E217: Coco Ballantyne: Narrating science--A unique approach to psychology education
PsychSessions: Conversations about Teaching N' Stuff
Release Date: 01/28/2025
E223: Noland White, Part 2: Teacher, writer, builder of student confidence
PsychSessions: Conversations about Teaching N' Stuff
In this episode Eric interviews Noland White (Part 2) from Georgia College & State University in Milledgeville, GA. They discuss Noland's approach to teaching and the importance of mental health and work-life balance for both students and educators. Noland shares the evolution of his role as a co-author for an intro psych textbook, detailing his journey from attending a focus group to becoming a co-author with Sandra Ciccarelli. Reflecting on his teaching career, he emphasizes the value of continuous learning, the significance of transparent communication with students, and the role of...
info_outline
Sidebar 26: BISTOPS 2026
PsychSessions: Conversations about Teaching N' Stuff
In this sidebar, Eric describes the upcoming Biennial International Seminar on the Teaching of Psychological Science (BISTOPS), which will be held July 6-10, 2026, in Paris. The organizer is Doug Bernstein ([email protected]) from the University of South Florida. A PDF accompanies this episode, which contains the key details about this opportunity. The deadline to apply for BISTOPS 2026 is January 15, 2026.
info_outline
E222: Loretta McGregor, Part 2: The classroom, the leader, the mentor, the friend
PsychSessions: Conversations about Teaching N' Stuff
In this episode Eric interviews Loretta McGregor (a Part 2 interview) from Arkansas State University in Jonesboro, AR. Loretta shares insights from her recent tenure as STP President, discussing the challenges and proud moments, including a strategic membership dues increase and launching a high school mentoring program. Loretta also details her new role as Interim Associate Dean at Arkansas State University, explaining her passion for mentoring faculty. The discussion concludes with reflections on late-career transitions, future plans, and the joys of teaching statistics in unique and...
info_outline
E221: Drew Christopher, Part 2: Leadership, teaching, career transitions, and caffeine
PsychSessions: Conversations about Teaching N' Stuff
In this episode Eric interviews Drew Christopher (a Part 2 interview) from Albion College in Albion, MI. The conversation spans various topics, including Drew's career transitions, roles as an editor for the journal 'Teaching of Psychology,' SPSP pre-conference coordinator, and currently as President-Elect of STP. Drew discusses his thought process behind taking on different roles, his eventual rise to STP President, and his strategies for managing career transitions. The discussion also delves into the challenges and changes in the academic landscape, particularly in higher education, and...
info_outline
PsychSessions: AI - Artificial "Intelligence"? An interview with Robert McEntarffer (S1E3)
PsychSessions: Conversations about Teaching N' Stuff
In this episode, Dr. Robert McEntarffer, a former high school teacher and current college educator, discusses the cognitive offloading potential offered by AI and on those types of thinking it would be wise not to let AI replace. Rob offers a critique of the term artificial “intelligence”, suggesting that “large language model” may be a more appropriate term given that AI doesn't truly understand or derive meaning from text. Rob highlights both the potential benefits and drawbacks of AI in education and the need for a deeper understanding of cognitive processes in learning. References:...
info_outline
PsychSessions: AI - Jordan Wagge and Alexander Swan on how professors can use LLMs to help with "All the things" (S1E2)
PsychSessions: Conversations about Teaching N' Stuff
Join veteran educators Dr. Jordan Wagge, Professor and Chair of Psychology at Avila University in Kansas City, Missouri, and Dr. Alex Swan, Associate Professor of Psychology at Eureka College in Eureka, Illinois, as they share insights and lessons learned from incorporating AI tools into their professional lives and classrooms. This episode offers valuable perspectives for educators navigating the evolving landscape of AI in education. Theme music was written by Thad Bromstrup
info_outline
PsychSessions: AI - The Conversation Begins (S1E1)
PsychSessions: Conversations about Teaching N' Stuff
In this first episode of the PsychSessions: AI and Education, host Joe Slade speaks with Garth Neufeld, co-founder of the Psych Sessions podcast. They discuss Joe's research and experiences with AI in education, including the use of AI avatars, ChatGPT's voice mode, and the potential for AI workflows as teaching and learning tools. Joe shares his optimistic perspective on integrating AI into education while addressing the ethical and philosophical questions it raises. They also discuss future podcast series directions and the importance of diverse viewpoints on AI's impact on education. Theme...
info_outline
E220: Melissa Maffeo: Classroom innovations, academic life, the supernatural, and neuroscience
PsychSessions: Conversations about Teaching N' Stuff
In this episode Eric interviews Melissa Maffeo from Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, NC. Melissa shares insights about her freshman seminars on alcohol history, use, and misuse, emphasizing harm reduction over abstinence. The conversation delves into her biopsychology class and creative teaching methods, such as murder mysteries to teach neurobiology. The episode also covers Melissa's career path, her role as an associate teaching professor, and advocacy for teaching-focused faculty. Highlighting her passion for neuroscience and education, Melissa discusses her upcoming book 'Science...
info_outline
S1E8: Fun, Not Dour (Jane Halonen and Dana Dunn)
PsychSessions: Conversations about Teaching N' Stuff
Dave talks with Jane Halonen (University of West Florida) and Dana Dunn (Moravian University) about opportunities to choose to do what brings us joy and also allowing opportunities for our more junior colleagues to gain experiences that will help with their career development. We discuss the frustration of dealing with burdensome and unnecessary processes that can take time away from our teaching. Listen closely for an appearance by Dana's dog, Arno!
info_outline
S1E7: Disappearing Like Yoda (Ken Carter and Pat Puccio)
PsychSessions: Conversations about Teaching N' Stuff
Ken Carter (Oxford College of Emory University) and Pat Puccio (Depaul University; retired from the College of DuPage) discuss a range of topics having to do with negotiating late career chapters and retirement. We chat about the different ways that "late career" can be interpreted and different pathways in retirement. We also comment on the need for support for late career and retired psychology faculty, particularly in terms of community connections that may become less accessible after one retires. We also discuss preparing our departments for our retirement versus "disappearing like Yoda."...
info_outlineIn this episode Garth interviews Coco Ballantyne from New York, NY. A journalist and science writer, Coco shares her journey from teaching high school to coauthoring a highly regarded psychology textbook. She discusses her initial uncertainty about her career path, the importance of teaching reporting skills in journalism school, and how she became involved with the textbook project. Coco highlights the collaborative efforts of her and her coauthors to make psychological concepts engaging and relevant to students through storytelling. The episode also touches on her thoughts on the importance of clear communication, especially in today's polarized world, and her views on the current state of journalism.
[Note. Portions of the show notes were generated by Descript AI.]