Word cloud based on my teaching philosophy and experience.
Click here for my Teaching Philosophy
Current Courses
Introduction to Psychology, Fall 2017
Developmental Psychology, Fall 2017
Teaching Interests
Language Development
Cognitive Development
Developmental Psychology
Cognitive Psychology
Language and Thought
Research Methods
Inferential Statistics
Teaching Experience
Cognitive Psychology
This course is an introduction to cognition, an area of psychology that investigates the ways in which we acquire, store, create and use knowledge. Cognition includes a wide range of mental processes that are used every day in almost all human activities. These include attention, perception, memory, imagery, language, problem solving, creativity, and reasoning. Cognition refers to a theoretical approach in psychology that emphasizes the role of people's knowledge, reasoning, and expectations and this approach has had a broad influence on all areas of psychology. It also involves developing sophisticated methodologies to study processes that are not always observable. Cognitive research can be applied in order to improve mental functioning, e.g., developing programs for improving memory or cognitive rehabilitation for brain injury. It can also be used to address serious societal issues and problems such as understanding how people develop and use stereotypes. Cognitive psychology has applications to many fields including medicine, the legal system, education, and understanding mental disorders. In addition, cognitive psychology is part of the active interdisciplinary field of cognitive science that also includes disciplines such as philosophy, neuroscience and artificial intelligence. This course provides an overview of the field of cognitive psychology, including its research, theory, and application. Content is presented through a combination of lectures, readings, activities, and demonstrations. A major goal of the course is to show how the major questions in cognition are addressed through empirical research. It also promotes critical thinking and encourages students to apply this knowledge to enhance their lives. (From PSU Course Catalog)
Scientific Thinking
As we interact with the world, we often come across interesting questions concerning human behavior. How do children learn language? What are the consequences of bullying? Are behavioral or medical treatments more beneficial for Alzheimer’s patients? In this course, I guide students through the process that begins with an observation or question and ends with sound inferences about human behavior. Following instruction and discussion of the many research methods used in psychological research, I provide students with extensive experience applying their knowledge to real problems. Class exercises include breaking complex questions down into testable hypotheses, choosing and executing the appropriate designs, establishing experimental control, validity, and reliability, and interpreting results. Students also design their own experiments, culminating in APA-style written proposals that them as independent research projects. Leaving the course, students will be equipped with a skill set fundamental to the creation of new knowledge. Example Syllabus
Teaching in Higher Education Certificate, January 2013
The Teaching in Higher Education Certificate is a university credential that reflects formal training in general principles of teaching and learning, as well as specific teaching issues in psychology.
Current Courses
Introduction to Psychology, Fall 2017
Developmental Psychology, Fall 2017
Teaching Interests
Language Development
Cognitive Development
Developmental Psychology
Cognitive Psychology
Language and Thought
Research Methods
Inferential Statistics
Teaching Experience
Cognitive Psychology
This course is an introduction to cognition, an area of psychology that investigates the ways in which we acquire, store, create and use knowledge. Cognition includes a wide range of mental processes that are used every day in almost all human activities. These include attention, perception, memory, imagery, language, problem solving, creativity, and reasoning. Cognition refers to a theoretical approach in psychology that emphasizes the role of people's knowledge, reasoning, and expectations and this approach has had a broad influence on all areas of psychology. It also involves developing sophisticated methodologies to study processes that are not always observable. Cognitive research can be applied in order to improve mental functioning, e.g., developing programs for improving memory or cognitive rehabilitation for brain injury. It can also be used to address serious societal issues and problems such as understanding how people develop and use stereotypes. Cognitive psychology has applications to many fields including medicine, the legal system, education, and understanding mental disorders. In addition, cognitive psychology is part of the active interdisciplinary field of cognitive science that also includes disciplines such as philosophy, neuroscience and artificial intelligence. This course provides an overview of the field of cognitive psychology, including its research, theory, and application. Content is presented through a combination of lectures, readings, activities, and demonstrations. A major goal of the course is to show how the major questions in cognition are addressed through empirical research. It also promotes critical thinking and encourages students to apply this knowledge to enhance their lives. (From PSU Course Catalog)
Scientific Thinking
As we interact with the world, we often come across interesting questions concerning human behavior. How do children learn language? What are the consequences of bullying? Are behavioral or medical treatments more beneficial for Alzheimer’s patients? In this course, I guide students through the process that begins with an observation or question and ends with sound inferences about human behavior. Following instruction and discussion of the many research methods used in psychological research, I provide students with extensive experience applying their knowledge to real problems. Class exercises include breaking complex questions down into testable hypotheses, choosing and executing the appropriate designs, establishing experimental control, validity, and reliability, and interpreting results. Students also design their own experiments, culminating in APA-style written proposals that them as independent research projects. Leaving the course, students will be equipped with a skill set fundamental to the creation of new knowledge. Example Syllabus
Teaching in Higher Education Certificate, January 2013
The Teaching in Higher Education Certificate is a university credential that reflects formal training in general principles of teaching and learning, as well as specific teaching issues in psychology.
