Experiences of Teaching and Learning of Physics and Astronomy Courses at Community Colleges: Challenges and Opportunities in Fully Online, Hybrid, and In-Person Methods

A significant number of students in community colleges may be nontraditional, in addition to being first-generation college students. Affordability and commute can play vital roles in students' decision to take courses at community colleges. Since COVID-19, fully online and hybrid courses have become more popular at community colleges. In this presentation, I will also share my experiences and data on the similarities and differences between three teaching modes (in-person, fully online, and hybrid) for physics and astronomy courses, in terms of (i) student satisfaction with learning, (ii) student perceptions of these teaching modes, and (iii) student success in the courses. Although my findings are based on limited data, the initial analysis showed that self-motivated, hardworking students benefit most from any teaching approach. However, students from low-income groups may face some challenges in fully online and hybrid classes due to the digital divide and work schedules. I will also discuss student retention rates in the class and compare student success in terms of course grade, considering factors such as class attendance and assessment completion. The challenges faced by the instructor in each teaching mode are also different. At the end of my presentation, I will compare my results and conclusions with available data-driven scientific publications.