Workshop Sessions

Session 1 - Psychology as a Science: Teaching Research Methods and Statistical Concepts

This session will cover primary content in teaching scientific foundations of psychology, including common research methods for scientific inquiry.  The session will focus on exposure to research methods (e.g., qualitative research, observational research, correlational/survey research, randomized controlled trial); common statistics (e.g., frequency distributions, central tendency and variability, normal curve and z-scores, correlational research, hypothesis testing, statistical significance, t-test); and communicating psychological science (e.g., reading research, the APA style research report, the writing process).  This will be followed by instruction in how to develop effective lesson plans.  The 5E instructional model (Duran and Duran, 2004) and AI platforms that can be integrated into instruction will be covered.

Session 2 - Cognitive, Biological and Social Development Across the Lifespan

This session will cover primary content in the Cognition, Biological and Social Development Across the Lifespan pillars including cognitive developmental theories, development and function of the nervous system, and psychosocial functioning across the lifespan utilizing a foundation of research and scientific inquiry. The session will cover high impact teaching models [Bell’s 5 step model for putting research into practice (Bell, 2020)] that can be adapted to a high school setting to guide the instruction and assessment of this specific content. Exposure to Cognition, Biological and Social Development content utilizing the teaching model will follow along with strategies for developing lesson plans around this content.  Open educational resources that teachers may find useful will be shared.

Session 3 - Social Psychology

This session will cover classic theories and research in the Social Psychology pillar including social influences on human behaviors such as attitudes, biases and beliefs conformity, persuasion, intergroup dynamics, aggression, helping and prejudice utilizing a foundation of research and scientific inquiry. Teachers will be exposed to Social Psychology content utilizing the previously introduced teaching models. The final portion of this session will allow for group practice to demonstrate experiential learning using interactive strategies that can be used to teach these concepts.

Keynote Address - Closing the Equity Gap in Secondary Education

Speaker: Erica Dotson, PhD, Professor of Teaching Education