Describes a teaching exercise in an undergraduate psychology course in which students read a book with unconventional perspectives on the field of study. Maintains that the activity develops critical reading and thinking skills by confronting students with controversial views. Identifies some of the books selected to fit the criteria of this…

Describes a freshman liberal arts honors course on adult development and aging. Contains suggestions for selecting and using readings, films, music, and television shows. Provides examples of how to make connections between these materials and the scientific literature. (DSK)

Describes two exercises that convey the ways in which social biases influence adult development and aging: (1) involves sorting pictures of people by age illustrating the diversity of opinions about how to divide the life span; and (2) demonstrates how physical and social factors shape individual well-being in old age. (DSK)

Describes the Modern Studies Curriculum (MSC) at the University of Kentucky, which integrates psychology with various disciplines and cultural perspectives in 8 courses during the first two years of college. Provides two examples of MSC courses. (CMK)

Evaluates Simulations in Developmental Disabilities (SIDD), a multimedia software program, that provides students with practice in behavioral assessment and treatment decisions for persons with developmental disabilities. Explains that students in the experimental group received instruction with SIDD following a lecture on clinical strategies.…

Describes the development and implementation of a cross-listed undergraduate and graduate-level child psychology course taught over the Internet. Describes course content and instructional goals. Outlines the opportunities and pitfalls of teaching in a virtual classroom. (CMK)

In this article, I describe the evolution of a problem-based service learning project in an undergraduate Abnormal Psychology course. Students worked in teams on a semester-long project to locate and evaluate information and treatment for specific psychiatric disorders. As part of the project, each team selected relevant bibliographic materials,…

To determine what impact budget cuts in training and research support were actually having on psychology graduate programs and what accommodations departments were making in their baccalaureate programs, a survey of psychology departments was undertaken. Results showed modest declines in graduate enrollment. Adjustments suggested for the…

Summarizes major challenges facing undergraduate psychology programs in the 1980s. Educators will teach more two-year college students, and cope with greater diversity in student knowledge, needs and interests. Problems arising from societal expectations, rapid social change, inadequate funding, and the need for innovative teaching are discussed.…

Describes the educators' problems in communicating psychology's value and relevance to students in introductory courses. Course and texts must be improved in order to increase student understanding of the practical consequences of psychological principles. The author suggests changes in course and textbook content to increase student cognitive…

Examines factors influencing the success of undergraduate psychology programs in meeting student needs before and after graduation. The author reviews research evaluating conventional and innovative psychology courses designed to help students in developing their postgraduate careers. The role of program evaluation in future psychology curricula…

Surveyed psychology majors and other graduates of Southeast Missouri State University for the years 1983-1985 regarding their evaluation of undergraduate education. Findings revealed psychology respondents, although resembling other majors in social and personal interests, differed in educational and career attitudes and were more likely to enter…

Contends that recent historiographic scholarship underscores the need for new approaches to the history of psychology. Introduces the content of an advanced undergraduate seminar based on materials in social constructionism and contextual history. Illustrates its application to the history of psychology through a contextual look at the place of…

Describes a college-level course in health psychology. Recommends a course divided between lectures and a class-designed research project. Reports that course evaluations by the students indicated that the students enjoyed the course design and assignments. (CFR)

Provides a series of simple mnemonic exercises for memorizing terminology related to the central nervous system. The exercise chooses a keyword for a set of specific functions ("medal" for "medulla") and then constructs an imaginary situation, expressed in one or two sentences, illustrating some of those functions. (MJP)