My intro classes range from 35-100 students. Especially in the larger
sections but in the smaller ones as well I long ago came to the conclusion
that you cannot possibly lecture on every topic in the book. And even if
you did, you'd just be reiterating the text...... an unpardonable sin in my
view. I still remember my frosh history prof who (quite literally) stood in
fron of 500 students a read the text to us.
Given that you cannot possibly lecture on more than 30% of the topics in a
given chapter, I've decided that intro psych is better approached as a "dog
and pony show." I'm not much on multimedia. It's a tremendous amount of
work. Maybe folks teaching one course with multiple TAs can do it but with
a 3-4 course load it's pretty tough. I have some colleagues who do it (God
bless them) but not me. Nonetheless, I have cultuivated a large number of
"gee whiz" lectures that (I hope) gets them enthused. Instead of lecturing
on action potentials, I lecture on aphasias and antipsychotics. When
lecturing on learning theory I use examples of placebo effects in rats and
Mowrer's treatment for bed wetting. i.e., talk about the weird and/or
relevant. And before I get "on stage" I take two minutes to get into my
"performer/stand up comic" persona.
Of course, getting a good stock of lectures takes time. Keep the ones that
work and bag the ones that don't. I'll be teaching intro for the first in 5
years this Summer. It should be interesting. ..... essentially a new prep.
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Edward I. Pollak, Ph.D. Office (610)436-2945
Professor and Chairperson Home (610)363-1939
Department of Psychology FAX (610)436-2846
West Chester University [EMAIL PROTECTED]
West Chester, PA 19383 www.wcupa.ed
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Husband, father, biopsychologist and bluegrass fiddler........... not
necessarily in order of importance.
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