Examines a community psychology course that stresses community empowerment, the myth of neutrality and objectivity in community psychology, and democratic accountability to the community. The course includes a brief history of race, class, and gender oppression in South Africa and concludes with a unit on converting social theory into practice.…

Presents a rationale for making the psychology curriculum more inclusive of gay and lesbian issues. Reports on a survey of current psychology textbooks that indicates inadequate coverage and segregated treatment of the topic of homosexuality. Provides instructional suggestions to correct these omissions and biases. (MJP)

Discusses methods of personalizing the large introductory college psychology class. Contrasts active learning by students with lecturing by professors. Suggests that separating the large class into smaller units can facilitate active learning. Argues that active learning also can be promoted in the large class setting. (SG)

Observes a general dislike among instructors for large classes. Reviews research which suggests that instruction in large introductory college psychology classes may be superior to more conventional teaching methods. Explains that large group teaching can be helped through audiovisual aids, outlines, and detailed notes. Emphasizes the importance…

Discusses the relationship between psychological ethics and the teaching of psychology. Reviews the manner in which ethics is presented in college psychology instruction through textbooks and specific ethics courses. Analyzes ethical psychology instruction principles set forth by the American Psychological Association and how these principles…

Argues that instructors in the psychology of women need to incorporate scholarship on ethnicity into their courses. Proposes a structure for incorporation that organizes course discussions around major themes. Suggests films, topics, exercises, and popular books that could be used. Discusses the implications of the incorporation for other…

Discusses the use of holistic scoring in the introductory college psychology course. Presents data showing the reliability, validity, and efficiency of the holistic scoring of students' written work by teaching assistants. Argues that holistic scoring is a high quality, low cost approach to scoring written work in large classes. (SG)

Discusses a lesson designed to demonstrate hypothesis testing to introductory college psychology students. Explains that a psychology instructor demonstrated apparent psychic abilities to students. Reports that students attempted to explain the instructor's demonstrations through hypothesis testing and revision. Provides instructions on performing…

Describes an assignment that requires students to organize, prepare, and revise a case study in abnormal behavior. Explains that students employ a single theoretical perspective in preparing a report on a figure from history, literature, the arts, or current events. Discusses the value of the assignment for students. (SG)

Discusses the teaching of psychology at the Tallinn Pedagogical Institute in Estonia (Soviet Union). Suggests that teaching occurs without textbooks, library books, handouts, copying machines, or office meetings with students. Reports that students' views of intergroup relations were unlike the views of Western students. Concludes that much of…

Discusses an interdisciplinary course on the psychology and philosophy of William James. Describes course organization and goals. Explains that the course includes sections on James' life and personal characteristics, his psychological and philosophical works, and specific psychological and philosophical topics that he addressed. Assesses…

Discusses development and use of an instrument for assessing introductory psychology students' perceptions of success in the course. Reports that perceptions were ranked and analyzed for motivational orientation. Reveals the discovery of primarily intrinsic orientation for highest ranked perceptions and extrinsic orientation for lowest rated ones.…

Presents an annotated bibliography of works in hopes of stimulating interest in and promoting scholarly activity about teaching history of psychology. Organizes 56 articles into 3 categories: projects, perspectives, and evaluations. Argues there is a serious need for thorough evaluative research. Includes departmental histories, role playing,…

Discusses whether change in favor of vocational preparation compromises liberal arts values and what effects such a change would have in undergraduate psychology programs. Proposes a new liberal skills model and curriculum changes emphasizing career advising, career-relevant coursework, curricula enrichment, and fieldwork. Urges that career…