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Report on Teaching, Learning, and Assessing in a Developmentally Coherent Curriculum
In April 2006, the APA Board of Educational Affairs (BEA) received the final draft of a report developed by the BEA Task Force on Strengthening the Teaching and Learning of Undergraduate Psychological Sciences. With a focus on student learning outcomes across the developmental continuum of learning, the report describes goals as basic, developing or advanced for each of five content areas (i.e., knowledge base, research methods, critical thinking skills, applications of psychology, and values of psychology). The report on Teaching, Learning, and Assessing in a Developmentally Coherent Curriculum is now available for review and comment at www.apa.org/ed/resources.html.
Report from the APA Working Group on Internationalizing the Curriculum
In conjunction with the American Council on Education (ACE), the APA Education Directorate participated in a project on internationalizing the undergraduate psychology curriculum. Through the efforts of the APA Working Group, a report that outlines a series of goals for internationalizing the undergraduate curriculum is now available on the Web as a resource at www.apa.org/ed/resources.html. Interested members are invited to submit comments on this report and specifically with respect to the recommendations for learning goals and outcomes. In 2007, a new working group appointed jointly by the APA Board of Educational Affairs (BEA) and the Committee on International Relations in Psychology (CIRP) will work to extend these ideas and to develop APA guidelines on internationalizing the psychology curriculum.
For more information about this project, contact Merry Bullock, PhD, in the Office of International Affairs or Martha Boenau in the Education Directorate.
APA National Standards for High School Psychology Curricula
The National Standards for High School Psychology Curricula has been printed and is also available online at www.apa.org/ed/natlstandards.html. The National Standards set forth learning objectives for students; the document is constructed to guide curriculum decisions by providing content and performance standards to guide teachers in designing instruction.
The National Standards is a “living document” and feedback is welcomed and encouraged. Please send any comments or questions to the High School Psychology Standards Working Group, c/o APA Education Directorate, at the APA Address or via Email.
Announcing the APA Psychology Department Program (2006-2007)
In 2004, the Office of Precollege and Undergraduate Education (PCUE) launched the APA Psychology Department Program (PDP) to provide access to the APA’s many teaching and advising publications as well as subscriptions to APA magazines and newsletters. Now beginning its third year and available at a price of $300.00 per year, the Psychology Department Program provides support to undergraduate institutions and serves as a linkage to the Association and the discipline of psychology.
Participating departments receive these publications:
- APA Dictionary of Psychology
- Graduate Study in Psychology
- Resource Guide for Departments
Departments receive resources to help with advisement, recruitment, and retention of students:
- Careers in Psychology
- Three complimentary Student Affiliations
- Behavior Matters Booklet Series
- Listing of participating programs on the APA Web site
- Psychology Club Certificate
Departments will also receive these annual subscriptions:
- Monitor on Psychology
- gradPSYCH
- Psychology Teacher Network
- The Educator
More details about the APA Psychology Department Program appear on the Education Directorate Web site at www.apa.org/ed/pcue/psydeptprog.html. Inquiries can also be directed to the Office of Precollege and Undergraduate Education at (+1/800) 374-2721, x-6140 or via Email.
BEA Block Grants In Support of Precollege and Undergraduate Teaching Conferences
To enhance the quality of teaching and learning outcomes, the Board of Educational Affairs reviews proposals for financial support to award $5,000 in BEA Block Grants each year.
Criteria:
To be considered for funding, applications must meet the following criteria:
- the conference must advance the teaching of psychology at the secondary
2-year, and/or 4-year level;
- the conference must be directed by an APA member, associate, or affiliate;
- the grant must be requested by an APA member, associate, or affiliate; and
- the grant must be used to offset travel expenses of selected conference participants, registration fees of conference participants, and/or speaker fees.
Proposals for block grants will be reviewed and evaluated according to the following criteria:
Conference Goals and Activities. Proposals will be rated on the perceived importance and innovativeness of the conference as well as the clarity and completeness of the description of the conference objectives and activities. (A conference announcement/ brochure should be submitted with the application.)
Composition of Target Audience. Proposals will be rated on the potential impact and suitability of content for the target audience.
Budgetary Information. Proposals will be rated on the clarity and completeness of the description of the conference budget, anticipated expenses, as well as confirmed and anticipated sources and amounts of funding.
Following the evaluation of the proposals, the BEA Block Grants Subcommittee will recommend monetary awards based on the availability of funds and on the quality of the applications.
Deadline:
Funding requests for teaching conferences in 2007 should be postmarked by February 23, 2007. Please send written requests to Martha Boenau in the APA Education Directorate, at the APA Address.
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