Transforming Introductory Psychology Expert Advice on Teacher Training, Course Design, and Student Success

Each year, well over a million undergraduate students take an introductory psychology course. This edited volume presents recommendations for designing and teaching this important course. Given the diverse purposes served, book is a must-have for every psychology department and every person who teaches introductory psychology.

The book’s recommendations cover four key areas: course design, defining and assessing student learning goals and outcomes, teacher training and development, and student learning and transformation. Chapters illustrate how to implement the recommendations in various institutions, including public and private colleges and universities, research universities, liberal arts colleges, comprehensive universities, two-year colleges, and high school. 

The recommendations stem from an initiative of the American Psychological Association, which seeks to make introductory psychology a transformational experience for students. While some students taking the course will become psychology majors or even psychologists, most will pursue other careers. Thus, successful introductory psychology courses help students grow personally, academically, and professionally with skills that will be valuable for the rest of their lives, regardless of career.

"Transforming Introductory Psychology is a treasure-trove of information for both seasoned and new instructors. Every chapter is written by well-known psychologists with a cumulative hundreds of years of experience. It is a must-read for faculty, curriculum committees, and everyone else who cares about quality teaching." —DIANE F. HALPERN, PHD, PROFESSOR OF PSYCHOLOGY EMERITA, CLAREMONT MCKENNA COLLEGE, CLAREMONT, CA, AND PAST-PRESIDENT OF THE AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION

"A remarkable collection of chapters should be required reading for all teachers of introductory psychology, especially those who are considering reshaping the course in line with recommendations of the APA’s Introductory Psychology Initiative. e authors are expert introductory psychology teachers whose insights and ideas will surely stimulate colleagues at every academic level to think more deeply about their teaching goals and assessment methods, as well as about how they might incorporate thematic innovations into their courses. Bravo!" —DOUGLAS A. BERNSTEIN, PHD, UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA, TAMPA
 

Regan A. R. Gurung, PhD, is Associate Vice Provost and Executive Director of the Center for Teaching and Learning, professor of psychological science, and director of the General Psychology program at Oregon State University. His Applied Social Cognition lab studies factors influencing teaching and learning. A recipient of the APF Charles L. Brewer Distinguished Teacher of Psychology Award, he is author/co-author/editor of 15 books and over 100 peer-reviewed articles. He was founding co-editor of APA's Scholarship of Teaching and Learning in Psychology and past president of both the Society for Teaching of Psychology (APA Division 2) and Psi Chi, the International Honors Society in Psychology. 

Garth Neufeld, PhD, is Professor of Psychology at Cascadia College, founder of Teaching Introductory Psychology Northwest and the Teaching of Psychology Incubator workshop, and co-founder of the PsychSessions podcast. He has served the national teaching of psychology community through the Society for the Teaching of Psychology, the AP Psychology Reading, and APA’s Education Directorate. In 2018, Garth was awarded a Citizen Psychologist presidential citation from the APA for co-founding Shared Space For All, an organization that educates and mentors at-risk Thai children toward the prevention of prostitution. He is also the recipient of the 2019 STP Wayne Weiten Teaching Excellence Award. 
 

Contributors
Preface

Introduction: The Introductory Psychology Initiative
Regan A. R. Gurung and Garth Neufeld 

I. Introductory Psychology Initiative Recommendations

1. Why Introductory Psychology?
Stephen L. Chew, Karen Z. Naufel, Guy A. Boysen, Katherine Wickes, and Jerry Rudmann 

2. Designing the Introductory Psychology Course: An Evidence-Informed Framework
Bridgette Martin Hard, Dana S. Dunn, Robin Musselman, Danae L. Hudson, and Aaron S. Richmond 

3. Measuring Meaningful Learning in Introductory Psychology: The IPI Student Learning Outcomes 
Jane S. Halonen, Jennifer L. W. Thompson, Kristin H. Whitlock, R. Eric Landrum, and Sue Frantz 

4. Assessing Student Learning Outcomes in Introductory Psychology
Jane S. Halonen, Jennifer L. W. Thompson, Kristin H. Whitlock, R. Eric Landrum, and Sue Frantz 

5. Navigating the Nuances of Teaching Introductory Psychology: A Roadmap for Implementing Evidence-Based Instructional Methods
Danae L. Hudson, Aaron S. Richmond, Bridgette Martin Hard, Dana S. Dunn, and Robin Musselman

6. The Successful Psychology Course: Transformative Skills in Introductory Psychology
Stephen L. Chew, Guy A. Boysen, Karen Z. Naufel, Katherine Wickes, and Jerry Rudmann

7. Changing the Paradigm: Support and Development for Teachers of Introductory Psychology
Melissa J. Beers, William S. Altman, Elizabeth Yost Hammer, Erin E. Hardin, and Jordan Troisi 

II. Operationalizing Recommendations Across Diverse Contexts

8. Teaching Introductory Psychology as a High School Elective: Davis High School
Kristin H. Whitlock

9. Teaching Introductory Psychology to Students of Varying Ages: Cascadia College
Garth Neufeld

10. Teaching Introductory Psychology With Revised Standards: Lehigh Carbon Community College
Robin Musselman

11. Teaching Introductory Psychology to Students With Varying Degrees of Readiness: Irvine Valley College
Jerry Rudmann, Kari Tucker, Michael Cassens, Benjamin Mis, and Yemmy Taylor

12. Teaching Introductory Psychology in a Small University: McKendree University
Guy A. Boysen

13. Teaching Introductory Psychology to a Homogenous Student Population: Samford University
Stephen L. Chew

14. Teaching Introductory Psychology in a Historically Black Liberal Arts College for Women: Spelman College
Shani N. Harris, Kai M. McCormack, Angela Farris-Watkins, Juanchella Grooms Francis, and Karen Brakke

15. Teaching Introductory Psychology When Classes Have Uneven Enrollment: The University of Tennessee
Erin E. Hardin

16. Teaching Introductory Psychology in Large Classes: Missouri State University
Danae L. Hudson

17. Teaching Introductory Psychology When the Department Is Growing: Oregon State University
Regan A. R. Gurung

Appendix A: Census Questionnaire
APA Introductory Psychology Initiative Working Group

Appendix B. Census Response Data
APA Introductory Psychology Initiative Working Group

Appendix C: Study Skills Lesson
Stephen L. Chew and Guy A. Boysen

Index
About the Editors