Teaching Psychology Teaching Psychology Online Online Advantages and Disadvantages: A Case Advantages and Disadvantages: A Case Study Study Ken Stange, Professor Emeritus at Nipissing University Ken Stange, Professor Emeritus at Nipissing University
Mar 26, 2015
Teaching Psychology Teaching Psychology OnlineOnline
Advantages and Disadvantages: A Case Advantages and Disadvantages: A Case StudyStudy
Ken Stange, Professor Emeritus at Nipissing UniversityKen Stange, Professor Emeritus at Nipissing University
IntroductionIntroductionCaveats (Personal disclosure)Caveats (Personal disclosure)
My teaching experienceMy teaching experience40 years of teaching ‘live’40 years of teaching ‘live’ButBut only 2 years of teaching online only 2 years of teaching onlineand just one specific course: and just one specific course: Psychology of ArtPsychology of Art
My biasesMy biasesI’m a computer geek and love the digital I’m a computer geek and love the digital revolutionrevolutionI’m obsessed with bridging the Two Cultures I’m obsessed with bridging the Two Cultures dividedivideI’m not fond of the current educational systemI’m not fond of the current educational system
Once Upon A TimeOnce Upon A TimeLectures were the Lectures were the only option.only option.
There were few There were few supplementary supplementary resources, even resources, even texts.texts.
And it wasn’t the And it wasn’t the Golden Age some Golden Age some imagine it to have imagine it to have been.been.
University of Paris (1160)
Lectures In The Lectures In The Early DaysEarly Days
Advantages
Intimacy
Interactivity
Relative ease of preparation
Disadvantages
Limitation of access
Dependency on performance skills
Transitory nature of information imparted
Lectures NowLectures Now
Lectures NowLectures Now
Advantages
Relative ease of preparation
Disadvantages
Loss of intimacy
Loss of interactivity
Limitation of access
Dependency on performance skills
Transitory nature of information imparted
The Digital The Digital AlternativeAlternative
The Digital The Digital AlternativeAlternative
Advantages
Increased accessibility
Less dependency on teacher’s performance skills
Less transitory nature of imparted information
Disadvantages
Loss of intimacy
Loss of interactivity
Difficulty of preparation
There are tools to minimize some of the disadvantages!
CaveatsCaveatsSome Some courses courses can’t be can’t be taught taught effectively effectively online. E.g., online. E.g., ‘Hands on’ ‘Hands on’ studies studies involving lab involving lab work.work.
Personal Personal face-to-face face-to-face mentoring is mentoring is still not still not entirely entirely possible on possible on the Internet.the Internet.
A Course That A Course That SeemedSeemed To Work To Work
Psychology of ArtPsychology of Art
Nature of The Nature of The CourseCourse
Psychology of Art IPsychology of Art I
This course is a general survey of This course is a general survey of psychological approaches to the creative psychological approaches to the creative arts (music, the performing arts, the visual arts (music, the performing arts, the visual arts, literature, film and science). It reviews arts, literature, film and science). It reviews what all branches of psychology have what all branches of psychology have contributed to an understanding of this contributed to an understanding of this topic, including the relationship of topic, including the relationship of theoretical aesthetics to empirical theoretical aesthetics to empirical aesthetics. The concept of creativity is aesthetics. The concept of creativity is examined, including its defining examined, including its defining characteristics in art and science, the characteristics in art and science, the characteristics of the creative individual, characteristics of the creative individual, and the possibility of fostering it.and the possibility of fostering it.
Nature of The Nature of The CourseCourse
Psychology of Art IIPsychology of Art II
This course examines each of the major This course examines each of the major creative arts in terms of the psychology of creative arts in terms of the psychology of perception, cognition, and emotion, as perception, cognition, and emotion, as well as the biological and evolutionary well as the biological and evolutionary bases for some aspects of the aesthetic bases for some aspects of the aesthetic experience and art appreciation. Specific, experience and art appreciation. Specific, exemplary artworks are presented and exemplary artworks are presented and discussed. The relationship of the sciences discussed. The relationship of the sciences to the traditional arts is also investigated.to the traditional arts is also investigated.
