Thomas L. O'KumaProfessional Preparation:
Louisiana Tech University, 1967 - 1972, majoring in physics and math
B. S., May, 1971 in physics and mathematics;M. S., November, 1972 in physics
University of Florida, 1972 - 1974, majoring in physics
University of Houston - Clear Lake, 1986 - 1989, taking courses in math and physics
Appointments:
1971 Instructor of Physics at Grambling College, Grambling, Louisiana
1973 - 1974 Instructor of Physics at Santa Fe Community College, Gainesville, Florida
1976 - 1989 Instructor of Physics, Math & Engineering at San Jacinto College North, Houston, Texas
1987 - 1989 Instructor of Physics and Mathematics at San Jacinto College South, Houston, Texas
1988 - present Instructor of Physics at Lee College, Baytown, Texas
1991 - present Lead Teacher in Physical Sciences at Lee College, Baytown, Texas
Publications: (SELECTED)
1. "Wake Hydrodynamics Research", classified document published by DIA for NISC, 1976
6. "Turbulence Research" classified short scientific article, 1975
9. "Preliminary Results on Math Background Test for Students entering College Physics", 1988
10."Conceptual Development of Physics," The Physics Teacher, Vol. 27, No. 7, 570, 10/89. Book Review
11."Topical Conference on Critical Issues in Two-Year College Physics and Astronomy", with H. Nellie Mireles, TYC Physics Teacher Newsletter, Vol. 1, #1, 5-6,'90 & Illinois Physics Teacher, Vol. 5, #2, 9-10,'90
12."Introductory University Physics Project (IUPP) Conference", TYC Physics Teacher Newsletter, Vol, No. 1, 9-10, 1990 and Illinois Physics Teacher, Vol. 5, No. 2, 6- 7, 1990
13."Student Data: What Do We Know; How Do We Get It; and How Do We Use It", Proceedings of the Topical Conference on Critical Issues in Two Year College Physics and Astronomy, 1/91.
15. "Study Guide to Beiser's Physics", Addison-Wesley Pub. Co., 1991.
18. "Laboratory Development at a Two-Year College", Proceedings of Lab Focus 94 Conference, 131-132,1994.
25. "The Joy of Teaching the Physics Laboratory - Guest Editorial", TPT, Vol. 36 (2), 2/98, pg. 69.
"Study Guide to Beiser's Physics", Addison-Wesley Pub. Co., 1991
"Ranking Task Exercises in Physics" with David Maloney and Curtis Hieggelke, Prentice-Hall Pub. Co., 2000.
Activities - (selected):
RESEARCH ENDEAVORS
Teaching introductory physics both lecture and laboratory, 1983-present leading to approximately sixty papers presented at state meetings and seventy presented at national meetings. Student learning of physics concepts at the introductory physics level, 1976-present leading to twenty-two grants and collaboration with several university, two-year college, and high school physicists. "Mathematical Background of Students Entering College Physics" project with Dr. Tom Hudson of University of Houston, 1987-present leading to five papers at state and national meetings.
Workshops developed for high school/college teachers (selected): 1. "Building An Inexpensive Air Track" given at seven meetings both at TSAAPT and CAST, 2. "Air Track Experiments" given at five TSAAPT and CAST meetings, 3. "Smart Pulley Laboratory Experiments" given at three TSAAPT meetings, 5. "Developing Qualitative and Quantitative Reasoning in Physics" given at two TSAAPT meetings, 8. "A New Approach to Teaching Kinematics", given at two TSAAPT meetings, 11. "Introduction to MBL Mechanics Workshop" given at 3 state AAPT meetings, 14. "Digital Video Analysis Workshop", given at 1 TSAAPT meeting, 16. "Introduction to the CBL and TI- 82 Calculator", given at 2 state meetings, 20. "Ranking Tasks", given at 5 national meetings, 31. "Developing Conceptually-Linked, Research-Based Exercises", given at 1 nat. meeting.
GRANTS (SELECTED)
3. "Texas Two-Year College Physics Enhancement Program", NSF, 3/91 - 11/93, - co-principal investigator with Dr. Robert Beck Clark of Texas A&M University.
4. "Pilot Community College Physics Curriculum Development Workshop Project", NSF, 6/91 - 12/93, - co-principal investigator with Dr. Curtis J. Hieggelke of Joliet Junior College.
8. "Lee College Physics Laboratory Project", NSF ILI, 7/92 - 12/94, principal investigator
9. "Southwest Regional Two Year College Physics Faculty Enhancement Program", NSF, 2/93 - 6/94, -co-principal investigator with Dr. Robert Beck Clark of Texas A&M University.
13. "Microcomputer-Based Laboratories (MBL) for Two-Year College Introductory Physics Courses", NSF LLD, 6/93-11/96, co-principal investigator with Dr. Curtis J. Hieggelke of Joliet Junior College.
18. "Two-Year College Physics Workshop Project", NSF, 2/96 - 7/99, co-PI with Dr. Curtis J. Hieggelke of JJC.
19. "Two Year College Physics Faculty Enhancement Program", NSF, 2/96 - 11/98, -co-PI with Dr. Robert Clark.
TALKS/SYMPOSIA (SELECTED)
45. "Using MBL Tools in Introductory Physics at Two-Year Colleges", (invited), AAPT meeting, New Orleans, 1/2-8/93
49. "On Teaching Introductory Physics", (invited), TSAAPT meeting, UT-Pan American, 3/11-13/93
52. "Recent Developments in Introductory Physics Labs", (invited), Pacific Northwest Association of College Physics, Portland, OR, 4/16-17/93 53. "Recent Developments in Introductory Physics Teaching", (invited), Illinois Section AAPT, FermiLab, 4/23-24/93
76. "Using CE/OCS Materials in the Introductory Physics Course", AAPT meeting, Orlando, 1/95.
80. "More MBL Results - Rotational Motion", TSAAPT meeting, SHSU, 3/95. 87. "Maybe Doing Introductory Physics Reform" (Invited Paper), North Carolina AAPT1st meeting, North Carolina State University, 3/29-30/96
99. "Evaluating the Conceptual Survey of Electricity and Magnetism", with David Maloney, Curtis Hieggelke and Alan Van Heuvelen, AAPT meeting, Trinity Univ., 8/3-7/99 and Announcer, Vol. 29 (2), Summer 1999
Affiliations:
Professional Organizations: Member, American Association of Physics Teachers, 1970 - present: Member, Physics at Two-Year Colleges Committee, 1988 - 1992, Vice-President, 1996-1997, President-Elect, 1997-1998, President 1998-1999, Past-President, 1999-2000.
Member, Texas Section of the American Association of Physics Teachers (TSAAPT), 1988 - present: President before Past-President, 1991 - 1992, Past-President, 1990 - 1991, President, 1989 - 1990, President-Elect, 1988 -1989, Member, Executive Council, 1983 - 1997, Chairman, Two-Year College Committee, 1983 - 1987,
Member, American Physical Society, 1974 - present & Texas Section of the APS, 1983-present
Member, Texas Junior College Teachers Association, 1976 - present: