Big Think and Psychology Resources

For some time now, I have been receiving regular emails from a web site called "Big Think."  While the site contains content ranging from economics, technology, style, culture, history, and more, it also contains neuroscience, psychology, and identity.

Like TED, the site contains videos from experts, but they are more individual and up-close.  These videos typically occur within longer blogs related to a variety of topics, the best of which relate to psychology and neuroscience.  I will link to some favorites below.  Because the videos are short, they can be wonderful additions to what we do in the class, to have another person (read: expert) explain an idea that we'd like to get across to our students.  Additionally, the content creates a wonderful little professional development opportunity for we teachers.

Science and Technology Link Page
Brain Bugs: Hallucinations, Forgotten Faces, and Other Cognitive Quirks (with V.S. Ramachandran)
How ADHD Affects the Brain
This is Your Brain During Orgasm
Your Storytelling Brain (with Michael Gazzaniga)



There are so many other stories and content that are fascinating, I recommend taking some time to explore.  It is well worth it.


posted by Chuck Schallhorn

UTOPSS Fall Institute, November 4, 2011

The 13th annual Utah-Teachers of Psychology in Secondary Schools (UTOPSS) Fall Institute will be held Friday, November 4, 2011 at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City. If you would like to attend I would be happy to email you registration materials. Contact me at

kwhitlock@dsdmail.net

Registration is due Friday, October 21. The cost of the conference is $40.00, by the deadline, and $50.00 after the deadline. Registration includes continental breakfast, lunch, parking validation, and all materials.

We have a wonderful schedule planned!

Dr. Jane Halonen, University of West Florida, "Bottlenecks, Thresholds, and Transformers: New Ways to Look at Old Content"

Cynthia Smith, Northridge High School, Kim Searle, Copper Hills High School, & Lark Woodbury, Layton High School, "Using Social Networking in Psychology"

Dr. Paul White, University of Utah, "Do I Have to be Freud to do Psychology? Moving Students Beyond Pop Cultural Images of Psychology"

Dr. Monisha Pasupathi, University of Utah, "Autobiographical Memory and Narrative Identity"

Participant Idea Share

Hope you can join us!

Kristin H. Whitlock

News from TOPSS/APA

The following is from Emily Leary, Assistant Director of the APA Office of Precollege and Undergraduate Programs, regarding items of interest from the APA and TOPSS (Teachers of Psychology in Secondary Schools) to all high school psychology teachers. If you would like to be included on Emily's email listing, please contact her at the address below.

APF Professional Development Awards for High School Psychology Teachers

The purpose of these awards is to help high school psychology teachers travel to and attend regional or national teaching and/or psychology conferences.

Applicants may be awarded up to $250. Funds can be used to offset costs of travel, conference registration, and housing accommodations. Applications to attend the APA Convention (August 4-7, 2011, Washington, DC; www.apa.org/convention) are encouraged. $2,500 is available for funding. These grants are made possible through a generous gift from Dr. Lee Gurel.

The application deadline has been extended until May 1, 2011; for details on how to apply, visit http://www.apa.org/apf/funding/professional-topss.aspx.

APF High School Psychology Teacher Network Grants

The purpose of these grants is to support the development of local and regional networks of psychology teachers and to support a local or regional teaching workshop or conference for high school psychology teachers. APF is particularly interested in proposals for professional development opportunities for teachers that could lead to the formation of a new regional network of psychology teachers. APF will award $1,500 in grants in 2011. These grants are made possible through a generous gift from Dr. Lee Gurel.

The application deadline is May 1, 2011; for details on how to apply, visit http://www.apa.org/apf/funding/psychology-teacher-network.aspx.

APA TOPSS Poster Competition for High School Psychology Students

TOPSS is pleased to announce the 2011 APA TOPSS Poster Competition for High School Psychology Students. There will be four winners, each of whom will receive a $250 award.

Topic: Although psychology has historical roots in the discipline of philosophy, a contemporary definition of psychology states it is the scientific study of behavior and mental processes. The American Psychological Association (APA) recognizes psychology as a diverse scientific discipline with nearly boundless applications in everyday life. In this competition, students will design an original visual poster on the theme “Psychology is a Science,” and also submit a written explanation of the poster and theme.

The submission deadline is June 1, 2011; please visit http://www.apa.org/ed/precollege/topss/poster-competition.aspx for competition details, rules, scoring rubric, and submission information.

Call for Nominations: 2011 TOPSS Committee Elections

The mission of TOPSS is to promote introductory and advanced high school psychology, meet curricular and professional needs of secondary school teachers; and provide opportunities for high school students to be recognized and rewarded for their academic excellence. If you would like to become more involved in TOPSS, and are interested in gaining leadership experience and positively impacting the teaching of high school psychology, we encourage you to consider serving on the TOPSS Committee. TOPSS is especially interested in encouraging individuals from diverse backgrounds (including diversity in race/ethnicity, gender, ability/disability, sexual orientation, age, and religion) to consider running for TOPSS Office. In 2011, the following three elected positions will be filled: Chair (three-year term), Member-at-Large (two-year term), and Membership Coordinator (two-year term).

Nominations are due by July 1, 2011. Visit http://www.apa.org/ed/precollege/topss/call-for-nominations.aspx for additional information.

