You are less beautiful than you think!

Hello Everyone!

Many of you may have seen the recent, and popular, Dove commercial called " “Dove Real Beauty Sketches.”  In this video a forensic artist stretches a drawing of a woman as she describes herself to him.  A stranger also describes the woman to the artist.  When the drawings are revealed, the drawing based on the stranger's description is more beautiful than the other based on the person's description.  The message is that "you are more beautiful than you think."  If you haven't seen it yet, you can watch the video here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XpaOjMXyJGk&safe=active

But is this true?  A recent article in Scientific American reviews the psychological research and finds that the opposite appears to be true.  For example, Nicholas Epley of the University of Chicago and Erin Whitchurch of the University of Virginia have demonstrated that we tend to see ourselves as more attractive than we actually are.  Researchers digitally altered images of participants.  These images were either made to be more or less attractive than the real picture.  When asked to select the unaltered image, participants chose the attractive one. 

Read more about this interesting research at:

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=you-are-less-beautiful-than-you-think&WT.mc_id=SA_DD_20130521


Kristin H. Whitlock

Share

Interesting Situation--Change in Teaching Assignments

Hello everyone,

When I was younger, I was idealistic and thought politics did not exist in education.  Yes, I was

delusional and naive.  But I find myself in an interesting situation.

I have been teaching AP Psychology since 1992, the second year of the course's existence.  I have been teaching the course successfully since then and have been an AP reader twice.  As you can imagine, my passion for the subject is quite strong given my involvement with this blog and other activities.

So after making a decision, my school has decided to give the AP program I have created to another teacher.  I still get to teach regular psychology, but the AP numbers have not grown to the satisfaction of the deciders, so AP was given to an English teacher who recently got a doctorate in counseling psych.  As I sit here and write this, I am torn between laughing at the absurdity of the situation and doing something with the rage that I am feeling.  Numbers--that was the sole reason.  Let's give this a try and see what happens was the rationale.  The words arbitrary and capricious come to mind.

So here is my question.  Are there any schools out there looking for AP Psychology teachers?  Preferably California--SF Bay Area to avoid licensing hassles, but I would consider most places.  I still have a job, but am now actively seeking another position where I can teach AP Psych.

Sorry for using this blog for a personal platform, but I just wanted to inquire.  If you would like to see my CV, please email me at psydways@gmail.com.  Thanks for any advice or insight you may have.


posted by Chuck Schallhorn

Share

Child Abuse Ad--Secret Message Only For Children

I was reading through my email today and found this phrase, "Spanish ad has a secret message only kids can see (video)." That took me to the page on Marketplace Radio show (NPR).
http://www.marketplace.org/topics/business/numbers/spanish-ad-has-secret-message-only-kids-can-see-video

The article and video describe the technology that makes adults see one image and kids younger than age ten see a different image.  Powerful material directed at kids who may be abused.


posted by Chuck Schallhorn

Share

Set your DVR's! New "Brain Games"!

Hi All,

The National Geographic Channel has produced new episdoes of the Brain Games.  I've already missed 4 of them!  Here is a teaser from tonight's episode, called "The Power of Persuasion."

"By exposing us to specific stimuli, Jason Silva can prime our brains to respond in certain ways. See how identical twins interview for the same job, in the same clothes, with the same resume. They even give the exact same answers—but the order of the words in their answers is slightly different. The result? One twin comes off negative, and the other gets the job. Would you believe that Texas seceded from the U.S. if a crazy-looking guy told you? Probably not, but what if a news reporter with a microphone did? This episode unveils the subtle tactics that advertisers, marketers and con men can use to get you to do what they want, without you noticing."

There are online games, clips, and information to support each episode.  To find all of these resources, go to:  http://braingames.nationalgeographic.com/

The episodes air on Monday's at 9:00 pm. 

Happy viewing!
Kristin

Share

Videos for AP Psych Content Review

Beginning last year, I have created some review videos for AP Psych students with the assumption that they already learned the material and needed some brushing up or clarifying. My YouTube channel can be found here:  http://www.youtube.com/user/SchallhornAPPsych

My seven newest videos are on psychologists (there are way more than you'd think when you put them in a PPT slide show).  There are nearly 80 psychologists in the AP Psych outline, so each one has a page with a picture and a few key ideas for review.  I hope you and your students find these videos useful.








