Describes an interactive computer program that provides students with a means for learning classification concepts in the psychology classroom; if computers are not available, clip art can be utilized to study classification. Maintains that the program encourages students to see the importance of modifying any classification system as new data…

Examines the World Wide Web as a tool for encouraging collaborative group work in two teaching environments (high school and graduate school). Finds that the Web environment provided: (1) separations between individual contributions; (2) a structure for participation; (3) access to others contributions; (4) individual work space; and (5) equal…

Presents an interview with Wilbert J. McKeachie who is a professor in the Department of Psychology and a Research Scientist at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. Discusses topics that include, but are not limited to, student-centered teaching, issues current researchers need to address, and the role of technology in teaching. (CMK)

Attempts to facilitate the text selection process for introductory psychology teachers by enabling them to match the level of the text with their students' ability level. Examines 37 introductory psychology textbooks published from 1995-1997 to determine text levels (high, middle, or lower level). Discusses the findings in detail. (CMK)

Examines the manner in which introductory psychology textbooks present issues about child sexual assault. Finds that four texts made no mention of any child sexual assault issues and of the remaining textbooks, the majority of the information concerning child sexual assault dealt with memory issues. Identifies five overgeneralizations in relation…

Examines graduate recruitment and admissions processes for ethnic minority students in clinical psychology by surveying graduate admissions directors. Reports that 98% of programs reported efforts to recruit minority applicants with 82% using flexible criteria when evaluating applicants; directors identified community characteristics, financial…

Examines psychology graduate teaching assistants' (GTA) formal training and supervision experiences and whether these experiences increased the GTA's sense of self-efficacy toward teaching. Reveals that 30% received no training or supervision suggesting that GTAs receive inconsistent training and supervision; GTAs receiving training possessed a…

Describes teaching methods that promote reflexivity, a practice of observing and locating one's self as a knower within certain cultural and sociohistorical contexts, in order to open up the classroom for all students. Provides seven strategies that each incorporate reflexivity within a course, such as modeling and inviting speakers. (CMK)

Explores the impact of unannounced quizzes on students' performance on examinations by comparing course segments with quizzes to segments without quizzes. Finds that test scores following quizzes averaged half a letter grade higher than scores from segments without quizzes; C students demonstrated a grade gain of 84% of a letter grade. (CMK)

Describes an exercise that helps graduate students understand countertransference, a concept involving a therapist's conscious and unconscious reactions to clients and reflects the therapist's values, biases, and past experiences. Explains that the students write a paper discussing their interpersonal reactions in an interview designed as a…

Investigates student's opinions of what they believe is valuable for the first class meeting of a course. Reports that a good first class meeting includes a well-organized, focused presentation containing basic course information including requirements, expectations, and information on examinations and assignments. Expounds that faculty should…

Believes that it may be daunting for some students to learn about the history of psychology. Describes a teaching strategy that uses jigsaw puzzles to teach about the historical terms of structuralism, functionalism, and gestalt psychology. Finds that students performed better on test questions related to these three concepts after using this…

Offers an example of determining what the experts of psychology deem as essential concepts in their subfield by investigating the current principles in operant conditioning through surveys of the board of editors of the "Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior." Recommends concepts that are appropriate for up-to-date coverage of operant…

Maintains that medical growth charts that have been created by pharmaceutical companies can be utilized to demonstrate a variety of statistical concepts in psychology. Expounds that the charts are based on data collected from 1963-1975 by the National Center for Health Statistics with a sample of over 20,000 children. Provides teaching activities.…

Describes a course entitled "Preparing for Graduate Study in Psychology" that is a two-credit seminar developed to prepare undergraduate students for graduate study in psychology. Requires students to actually create application materials. Contends that the course provides students with a structured approach to learning about the graduate…