PSYCHOLOGY
We will work together at the beginning of the workshop to set goals for our time together. As you look at the schedule I’ve prepared, you will notice that most of each day is pre-scheduled with a Big CED (Course and Exam Description) Topic, but during part of each day we will talk about topics the group chooses (the Psychology Content section of the day). Thus, the syllabus below outlines a general outline for our time together, but we may modify it based on what the group decides is most important and the time we have available. One of my goals is to make sure that you leave this workshop with the resources you need most for next year. I’ll provide copies of the materials we use/discuss so you’ll have a handy “toolkit” of activities, demonstrations, and resources to draw from as you plan your curriculum.
What to bring:
● Please bring the text (or texts) that you use (or plan to use) with your AP class. I’m most familiar with the Myers text, but I’ve used other books as well. Some of our discussions will involve how we can best use our texts to help students and features to look for in a good AP book. We may also need our textbooks as we discuss and practice writing FRQ’s.
● Make sure you have a copy of the College Board AP Psychology CED (either the physical binder or the digital).
● I will be using Google slides and documents that will be shared with you in my Google Drive. I will provide a link to my Google drive as we get closer to our workshop. It’s helpful to use your gmail account (or sign up for a gmail account) when registering for the conference as it makes sharing of Google files so much easier.
● Bring a laptop/tablet and a power cord (and possibly an extension cord if you have one available. It may be helpful in case finding an outlet in our classroom is a challenge).
● Goal setting: What topics/concerns do we want to make sure we discuss?
Big CED topic: What is AP Psychology?
● Structuring your AP Psychology Course. Tour of the CED & planning sheets.
● Sharing our organization systems, discussing advantages and disadvantages of different examples
● Choosing a textbook
● AP Course Audit
● First day activities
Psychology Content: Scientific Foundations of Psychology
Day 2:
Big CED Topic: The AP Psychology Exam - the Multiple Choice
● How is the AP exam designed?
● What are the skills my students should learn in AP Psychology?
● Writing or selecting multiple choice questions for your exams
● Strategies for taking the multiple choice & reviewing for the AP Exam
● How do you design exams in your class?
● Helping kids master the material: test recapture
Psychology Content: Scientific Foundations of Psychology (Research methods)
● Purpose of the free-response questions
● History of the free-response questions, and what we might expect in the future
● AP Reading Simulation
● Grading the free-response answers with a rubric
● How should we prepare our students to answer free-response questions?
Psychology Content: Biological Bases of Behavior, Sensation & Perception
Big CED Topic: AP Classroom - What is it, and how can we use it?
Equity & Access in AP courses
Psychology Content: Learning & Cognition
Goodbyes! Final questions, tearful farewells!