Here are a couple of my most popular videos from the past year:



























posted by Chuck Schallhorn

Share

AP Psychology Exam - Last Minute Items - 2013

This blog post is a slightly edited version from what Kent has posted in the past.  Just a few minor updates/edits.
===================================================================
With the AP Psychology Exam only a week and a half away, many of us are reaching the end to a long journey that started last fall. Below are some of the "last minute" items I (Kent) tell my students. Note: This listing is basically the same as previous years, with the exception of the guessing adjustment.

General Information:

• Monday May 06, 2013 in the afternoon
• Bring pencils with erasers and blue or black pens
• Bring a watch that does not beep
• Do not wear any psychology related clothing
• Do not bring anything else: books, papers, calculators, cell phones, etc.

Multiple Choice Section:

• 100 multiple choice questions
• 70 minutes
• 2/3 of the overall grade
• A-E Answers
• Names, charts, graphs, drawings are all possible
• There is no 1/4 point adjustment for guessing, if you are not sure about a question, take your best educated guess after using process of elimination

Free Response Section:

• 2 required Free Response (essay) Questions
• 50 minutes
• 1/3 of the overall grade - 1/6 of grade for each question
• Points are given for correct responses not taken away for incorrect material
• Points can only be removed if one part of an answer contradicts another part
• Read through both questions before doing anything else
• Think through the answer before starting to write
• Write an outline or notes in the test question booklet
• Don’t be afraid to cross something out, if needed
• Write in sentences - DO NOT OUTLINE OR BULLET YOUR ANSWER.
• Be as complete as possible, but keep to the point.
• Watch the time. Don’t get caught short on essay #2
• Structure the answer following the structure of the question

Test Security:

• Do not discuss the multiple-choice section with anyone
• Do not discuss the free response questions for 48 hours. The general rule of thumb is wait until the questions have been posted on the College Board website
• Do NOT post, text, email etc. anything about the exam on the Internet, especially on Facebook, Twitter or other social networks
• Do not come and visit me between the multiple choice section and free response section

Please feel free to leave any other ideas in the comments section below. Best of luck to everyone.
=====================================


Updated posted by Chuck Schallhorn

Share

Free on-line HIGH QUALITY Video Lectures

What sets this apart from other free on-line lectures? 

First, the engaging video micro-lectures that reinforce topics taught in a typical AP class. Second, the level of specificity makes it incredibly easy to review a specific topic. Clips are about 5 minutes long, but each topic is clearly labeled so teachers and/or students can easily target attention to a specific area.
 
Third, transcripts are a click away for those who prefer reading. Finally, there are quizzes for each section.

http://education-portal.com/academy/course/ap-psychology.html

Other courses are available, so looking around the site might prove useful for teachers of other topics. The Education Portal is committed to a no cost model of on-line education. 

Please feel free to make a comment about your impressions or post how/if you will use this resource.


Thanks Sara I. for bringing this to my attention.
posted by Nancy Diehl

Share

AP Review, Self-Diagnostics, and Metacognition

When it comes to all my courses, I am a huge fan of students figuring out what they know and what they do not know.  Most of my students come to my class not knowing this meta-cognitive process so I attempt to aid them in learning how to do this.

Some key questions in metacognition in learning are:
(from McTighe and Wiggins [2013] in Essential Questions: Opening Doors to Student Understanding)

1. What do I know and what do I need to know?
2. Where should I start?  When should I change course?  How will I know when I am done?
3. What's working?  What's not?  What adjustments should I make?
4. Is there a more efficient way to do this?  Is there a more effective way to do this?  How should I balance efficiency and effectiveness?
5. How will I know when I am done?
6. What should I do when I get stuck?
7. How can I overcome my fear of making mistakes?
8. What have I learned?  What insights have I gained?
9. How can I improve my performance?
10. What will I do differently next time?

The first part is when we examine, in class, the most missed exam questions from the most recent exam.  I either create a handout or project them onto the screen.  We go over the questions examining:

1. what kind of question it was (definitional, conceptual, application, or analysis)
2. what vocabulary and non-vocabulary words in the stem and options were difficult
3. examining the WHY of the correct answer (often making subtle distinctions between the correct answer and the next most correct answer)

I also offer "test corrections."  This is a process where a student must come in before or after school to examine which questions they missed and fix them.  This is a link to the form I am currently using.  The form asks "why did I miss this question?"

