It all comes together at APA?s convention

By Jill N. Reich, PhD
Executive Director for Education

What is the unique role of a national association?

The questions, challenges and areas we seek to address here at APA are the same ones you too face in your departments, programs and institutions. The difference is in our roles. Whereas you are involved in these matters in a direct, hands-on way, we are involved from a distance. Our role is to provide information so that you can make informed decisions; to develop guidelines and standards to assist your directives; to form networks and provide a platform for new ideas; and to influence policies that affect fiscal support for your activities.

Nowhere does all of our work come together more than at APA?s Annual Convention. Indeed, it is an awesome affair. I remember well my first experience in 1982. Having just spent two weeks in the wilderness lake district of Minnesota and Ontario, Canada, where a moose was a more likely neighbor than another person, I flew to Washington for the annual meeting and immediately was overwhelmed by the array of people, ideas, events and yes, noise. I learned quickly the need to set a context for how to choose from among the rich array of things to do, places to go and people to see.

With the input of APA divisions

Under the assumption (I hope not illusion) that I am much like you, over the past few years we have been working to provide an education context for the vast array of convention programming. Our approach is based on a couple of key points. First, that APA?s divisions provide a perspective, a particular view if you will, into specific areas of expertise and interests that make up the discipline of psychology. Second, that the convention is foremost a time to present the current thinking of these perspectives, to communicate with others, to put forth new ideas, about research, practice and education. And finally, because educational issues cross all areas of psychology, we reach out to all divisions and groups, to support their educational programming and to encourage those for whom education is not a consideration to do so.

This year I am very pleased to report that 38 divisions are participating with BEA in co-listing events relevant to psychology education. As well, APA?s Board of Educational Affairs is co-sponsoring the Board of Directors? miniconvention on "Training Psychologists in the 21st Century," a four-day series of discussions and presentations on professional education and training issues chaired by APA Board of Directors member Norine Johnson and APA President Martin E.P. Seligman.

There are many informative sessions spanning interests in mentoring, teaching, student development, the use of technology, careers, human diversity, testing, assessment and education policy. We are very fortunate to join in events with key groups working with educators and students; groups such as Psi Chi, Psi Beta, Teachers of Psychology in Secondary Schools (TOPSS), the Psychology Partnerships Project (P3), the Commission for the Recognition of Specialties and Proficiencies in Professional Psychology (CRSPPP), BEA?s Task Force on Diversity Issues, APAGS, the Committee on Education and Human Resources and the Teaching and Learning Roundtable. In addition, BEA each year sponsors a symposium on technology; this year?s topic is "Learner-centered psychological principles: technology as a tool for learning." The presentation demonstrates the application and use of the Learner Centered Psychological Principles in an online, interactive setting and will be presented both to convention attendees and off-site to Bay Area teachers under the auspices of the state of California?s Office of Educational Technology.

For details about topics, times and places of all of these events, check the Education www page (www.apa.org/ed), look in your mail for your special Education brochure, and/or visit our booth at the convention.

A time for celebrations

The convention is also about celebrations, a time to recognize significant contributions to psychology education. This year, we are very pleased to include the presentations of Dr. Geoffrey Keppel and Dr. Edward P. Sheridan, the 1997 recipients our Distinguished Contribution to Education and Training in Psychology awards, and to look forward to learning who will be our 1998 awardees. It is time as well to celebrate the 50th anniversary of accreditation in psychology. We hope that all current and former Committee on Accreditation members, site visitors, students and interested others will join the festivities honoring the expertise and hard work that has made our accreditation system one that we all benefit from, are proud of and others seek to emulate. See you at the convention!