PsychSessions: Conversations about Teaching N' Stuff

Latest Episodes:

PsychSessionsACT 2023 Episode 3 Mona Xu Oct 14, 2023

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This series of short interviews was conducted at STP's Annual Conference on Teaching (ACT) in Portland, OR on October 6, 2023. We want to thank all of our guests, ACT, and the Society for the Teaching of Psychology (STP) for their support. The views or product endorsements expressed do not represent the views, support, or endorsements of STP.

PsychSessionsACT 2023 Episode 2 Brittany Avila Oct 14, 2023

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PsychSessionsACT 2023 Episode 1 Aaron Richmond Oct 14, 2023

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E183: Monica Reis-Bergen: Leader, Team Player, Innovator, Student-Focused, and Down to Earth Oct 10, 2023

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In this episode Garth and Jane Halonen from the University of West Florida interview Monica Reis-Bergen from James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA. Jane returns to the institution where she hired Monica, completing the circle. Monica is pleased to serve as the utility infielder of the department, teaching many different courses over the years. She is optimistic about nearly everything, including post-pandemic developments and her research projects with her students. She is innovative in and out of the classroom, striving to create community and help students overcome their insecurities. She rejects the teaching metaphors of 'sage on the stage' or 'guide on the side' and prefers that the student be the musician singing with me or even singing alone. Her YouTube channel 'Coffee With Monica' was a hit during the pandemic, and these three enjoy a delightful conversation.

Mentoring Series Episode 12 -- Kenzie, Mona, and AI Oct 01, 2023

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In this episode, Kenzie and Mona close out this mentoring series (for now) with our first AI guest. We give the ASK AI app (powered by ChatGPT and GPT-3) the questions we've been asking guests all series. How does AI define mentoring? What tips does AI have about the process? Should those of us mentoring be worried about AI competition? Listen to find out!

Mentoring Series Episode 11 - Jasmine Mena Oct 01, 2023

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In this episode, Kenzie and Mona chat with Jasmine Mena of Bucknell University. Listen as we discuss mentorship as interest in progress, profound respect for the whole person, and growing together. We also talk about undercover mentoring and Jasmine's Rocky Mountain Psychological Association keynote on cultivating students' sense of belonging. Jasmine shares great advice and discusses how critical consciousness and liberatory approaches inform her values, research, teaching, and mentoring.

Mentoring Series Episode 10 - Dina Gohar Oct 01, 2023

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In this episode, Kenzie and Mona chat with Dina Gohar of the University of Michigan. Listen as we discuss mentorship as collaboration, facilitating a growth mindset, the importance of self-disclosure (and how to navigate the process), how mentoring styles change over time, and how identity factors can impact mentoring. Dina shares how being a clinician informs her mentoring and reminisces about her time in France. We talk about European vs. US work culture (spoiler alert: balance is easier in Europe), and Mona and Dina discover they might be the same person? Dina also shares some tips for getting affordable theater tickets.

Mentoring Series Episode 9 - Karen Naufel Oct 01, 2023

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In this episode, Kenzie and Mona chat with Karen Naufel of Georgia Southern University. Listen as she shares her experiences mentoring and being mentored. We discuss ways to have structured but casual mentoring (coffee anyone?) and her impactful Rocky Mountain Psychological Association keynote on the ethics of research mentorship. We delve into the risks that research assistants face, the need for researchers (and not just participants) to have informed consent, and ways mentors and RAs can improve the research process and lab culture.

E182: Dan Willingham: Writer, Scholar, Mentor, Teacher, and Mythbuster Sep 26, 2023

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In this episode Garth and Jane Halonen (University of West Florida) interview Dan Willingham from the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, VA as part of the 2023 East Coast Tour. They begin with a discussion of Dan's new book, Outsmarting Your Brain. When they trace back his interest in the topic, it may have emerged from high school student studies about self-regulation regarding emotion and study skills. Interestingly, Dan 'publishes' this book in reverse order -- he writes the book first, then writes the prospectus, then goes looking for the publisher. He completes his undergraduate education at Duke and his graduate education at Harvard but does a brief stint in between in a congressional office in Washington, D.C. This trio covers so much ground during this conversation, including myth-busting a certain topic, the courses Dan teaches at UVA, what his parents studied in graduate school, thoughts on teaching evaluation, the hidden curriculum, and more.

E181: Roy Hopkins: Aspiration, Duality, Challenges, Prolific Contributions, and Regret Sep 12, 2023

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In this episode Garth and Jane Halonen (University of West Florida) interview Roy Hopkins (Professor Emeritus) from the St. Mary's College of Maryland in St. Mary's City, MD. This interview was part of the East Coast Tour 2023, in which Garth and Jane interviewed Roy in his hometown of Charlottesville, VA. Roy can look back now and celebrate a career of twists and turns or use the phrase he prefers -- duality. He succeeds often in his career but simultaneously has "fish out of water" feelings. He was a first-generation college student who successfully applied for scholarships, yet his mother felt that attending college increased their distance. He goes to Harvard for graduate school yet experiences the imposter phenomenon of being from Virginia. After not achieving tenure at Vassar (his first job post-PhD), he lands at St. Mary's College of Maryland -- a good fit for his teaching career, but not a good match for a gay man (the duality). Roy became a successful textbook author, publishing in adolescent psychology and introductory psychology.