• I did not understand what the question was asking.
• One or more words were new to me.
• I did not have the vocabulary term(s) in my notes
• I did not ask a question about this topic in class.
• Other:   

In reviewing for the Advanced Placement Psych Exam, I give them an outline of the college board's course description (linked here) posted on my web page of documents for teachers of psych and soc.

I give them the outline and ask them to use a notation to identify which concepts and ideas they:

• know well
• kind of know
• say to themselves, "huh?"

We use that as a beginning of a self-diagnostic of whether or not they know the material to use as a guide for their own studying.

I also use the released exams in the same way.  As the students become practiced in this series of steps, their self-reflections become more sophisticated and their understanding of the concepts becomes reinforced.  This also increases the quality of their study habits for those who avail themselves of this option.

We use all these materials as fodder for review when I host the Saturday and Sunday review sessions in my classroom the month leading up to the exam.

posted by Chuck Schallhorn

Share

AP Review Resources--2013 Version

The AP Psychology exam is now less than a month away and by now most of us have gotten to the point of finishing our curriculum and are prepping our students for the upcoming exam.  Below are some resources to help students review on their own.  While updating this list today, I've discovered that some old resources that were excellent are no longer available.  Thanks to Steve Jones for some of these links in previous years.


Videos

AP Psych Review Videos from Chuck Schallhorn
YouTube Channel:  http://www.youtube.com/user/SchallhornAPPsych


Video Review from the UK
http://www.psychexchange.co.uk/videos/



The PsychFiles by Michael Britt-Video Review Series
http://www.thepsychfiles.com/?s=%22ap+psychology%22

Shared by Charleen Gribbon (I had forgotten this one)
http://education-portal.com/academy/course/psychology-101.html


Online and Apps
The Genes to Cognition Website for the Original 3D Brain and Other Great Bio-based Resources
http://www.g2conline.org/

AP Review on Twitter--Steve Jones Link from previous post
http://teachinghighschoolpsychology.blogspot.com/2013/03/the-return-of-ap-psych-review.html

For Brain Review--the 3D Brain App
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/3d-brain/id331399332?mt=8

Brain Tutor 3D--App 
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/brain-tutor-3d/id301362928?mt=8

Apps - 5 Steps to a 5, Brainscape, PsycTest Hero

Vocabulary Sites


Quizlet exam review flash cards - 394 terms, 771 terms, famous psychologists



AP Psych Study Sets--Vocabulary
http://quizlet.com/subject/ap-psychology/



Teacher sites - these have an assortment of various links to review sites.

• Stanley
• Collins
• Donner
• Lazarewicz
• http://home.mindspring.com/~j-squared/apreviewsite/index.html

APPsychology.Com Study Site from a former AP student
http://appsychology.com/HowPass/howpasshome.htm

Course Notes for AP Psych--Most material taken from previous site
http://www.course-notes.org/Psychology

Psychology Review Notes from Intro Psych Classes
http://www.alleydog.com/101notes.php#.UWq5gSusbnw

Online Psychology Intro Course at National Repository of Online Courses
http://www.montereyinstitute.org/courses/Psychology/nroc%20prototype%20files/coursestartc.html


Review Books

• Barron's AP Psychology, 5th Edition (by our own Rob McEntarffer)
• Cracking the AP Psychology Exam, 2013 Edition (College Test Preparation)
• 5 Steps to a 5 AP Psychology, 2012-2013 Edition (5 Steps to a 5 on the Advanced Placement Examinations Series)
• Barron's AP Psychology Flash Cards, 2nd Edition

If you have additional resources and ideas, please add them in the comments.

posted by Chuck Schallhorn

Share

FREE!! Join the world of Massive Open Online Course- MOOCs

Millions of users from around the world have signed up for an ever-expanding menu of courses offered for free from over 70 leading colleges and universities.  Coursera and EdX are the two of the most popular.

Weekly lectures are available in short clips of 10-20 minutes, additional reading is specified, and how much you participate or not is up to you.  There are all kinds of optional supplements for additional learning. The breadth of topics is tremendous with several psychology related classes on offer.

Above is a screen shot of my current status on Coursera. Behavioral economist (most content is directly related to psychology) Dan Ariely teaches the first course, and Scott Plous of the Social Psychology Network, which has fantastic teaching resources, will be teaching Social Psychology.

 Happy free learning!
(This weeks lecture was, in part, about the special case of "free" and how that impacts consumer behavior. Note learning is applied in the title of the post.)

posted by Nancy Diehl

Share