pICT Innovations for Introduction to Psychology

Mark A. Laumakis, Ph.D.Lecturer, Department of Psychology

The Course

Two 500-student sections of Introduction to Psychology Section 1: MWF 8-8:50 a.m. Section 2: TTh 9:30-10:45 a.m.

Both sections meet in ENS-280Lectures are delivered via PowerPointOn-line backbone of course is Blackboard content provided by publisher Allyn & Bacon’s MyPsychLab (CourseCompass) CourseCompass

The Problem & The Goal

The problem: student passivity in a large lecture course

The goal: active learning by students, both during lecture and outside of class

Tools to Increase Active Learning

During lecture Audience response system in ENS-280 Answer “Concept Check” questions

embedded in PowerPoint lectures

Example of Concept Check Question

25% 25% 25% 25%

1 2 3 4

Lori gets a backache every day, but if she sits in a hot bath, the pain goes away. So, she decides to take a hot bath every day. She has learned to do this through

1. Positive reinforcement

2. Negative reinforcement

3. Stimulus discrimination

4. Shaping

Tools to Increase Active Learning

Outside of class Blackboard Discussion Board tool Answer posted questions in

asynchronous threaded discussions

Example of Discussion Board Question

Share some appropriate examples of classical conditioning and operant conditioning from your own experiences.

In the classical conditioning example, identify the US, UR, CS, and CR. What other elements of classical conditioning can you identify – acquisition, extinction, spontaneous recovery, stimulus generalization, stimulus discrimination?

In the operant conditioning example, specify whether your example demonstrates positive reinforcement, negative reinforcement, positive punishment, or negative punishment. What schedule of reinforcement was utilized – FR, VR, FI, or VI?

Targeted Learning GainsActive learning in general

Grasp of central concepts in Psychology

Recognize and/or construct examples of applications of these concepts in their own lives

Critical thinking skills Especially regarding research methods in Psychology

Assessment of Gains

Student Assessment of Learning Gains (SALG) SALG

Students rate items on 1-5 scale 1: no help 2: a little help 3: moderate help 4: much help 5: very much help

SALG Data

Question MWF Section

TTH Section

PowerPoint lectures 4.4 4.5Concept Check Questions 4.1 4.1Discussion Boards 2.9 3.1Critical thinking 3.3 3.4Finding applications 3.9 3.9Relevance to real world 4.0 4.0

SALG Data: Course Content

Question MWF Section

TTH Section

Research Methods 3.6 3.6Nature vs. Nurture 4.0 4.0Biological Bases 3.6 3.6Classical Conditioning 3.7 3.8Operant Conditioning 3.6 3.6Mental Disorders 3.9 3.9

Future Plans

Expand number and quality of Concept Check questions

Reduce number and improve quality of Discussion Board questions

Discuss explicitly the role of Concept Check questions and Discussion Board questions in enhancing student learning in these courses