Nature of The Nature of The CourseCourse
Specific Requirements For The CourseSpecific Requirements For The Course
Exemplary materials (“Aesthetic Exemplary materials (“Aesthetic Experiences”)Experiences”)
Visual artVisual artMusicMusicVideoVideo
Textual material from eclectic sources Textual material from eclectic sources (no possibility of a textbook summary)(no possibility of a textbook summary)
Scientific journal articlesScientific journal articlesNews articlesNews articlesCritical reviews and commentary.Critical reviews and commentary.
Evolution Of The Evolution Of The CourseCourse
Evolution Of The Evolution Of The CourseCourse
Evolution Of The Evolution Of The CourseCourse
Evolution Of The Evolution Of The CourseCourse
The Dealing With The Dealing With Inherent Inherent
DisadvantagesDisadvantages Solutions
Email accessibility
Discussion Forums
Sorry, no solution!
Disadvantages
Loss of intimacy
Loss of interactivity
Difficulty of preparation
There are tools to minimize some of the disadvantages.
Revised Digital Revised Digital Balance SheetBalance Sheet
Advantages
Increased accessibility
Less dependency on teacher’s performance skills
Less transitory nature of imparted information
Disadvantages
Difficulty of preparation
Course Course PreparationPreparation
Get departmental and senate approval Get departmental and senate approval to offer the course and sign contractto offer the course and sign contract
Caveats of copyright and paymentCaveats of copyright and payment
Write course modules (using e.g., Word)Write course modules (using e.g., Word)
Submit modules for approval by…Submit modules for approval by…Distance learning department (have silly Distance learning department (have silly format rules)format rules)
DepartmentalDepartmental
External refereesExternal referees
Review online versionReview online version
Four Transition Four Transition IssuesIssues
1.1. Skill set required (e.g., computer skills)Skill set required (e.g., computer skills)
2.2. Imperfect tools (e.g., Blackboard)Imperfect tools (e.g., Blackboard)
3.3. Potential administrative hasslesPotential administrative hassles1.1. InfrastructureInfrastructure
2.2. CensorshipCensorship
4.4. Dependency on current technologyDependency on current technology
Psychology of ArtPsychology of Art Course Structure Course Structure
Module StructureModule Structure
Text (note: copyright issues)Text (note: copyright issues)
Links within text (“Readings”)Links within text (“Readings”)
AssignmentsAssignments
Discussion QuestionsDiscussion Questions
Psychology of ArtPsychology of ArtEvaluationEvaluation
Assignments for each module (24%)Assignments for each module (24%)
Discussion forums (24%)Discussion forums (24%)
Reflective journals (20%)Reflective journals (20%)
Final exam (32%)Final exam (32%)
N of One ResultsN of One ResultsPsychology Of ArtPsychology Of Art
Practical Ongoing Practical Ongoing ProblemsProblems
Student IssuesStudent IssuesGetting students to keep upGetting students to keep upDealing with student excusesDealing with student excusesDealing with students’ technical problemsDealing with students’ technical problemsEmail overloadEmail overload
Upkeep IssuesUpkeep IssuesDead linksDead linksGradingGrading
Administrative IssuesAdministrative IssuesBureaucracyBureaucracyEmpire buildingEmpire buildingServer downtime and technical problems Server downtime and technical problems
Online TeachingOnline TeachingReport CardReport Card
Potential A+Potential A+
Effectiveness A-Effectiveness A-
Works to full potential B-Works to full potential B-
Works and plays well with others CWorks and plays well with others C
Thank you for your Thank you for your attention.attention.
Questi0ns?Questi0ns?Comments?Comments?
Contact: [email protected]