Janet F. Carlson

Preparing An Effective Syllabus: Current Best Practices

Syllabi can be useful in engaging students and creating an effective classroom atmosphere, yet discussions of their effective use rarely appear. In light of current research and theory on syllabi, we review their typical uses (structural, motivational, and evidentiary), commonly included components, and attributes that positively impact the teaching and learning process.

Expanding the Boundaries of Scholarship in Psychology Through Teaching, Research, Service, and Administration

The Society for the Teaching of Psychology formed a task force in 2000 on Uniting Scholarship and Teaching to develop suggestions for how the Society might facilitate Boyers (1990) and Halpern et al.s (1998) expanded views of traditional scholarship with respect to the teaching of psychology. This article represents a partial fulfillment of that charge. Specifically, we explore the scholarly dimensions of teaching, research, service, and administration and consider models for undertaking and documenting scholarship in each of these realms of academic life.

From Metropolis to Never-neverland: Analyzing Fictional Characters in a Personality Theory Course

To enhance learning in a course on personality theories, students write four short papers, each interpreting the personality of a fictional character from a comic strip or childrens story by using a specific theoretical orientation: psychoanalytic, dispositional, phenomenological, and behavioral. Advantages and other aspects of this technique are discussed, as are student evaluations.

Psychosexual Pursuit: Enhancing Learning of Theoretical Psychoanalytic Constructs

In order to facilitate the learning of theoretical principles associated with the psychoanalytic perspective on personality, I devised a board game called Psychosexual Pursuit. The game is especially useful in classrooms with student teams competing against each other to complete their psychosexual development while retaining considerable psychic energy to invest in adult concerns. Rules governing play and special advantages of this learning experience are discussed, and the game board is reproduced.

Models and Exemplars of Scholarship in the Teaching of Psychology

This article provides ideas for engaging in the scholarship of teaching in psychology. Topics covered include contributing to the Society for the Teaching of Psychologys Office of Teaching Resources in Psychology and Teaching of Psychology. Writing and editing books also constitute scholarly work. Finally, teaching with intentionality and accountability can be productive in leading to scholarship opportunities. By providing models and exemplars of scholarship in the teaching of psychology, we hope to encourage more teachers to engage in such activities.

Test Reviewing at the Buros Center for Testing

The test review process used by the Buros Center for Testing is described as a series of 11 steps: (1) identifying tests to be reviewed, (2) obtaining tests and preparing test descriptions, (3) determining whether tests meet review criteria, (4) identifying appropriate reviewers, (5) selecting reviewers, (6) sending instructions and materials to reviewers, (7) checking reviews for factual accuracy, (8) editing content of reviews, (9) copyediting and updating reviews, (10) obtaining reviewer approval, and (11) seeking comments from publishers. Special considerations associated with each step are discussed. Preliminary efforts to extend the international relevance of Buros are reflected by a new product currently in development, Pruebas Publicadas en Español (“Tests in Print in Spanish”).