Background: Student transition to university can be a challenging time. Research suggests that providing space for student reflection and goal setting may facilitate this period of transition. Objective: I describe the "Postcard to my Graduating Self Project," in which psychology students were invited to write postcards to their future…

This article provides a list of statistical mnemonics for instructor use. This article also reports on the potential for such mnemonics to help students learn, enjoy, and become less apprehensive about statistics. Undergraduates from two sections of a psychology statistics course rated 8 of 11 mnemonics as significantly memorable and helpful in…

At the beginning of the undergraduate psychology course, students are informed that a comprehensive makeup final will be required of any student who misses any regularly scheduled exam for any reason. The more exams a student misses, the more heavily the comprehensive makeup is weighted. (RM)

Describes a technique used to motivate students to complete assigned journal readings in a college psychology course. Maintains that students completing readings receive two types of tangible benefits: (1) extra course credit and (2) use of their notecards on tests. Asserts that students responded favorably to the technique. (CFR)

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.…

Reports findings of a class exercise in which students are asked to discuss their perceptions of college classes likely to result in high and low classroom motivation. Identifies eight characteristics that encourage motivation: (1) enthusiasm, (2) relevance, (3) organization, (4) appropriate difficulty level, (5) active involvement, (6) variety,…

Describes a demonstration to illustrate the importance of knowing what is supposed to be learned before studying begins. Suggests that the exercise may be used to show the basic elements of a scientific experiment. Explains that attention's effect upon memory is shown by students' tendency to remember best what they are told to remember. (DK)

Discusses results of a questionnaire asking students' opinions and experiences concerning academic cheating. Examines the prevalence, situational and dispositional determinants, and techniques of cheating. Concludes that pressures for good grades, student stress, ineffective deterrents, condoning teachers, and an increasing lack of academic…

Reports on a collaborative learning project in which college-level counseling students designed and presented workshops on therapeutic intervention. Finds workshops stimulated more personal involvement with the topic and individual written papers ensured that all shared the workload. Concludes that workshops prepare students for collaborative…

The use of graduate students in the behavioral sciences to supervise undergraduate research is a viable approach. To be successful such a program must involve well prepared and highly motivated graduate and undergraduate students, and there must be a congenial and open relationship between the two. (RM)

Suggests the "create-a-game" examination technique as a supplemental or alternative evaluation method for a history of psychology course. Describes a take home test in which students design and construct games that incorporate a range of knowledge from the course material. Recommends playing the games in class as a course review. (DK)

Maintains that cheating is a major concern on college campuses. Presents data from 2,153 upper-division undergraduate students on the frequency of cheating, reasons for cheating, and influence of penalties on cheating. Offers a model that develops an internalized code of ethics to counteract academic dishonesty. (CFR)

How the topic of intrinsic motivation can be used as the theoretical framework to guide an undergraduate educational psychology course within the teacher education curriculum is described. Three motivation exercises, developed using the concepts of R. deCharms, are included. A preliminary assessment of the technique showed favorable results. (RM)

The rapid generation of information today constitutes an imperative for change in the way undergraduate psychology courses are taught. Psychology instructors must carefully select material for their courses, structure courses to maximize student performance, emphasize information retrieval skills, and contribute to the development of general…

Discusses how a prisoner applied education in psychology to his own $2 N:4rehabilitation. Argues that any motivated inmate student can find moral and ethical growth and development in the study of psychology. Suggests how some developmental theories relate to the inmate's life and evolution from guilt and blame to self-acceptance. (DK)