Webinar on the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning!

This post is shamelessly stolen from the APA/TOPSS email all members received from Chair Mike Hamilton yesterday. 

Next Tuesday, December 1, 2015, at 7:30 PM ET, The American Psychological Association and  TOPSS is pleased that Regan Gurung, PhD, of the University of Wisconsin–Green Bay will be presenting a free webinar for TOPSS members: “Cultivate Learning: Capitalizing on the Science of Learning.” A description of the webinar is provided below; the hour-long event will include time for questions and answers. To watch the webinar, please visit this site. The webinar will be posted online after the live event. We hope you will be able to join us next Tuesday!

Cultivating Learning: Capitalizing on the Science of Learning 

Regan Gurung, PhD, University of Wisconsin–Green Bay

What is the best way to conceptualize what we do as teachers? What are some evidence-based strategies to foster learning? This talk will answer these questions and more, providing a variety of key research findings relating to what works in the classroom (and what does not). Packed with pragmatic strategies teachers can implement immediately, the presentation will raise some thought-provoking questions about what learning should look like.

Dr. Gurung received a BA in psychology at Carleton College and a master’s and PhD in social and personality psychology at the University of Washington. He teaches various courses in health psychology, research methods and culture development and health. He is a past-president of the Society for the Teaching of Psychology (APA’s Division 2) and a dedicated teacher with strong interests in enhancing student learning and faculty development.

This webinar has been made possible through a grant from the American Psychological Foundation, thanks to a generous gift from Lee Gurel, PhD.

I recently saw a version of this talk at the EPIC conference held at UW- Green Bay in October and IT. WAS. PHENOMENONAL. I've very excited to see what else Dr. Gurung has to share and for all of you to join in! I took home immediate and very helpful resources to bring to my classes, and you will, too.

A very happy, healthy, and grateful Thanksgiving wish to all the THSP readers from my house to yours! 

- Posted by Amy Ramponi 

Easy YouTube Videos - Bypass Publishing "Difficult Topics Explained"

Teaching AP Psychology on a semester block requires some innovation and quick activities. Imagine my delight when I found this set of videos online this morning! At a few minutes running time each for difficult topics - this is perfect for any psychology, AP Psychology, or IB Psychology review!

Important and difficult topics explained - schedules of reinforcement, action potentials, Weber's Law - yes, please!  Thank you very much Bypass Publishing!

Find the YouTube Channel here:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNZmfkb77hSCUe4TiZ4vpJw

Thoughts from NCSS New Orleans

Last weekend, I had the great luxury to attend the National Council of the Social Studies (NCSS) conference in New Orleans. It was great to reconnect with old friends, make some new ones, and to get some seriously good professional development in. I asked attendees to give me a few comments on their experiences, and here's what I got. 

"I liked how so many presentations dealt with real world issues, and showed how they linked back to psych (instead of focusing on a psych topic and how to teach it.) 

"The entire weekend was amazing! One thing I want to try is actually from your session (Amy Ramponi) with Jen Schlicht and Allison Shaver, Talk Tuesdays, I believe you called them. My students struggles with developing good questions, this sounds like just the thing!" 

"It was awesome to attend the first session Friday morning on teaching AP Psychology. I also feel a bit like it is {AP Psychology} set up like a vocabulary course. As the only AP Psych teacher I know (maybe the only one in Maine?) it was nice to talk with others who are teaching it and I loved the ideas from the presenter (Sean Tischler). Super effort by everyone! Thank you! 

"Don't teach kids psychology, DO PSYCHOLOGY."

"You can learn about psych in lots of places (like the THSP blog!) and the things you learn about psych at NCSS are fantastic. But the best thing about the conference is the chance to develop personal relationships with other psych teachers. It is helpful (and wonderful) when these new colleagues' names come up on the Psych Community Facebook page or with the #psychat tag on Twitter. NCSS always leaves me feeling energized and connected. 

"I liked how all presenters mentioned doing projects or activities that were very open-ended and unencumbered by rubrics and exemplars. This is such a great way to encourage students to explore something of interest to their lives.

Thank you to the NCSS leadership committee, NCSS, New Orleans, LA and everyone who attended for enriching the experience. Next year, plan on attending in Washington DC, if you can! Also, if you're looking for the presentations and links keep your eye on the NCSS Psychology Community web page for the links from the presentations to go up. If you're not a member, consider joining. The fee is a ridiciously tiny $30 for a lifetime membership. (Wha?) Membership information is included on the website linked above. 

My two-cents about the NCSS conference? An engaging & passionate group of psych teachers putting some seriously thought-provoking and good stuff out there. And I'm set for pens and pencils free from the Exhibition Hall for at least 20 years. 

---Posted by Amy Ramponi, who has almost caught up on her sleep  

Webcasts and Online Modules from APA/TOPSS

The fabulous folks at TOPSS/APA have done it again! They are making webcasts and online modules available for FREE teacher use! Check out this list!

• Does that Psychology Demonstration REALLY work? (Rob McEntarffer - warning: you may not be able to stand this guy's voice for long :) 
• Neuroethics and Neurotechnology (Eric Chudler - Neuroscience for Kids!) 
• Research Methods, Measurement and Statistics (the great Stephen Chew! If we all listend to Dr. Chew more, all of us would actually KNOW how to study!) 
• Key Points to Remember in Biopsychology
• Classroom Activities in Biopsychology

Please comment when you find great things in these resources so that we can all share your joy! AND if you aren't a member of TOPSS, why not? They do great stuff!

Webcasts and Online Modules for Psychology Teachers

posted by Rob McEntarffer