii) one-on-one matching between instructor and subject matter expert; and (iv) community of practice for those teaching astronomy and earth & space sciences at TYCs.
Click here to access the Network.
This site, developed by Václav Černík, includes manipulatable animations to help students visualize Earth and space systems.
Click here to see the app on the phases of the Moon.
This is a site created to provide resources for educators to incorporate Indigenous Astronomy Knowledges into the classroom. It is recommended that you begin with the Educator Guide.
Click here to visit Astrodigenous' Educator Guide.
This non-profit organization has a wide variety of resources for educators at all levels and in a range of contexts and environments.
In this section, we provide some information that is relevant to two-year or community colleges in general, such as data on national trends, and comparisons with other types of institutions.
Tracking Transfer: Community College and Four-Year Institutional Effectiveness in Broadening Bachelor’s Degree Attainment
In a two-part report, the Community College Research Center analyzed data from the National Student Clearinghouse to track the transfer and degree completion rates, and present disaggregated data along with recommendations for both community colleges and four-year institutions.
The Value of Community Colleges: Recent Students' Motivations and Outcomes
In this report (2023-Sep), by the Strada Education Foundation, researchers analyzed data from 1139 people who had attended a community college in the past 10 years. Findings show that people take courses at a community college for a variety of reasons (not only for degree attainment), and the valuable skills that these alumni gained. The report also shows that students do not necessarily perceive value for their investment, although this differs by level learning of skills and whether their salaries are above or below $48,000.
Read the report here.
Breaking the Stigma around Community College: an astro[sound] bite
Two astrophysicists, Kiersten Boley, NSF Graduate Research Fellow and Ph.D. candidate at The Ohio State University, and Sabrina Berger, Ph.D. student at the University of Melbourne, share their experiences starting their college education in a community college. Kiersten Boley attended Georgia Highlands College and Sabrina Berger attended Diablo Valley College.
Click here to listen to Part 1 and Part 2.
Community College Transfers To Four-Year Colleges Tumbled Almost 8% Last Fall
This Forbes Magazine article reviews data included in the Transfer and Progress: Fall 2022 Report from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center (NSCRC).
