Every student of Psychology finds at least something difficult! It can be hard for teachers to put themselves ‘into the students’ shoes’ and understand their problems with ‘learning’. I got some insight into this when I spent several years at a local college doing a part-time course in a second language and taking GCSE and […]
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After 15 years as a psychology teacher it was noticeable that for many students A-levels were so much more than simply qualifications. Of course, they are high stakes examinations as the grades students achieve influence their life chances, their chances of entry into higher education and the options that are subsequently available to them, but […]
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A Christmas Tale… Last Christmas, my six year old son came up with a brilliant plan. If you can’t buy something in the shops… ask Father Christmas for it! Some time ago, one of the major supermarkets made chocolate orange spread – spreadable chocolate orange! It became an instant favourite and we stockpiled a few […]
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As I write, a story is doing the rounds of the broadsheet and tabloid media that Prime Minister Theresa May is set to sack Chancellor Philip Hammond after the 8th June election because of disagreements that are so profound the Chancellor has been heard to swear in the midst of heated debates in the cabinet. […]
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In ethics, it’s the dilemmas that grab the headlines. They crash into the news for reasons similar to almost all news: they stand out from a norm of people muddling along in broad accord as they judge right from wrong; they sometimes pit groups of people against each other in noisy conflict; and they often […]
Read more Thanks largely to the cognitive sciences, we’ve learned much in recent decades about how our own minds work. As knowledge flows from research journals to the popular media, recent findings in psychology have stimulated considerable commentary and advice on dealing with the problems that trouble our minds. Psychoanalysis and cognitive behavioural therapy, complex topics within […]
Read moreOnce students have an understanding of genetic and neural explanations for OCD, they are ready to complete the stepping stones activity. Either working alone or in pairs, students have to negotiate a path from the start stone to the end stone moving from stone to stone along the way. Any route is allowed as long […]
Read moreIn this post I’m going to look at ideas for introducing mental disorders. The AQA specification states students need to know and understand behavioural, emotional and cognitive characteristics of phobias, depression and OCD before considering each of the named disorders from a specific perspective: behavioural approach (phobias explanation and treatment), cognitive approach (depression explanation and treatment) […]
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Here are some ideas for getting your students thinking about definitions of abnormality. Getting students thinking Ask students to draw and label a ‘normal’ student. After students have shared their images with each other as a class discuss the following questions: Were there any common features in the drawings? If so, why? Where does our […]
Read more Surely in the holiday sunshine of a northern hemisphere summer we TOK teachers deserve to rest our minds — even as we nourish them. Do you share this belief? If so, you might, like me, enjoy listening to interviews or thoughtful conversations while preparing salmon for the barbecue, watering the garden, or walking on the […]
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