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The Organization for Physics at Two-Year Colleges

Kris Lui, OPTYCs Director & PI

Chesapeake Section AAPT Meeting

21-Oct-2023

This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 2212807. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.

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What is OPTYCs?

The Organization for Physics at Two-Year Colleges

  • NSF grant (#2212807): July 1, 2022 – June 30, 2026
  • $3 million to create and sustain a national community
    • In-person travel
    • Participant stipends for projects
    • Honoraria for facilitators
  • Administered under AAPT
  • 4 co-PIs + 9 Program Coordinators
  • 5 Advisory Board Members & External Evaluation Team

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TYC faculty are embraced within and empowered by an inclusive national physics community.

TYC students experience excellent evidence-based physics instruction which prepares them for their future endeavours.

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Our Programs & Deliverables

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  1. Continuing Professional Development Workshops
  2. PER Translation & Facilitation
  3. Mentoring & Networking
  4. New Faculty Development Series
  5. Leadership Institute
  6. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Capacity-Building Program

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  1. Tandem Meetings
  2. TYC Program Guidelines
  3. AIP Survey
  4. Digital Library & Archive

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Goal: Community and programs are sustained beyond grant

https://OPTYCs.aapt.org

Deliverables

Cohort Programs

On-going

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Highlights from Year 1: Events

  • 30 professional development workshops
  • 8 PER journal club discussions
  • TYC Tandem Meeting (Sacramento, CA)
    • “Meeting-in-a meeting”
    • 77 participants
    • 9 workshops
    • 35 posters

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Highlights from Year 1: Products

  • Website was created (https://OPTYCs.aapt.org)
    • Continue to expand and update
  • AIP SRC Survey Part 1: TYC Physics Programs (Spring 2023)
    • Part 2: TYC Physics & Astronomy faculty (Spring 2024)
  • TYC Physics Program Guidelines revision team has researched and collated best practices
    • Organizing and writing in Year 2

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Highlights from Year 1: Programs

  • Mentoring & Networking (traditional and mutual mentoring)
    • 5 groups were formed
  • New Faculty Development Series cohort 1:
    • 16-month program for those in their first 6 years of TYC teaching
    • 19 new faculty, 4 alumni leaders, 4 program coordinators
    • April-May: Virtual journal discussions
    • June: 3-day Immersion conference (Omaha, NE)
    • Now: Implementation phase with mentoring

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Highlights from Year 1: Feedback

Professional

Development

Networking

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Highlights from Year 1: Feedback

“A nationwide effort like OPTYCs is long overdue.”

“OPTYCs is making me feel like a valued professional instead of a leftover.”

“I didn't realize how much I'd needed this.”

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Year 2: Broaden & Deepen Participation

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https://OPTYCs.aapt.org

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Year 2: Mentorship & Networking Program

Reduce Isolation & Improve Networking

    • Traditional Mentoring
    • Horizontal Mentoring (3-5 peers all seeking and providing guidance)
    • Affinity Groups (time-limited focus on project or topic)

Get involved

    • Sign up on the website https://OPTYCs.aapt.org
    • Reach out to us with request for a specific focus

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Year 2: Leadership Institute

12-month training program on effecting change

  • Virtual discussions and sessions for mentoring
  • In-person training (AAPT Winter Meeting, New Orleans)
  • Inspired by Project Kaleidoscope

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2013 Cohort

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Year 2: DEI Capacity-Building Program

Immersive 2-year cohort-based change series

2024 Jan 6-7

Immersion Retreat (New Orleans, AAPT Winter Meeting)

2024

Implementation Phase (virtual supports)

2025 Jan

Dissemination and Leadership Training (Location TBD)

2025

Dissemination to Community (virtual supports)

2026 Jan

Closing Virtual Gathering

Spots are still available!

https://OPTYCs.aapt.org

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Upcoming Events – Register Today!

Workshops & PER discussions are virtual, free, and open to all

  • Physics for Life Sciences:
    • PER Sharing Session (27-Oct, 3pm-4pm ET)
    • Physics Activities Workshop (4-Nov 12pm-3pm ET)
  • The Physics Teacher:
    • How to publish an article in TPT (28-Oct 12pm-2pm ET)
    • How to write for the AstroNotes column (3-Nov 5pm-6pm ET)
  • Introductory Labs:
    • Alternatives to Lab Reports Sharing Session (17-Nov 3pm-4pm ET)
    • PER Results about Labs (1-Dec 4pm-5pm ET)

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https://OPTYCs.aapt.org

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You do not need to be TYC to participate

Website

https://OPTYCs.aapt.org

YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@optycs5337

Newsletter

https://optycs.aapt.org/

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KLui@aapt.org | OPTYCs@aapt.org

Kris Lui – The Organization for Physics at Two-Year Colleges