Teaching Philosophy
I believe that my primary role in the classroom is one of supporting and fostering students' intrinsic desire to learn and explore. My philosophy on teaching is guided broadly by Self-Determination Theory. Self-Determination Theory[1] proposes that intrinsic motivation will be maximized when three basic psychological needs are supported: competence, autonomy, and relatedness. Research on need satisfaction in a classroom context confirms that when these needs are perceived to be supported by the instructor, students enjoy the class and instructor more, feel more competent in the subject, and perform higher in the course[2]. Accordingly, I shape my classes and behavior to support the basic needs of competence, autonomy, and relatedness in an educational context.
[1] Ryan, R.M., & Deci, E.L. (2000). Self-determination theory and the facilitation of intrinsic motivation. American Psychologist, 55, 68-78.
[2] Black, A. E., & Deci, E. L. (2000). The effects of instructors’ autonomy support and students’ autonomous motivation on learning organic chemistry: A self-determination theory perspective. Science Education, 84, 740-756.
[1] Ryan, R.M., & Deci, E.L. (2000). Self-determination theory and the facilitation of intrinsic motivation. American Psychologist, 55, 68-78.
[2] Black, A. E., & Deci, E. L. (2000). The effects of instructors’ autonomy support and students’ autonomous motivation on learning organic chemistry: A self-determination theory perspective. Science Education, 84, 740-756.
Teaching Awards
Letter of Commendation for Teaching Excellence, Center for Teaching Excellence, MU, 2017-2021
Wilbert J. McKeachie Teaching Excellence Award, Society for the Teaching of Psychology (APA Division 2), Spring 2015
Psychological & Brain Sciences Contribution to Teaching Excellence Award, UCSB, Winter 2015
Graduate Student Association Excellence in Teaching Award, UCSB, Spring 2014
Wilbert J. McKeachie Teaching Excellence Award, Society for the Teaching of Psychology (APA Division 2), Spring 2015
Psychological & Brain Sciences Contribution to Teaching Excellence Award, UCSB, Winter 2015
Graduate Student Association Excellence in Teaching Award, UCSB, Spring 2014
Courses: Instructor of Record
Department of Psychology, University of Toronto - St. George
Psy 201: Statistics I
Psy 202: Statistics II
Psy 203: Psychological Research
Psy 331: Social Psychology of Emotion
Psy 424: Social Psychology of Close Relationships
Department of Psychology, Miami University
Psy 293: Research Design & Analysis I (5)
Psy 294: Research Design & Analysis II
Psy 324: Advanced Social Psychology (Special Topics: Close Relationships) (4)
Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, University of California Santa Barbara
Psy 102: Introduction to Social Psychology (3)
Psy 149: Social Psychology of Close Relationships
Psy 158: Positive Psychology
Psy 120L: Advanced Research Methods in Psychology
Teaching Assistant Advisory Panel: Lead TA
Psy 201: Statistics I
- Syllabus coming soon
- More soon
Psy 202: Statistics II
- Syllabus coming soon
- More soon
Psy 203: Psychological Research
- Syllabus coming soon
- More soon
Psy 331: Social Psychology of Emotion
- Syllabus coming soon
- More soon
Psy 424: Social Psychology of Close Relationships
- Syllabus coming soon
- More soon
Department of Psychology, Miami University
Psy 293: Research Design & Analysis I (5)
- Syllabus
- Small lecture of 44 students, with 2 smaller TA-led labs
- A prerequisite for the upper level content courses in the major
- Covers both observational/survey methods and statistics through regression
Psy 294: Research Design & Analysis II
- Syllabus
- Small lecture of 44 students, with 2 smaller TA-led labs
- A prerequisite for the upper level content courses in the major
- Covers both experimental methods and statistics through mixed ANOVA
Psy 324: Advanced Social Psychology (Special Topics: Close Relationships) (4)
- Syllabus
- Small lecture/seminar of 20-26 students
- Not a required course, I enjoy freedom and flexibility in how to structure my course, and what material to cover.
- My first semester trying out a course blogging assignment; check in with me in May to see how it went!
- UPDATE: I am so happy with how this project went, especially for the first time! I plan to polish the assignment up a little and try again.
- Check out last semester's posts here: www.relationshippsych.wordpress.com
Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, University of California Santa Barbara
Psy 102: Introduction to Social Psychology (3)
- Syllabus
- Large lectures ranging from 60-90 students
- One of my favorite classes to teach - this is the class that inspired me to become an academic!
Psy 149: Social Psychology of Close Relationships
- Syllabus
- Medium lecture
- Also a pleasure to teach, since students come in inherently interested in the subject matter
- Syllabus accepted for inclusion in Project Syllabus, a peer-reviewed database of teaching resources hosted by the Society for the Teaching of Psychology.
Psy 158: Positive Psychology
- Syllabus
- Medium lecture
- Another intrinsically motivating topic, for me and my students
- Received repeated feedback that this was "the most applicable course ever taken"
Psy 120L: Advanced Research Methods in Psychology
- Syllabus
- A requirement for graduation, this class consists of both lecture and lab components
- Supervised a team of 3 lab teaching assistants
Teaching Assistant Advisory Panel: Lead TA
- Syllabus
- An awesome opportunity (and part of first-year requirements) for psych grad students
- Consists of a panel of grads representing each year, with the 4th year taking on the role of Lead TA for the department
Teaching Resources
When doing research, one of the first things we do is seek out the relevant previous work done. It is crazy to me that so many people don't use the same strategy for teaching! Why reinvent the wheel when so many smart, talented people have paved the way for us? Here are some of my favorites resources, consisting of both teaching-related sites and sources of cool facts and images to include in class.
- Here is a massive Google doc I maintain and share with graduate students/ECPs who are interested in teaching - one day I will format it better, but til now, this is what you get :)
- TeachPsych.org, the website for the Society of Teaching Psychology (APA Division 2)
- TeachPsychScience.org, a similar website dedicated to the teaching of statistics and research methods
- Not Awful and Boring, a great (and often hilarious) repository of statistics memes, examples, datasets, and other resources
- ScienceofRelationships.com - The important things in life deserve data
- Sociological Images, a blog documenting images and infographics of interest to social scientists