Psychological concepts, particularly statistics and research methods, can be challenging for students when they first enter the field. To make them more approachable, I use examples that students can relate to. For instance, I have found that clips from TV shows, like The Office, help students connect concepts from class to concrete examples and provide a foundation for productive discussion.

I believe a classroom is a community. This means that the both the students and I have responsibilities to ensure the community functions effectively. To this end, students in my courses regularly reflect on what and how they are learning, and look for gaps in their knowledge in formative assessments. These assignments also help me assess student learning and revisit material when necessary.

It is important that all students feel welcomed in the classroom and feel comfortable expressing their thoughts and opinions about the content. Students play an active role in establishing this type of community, and collectively create a set of classroom expectations and rules. Further, I ensure that all students feel represented in class examples by creating examples based on their favorite TV shows, using sample problems from various areas of psychology. I encourage students to create and share their own examples and applications of course material with each other.