APA Annual Convention

All high school psychology teachers are encouraged to consider attending the APA Annual Convention (www.apa.org/convention), being held August 4-7, 2011, in Washington, DC. TOPSS is pleased to announce the 2011 TOPSS Invited Addresses; the following sessions will be held Friday, August 5, and Saturday, August 6, 2011:

• Barney Beins, PhD, Ithaca College, Ithaca, NY; Psychology: Gateway to Critical Thinking and Scientific Literacy
  

• April Bleske-Rechek, PhD, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, Eau Claire, WI; The Lee Gurel Lecture: A Primer on Evolutionary Psychology: Foundational Ideas, Exemplary Research, and Criticisms

• Jessica Henderson Daniel, PhD, Boston Children’s Hospital, Cambridge, MA; Teaching Adolescents about Adolescents: Using Mirrors that Focus on Race, Ethnicity and Gender
• Gil Einstein, PhD, Furman University, Greenville, SC; Remembering to Perform Actions in the Future: Can Intentions Pop into Mind?

• Regan Gurung, PhD, University of Wisconsin Green Bay, Green Bay, WI; Maureen McCarthy, PhD, Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, GA; Katherine Minter, Westwood High School, Austin, TX; and Steve Behnke, PhD, JD, APA Ethics Office, Discussant; Ethical Issues in the Introductory Psychology Course

Also, please join TOPSS for a reception on Saturday, August 6, from 5:00 – 5:50 PM, at the Grand Hyatt Washington Hotel (Burnham Room).

Membership

The TOPSS Website is http://www.apa.org/ed/precollege/topss/index.aspx. For only $40 a year, high school psychology teachers can join APA as affiliate members and become a member of TOPSS. To join TOPSS, visit http://www.apa.org/membership/hs-teacher/index.aspx. Benefits include access to 19 Unit Lesson Plans, subscriptions to the monthly APA Monitor magazine and quarterly Psychology Teacher Network newsletter, and more!

Please contact Emily Leary by e-mail (eleary@apa.org) or at (202) 572-3013 if you have any questions.

Emily Leary | Assistant Director, Office of Precollege and Undergraduate Programs Education Directorate American Psychological Association 750 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20002-4242 Tel: (202) 572-3013 | Fax: (202) 336-5962 email: eleary@apa.org | www.apa.org

Cengage Learning Webinar Series

Cengage Learning is sponsoring a number of Webinars for high school psychology teachers. The series highlights Stephen Franzoi of Marquette University and Kristin Whitlock of Viewmont High School, Bountiful, UT. Below you will find information on each Webinar session.

Title: Psychology: Promoting Critical Thinking While Linking to the National Standards

Description: This workshop will help high school teachers link the use of the American Psychological Association's National Standards for High School Psychology Curricula in their courses to critical thinking exercises easily implemented into their curriculum. After a review of the structure of the National Standards, specific exercises will be presented.

Presenter: Kristin Whitlock, Psychology Teacher and Chair of the Working Group for the Revised High School Psychology Standards

Date/Time: October 19, 2010: 3:00 pm Eastern/12:00 pm Pacific Register now.
Date/Time: November 17, 2010: 6:00 pm Eastern/3:00 pm Pacific Register now.

Title: Psychology: Encouraging Students to Identify With Course Material Through Self-Discovery Exercises

Description: Psychology, as a science and as a high school course, is a journey of discovery undertaken by both researchers and students. By regularly encouraging students to consider how psychological knowledge relates to their own lives, you place their learning experience within a personally relevant context that enhances learning of course material, while also fostering self-insights that can be applied to their daily living. Learn how Stephen Franzoi, author of Psychology: A Discovery Experience, facilitates this personal journey of discovery in his psychology classes and in his psychology textbooks.

Presenter: Stephen Franzoi, Author

Date/Time: October 26, 2010: 3:00 pm Eastern/12:00 pm Pacific Register now.
Date/Time: October 26, 2010: 6:00 pm Eastern/3:00 pm Pacific Register now.

Title: Psychology: How Do People Think and Behave Differently in Individualist and Collectivist Cultures?

Description: Two belief systems that are important to understanding the psychology of human behavior are individualism and collectivism. This webinar will discuss how the psychology of people from different cultures differs due to their individualist-collectivist bents and how this understanding will enrich your students' learning.

Presenter: Stephen Franzoi, Author

Date/Time: December 9, 2010: 4:00 pm Eastern/1:00 pm Pacific Register now.

These webinars will be conducted via conference call and WebEx. In order to participate, you must have an Internet connection and a separate phone line. Posted by Kent Korek.

Our Own Steve Jones in the NY Times

One of our blog moderators, Steve Jones, has been featured in the New York Times, in the April 6, 2010 edition of classroom resources blog.  Steve had written in his response to an article about the use of coal in producing electricity (and the perceptions/misperceptions of his students).

You can read about Steve and his great in class thinking/strategies here.

Congrats to Steve and keep up the good work!  Follow Steve's tweets on twitter.

The Frontal Cortex by Jonah Lehrer

When I read, I usually tend to lean toward non-fiction.  I will be reviewing some books in the future, but for this one time, I'd really like to promote Jonah Lehrer's blog, The Frontal Cortex.  I enjoy the easy nature of the writing--not too simplified--for the educated reader--seemingly designed to challenge, or at least not to condescend.  Lehrer reads and writes for a living, which makes him a much better author than I'd ever dream of being. 

He is also a frequent contributor to my favorite podcast, Radiolab.  In the recent past, he has examined and opined on marijuana and creativity, the spread of goodness, and a controversial piece on the "benefits" of depression.  His columns are always thought-provoking and enjoyable to read.  I highly recommend the blog if you can make the time.  I find that it helps me make stronger real-world connections with the subjects I teach.

Lehrer is also the author of the two books below, which I will also be reviewing.