Hi Evelyn and TIPSmeisters,
We aren't contemplating a 2-semester course. Yet after reading your post, I
admit the idea is very appealing because it seems impossible to cover the
amount of material in one semester.
Yet I also have to ask myself whether the solution is to expand the length
of the course or make some painful but judicious decisions about reducing
the material in an introductory course. I'm only a second year faculty
member, so consider the source. But I am surprised at how "encyclopedic" our
intro textbooks have become since I was an undergrad. Must we view every
part of our considerable discipline as equally important/relevant for
college students to learn about? The material on Motivation: do we retain
it because it's a good place to put the highly relevant sex material? I feel
guilty just smerdging (neologism for merging and smudging) motivation in
with emotion, but there you have it.
At my community college, students are required to take Psychology 1.
Although I AM positively biased, I think the requirement is defensible if
simply from the standpoint that it's necessary for students to be educated
consumers in a world whose products and services increasingly employ our our
services/research. (E.g. for students: Nike can thank John B. Watson for
"recommending" Michael Jordan to them.)
Be that as it may, I'm not sure a well-rounded education needs to include so
MUCH of what psychology has to offer, e.g., memes and phonemes. As much as
I love Transformational Grammar and Noam Chomsky--sheesh. Let them take
linguistics! And I'm not just picking on linguistics; you all know what I'm
talking about.
Or maybe not. Do others feel similarly? Or am I falling prey to some
little-known heuristic fallacy when in actuality the number of defined words
and concepts covered has been constant for the past two decades? There is
also the option of the "brief" versions, but I also have "issues" with them.
(Educator, teach thyself!)<g>
(I had a good dinner so I don't know why this evening has been diatribe
night of the damned. Like most things in life, I'm sure the answer will
eventually come down to 'more fiber, less junk food.')
Christian Hart, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Psychology
Department of Behavioral Studies
Santa Monica College
-----Original Message-----
From: evelyn_doody
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Sent: 10/27/00 9:33 AM
Subject: Re: TIPS Digest V #1337
> Hi Kathy and other TIPsters,
Just like you, some of my dept. colleagues and I have tossed
about the idea of a two semester psychology intro course.
But we need some research on how others are doing it and
even how MANY others are doing so.
If you could send me an email with the following questions answered,
I would be glad to compile the answers and post to TIPS.
My email is [EMAIL PROTECTED]
and I would like to know:
Are you or are you not using two semester intro psy course?
If so, if you would, I would like to have a copy of your syllabus.
If so, what barriers did you experience in trying to implement such a
course?
If not, are you contemplating having a two semester intro psy course?
If you are contemplating a two semester intro course, what barriers are
you experiencing?
Thank you VERY much for your responses.
Evelyn N. Doody, Ph.D.
Community College of Southern Nevada
Henderson Campus H8B
Henderson, Nevada 89015
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
> Date: Wed, 25 Oct 2000 09:53:21 -0400
> From: Kathleen Morgan <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> Subject: Year-Long Intro Psych Plus Methods Course
> Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>
> Colleagues:
>
> We are considering revamping our introductory psychology course to
> be a year-long course that includes research methods. We are seeking
> syllabi, course details, etc. from anyone with a similar course at
their
> institution. Might you teach a year-long intro course at your place?
If
> so, would you be willing to share the details of that course with us?
>
> Many thanks in advance,
> --Kathy Morgan
> Dept. of Psychology
> Wheaton College
> Norton, MA 02766
> [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
> ------------------------------
>
> End of TIPS Digest V2 #1337
> ******************************
