Tech., History of Psych here is a senior level class. However, it does not
have an experimental requirement, so I do get students who are not as far
along as others. The problem with having it at the lower level is that
these students have not had the basic course material, so I need to spend
extra time defining terms that the students should already know - for
example, learning principles, operational variables, basic physiology,
Freud's terms, etc. In addition, what I have found is that History makes
more sense the more background in Psych that you have. When I first took
History of Psych, I had a tough time with it and found it somewhat boring.
However, the more psych I have learned, the more interesting it became
because I know the concepts and History now shows me how the concepts
developed or how two people's ideas are related to each other, etc.
At 03:01 PM 9/28/00 -0400, Renner, Michael wrote:
>I want to throw out a question and then sit back and be simultaneously
>amazed and enlightened.
>
>Background: When I have taught History of Psychology, it has always been at
>the senior level. By drawing on ideas learned in other courses they've had
>-- e.g., being able to assume they've already learned what Pavlovian
>conditioning is -- it gives the history class the freedom to spend time on
>the HISTORY of how the ideas developed.
>
>An alternate model would be to put the course at a lower level, encourage
>students to take it as soon as possible after Intro psych. With this model
>you could use the historical overview to provide a framework for later
>courses.
>
>Have any TIPsters had experience with the "Take History Early" model, and if
>so, what are their thoughts about the relative merits of the two models?
>
>As always, I appreciate how willing this group is to share their wisdom.
>Thanks.
>
>Michael Renner
Deb
Dr. Deborah S. Briihl
Dept. of Psychology and Counseling
Valdosta State University
Valdosta, GA 31698
(229) 333-5994
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Well I know these voices must be my soul...
Rhyme and Reason - DMB
