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Transforming Our Lives through Self Reflection and Psychology
A psychology professor's collection of lessons fostering self-discovery through online activities, hands-on classroom experiences, engaging lectures, and effective discussion prompts.
Class-Specific Teaching Resource
Cognitive Psychology
What’s universal about processes of attention, perception, memory, and problem-solving?
When I think of Artificial Intelligence (AI), I think of Herbert A. Simon. He taught my first Cognitive Psychology class, emphasizing computational models. He assigned us a digit span task and I was totally perplexed explaining my results without any serial position effects, so I muddled through. His feedback, “you’re supposed to rehearse!” That’s how I learned – as a grad student - repetition is how people memorize. My entire life I struggled with memorization and compensated with depth-of-processing. I overthink everything. I still can’t understand how anybody rehearses repeatedly in their head. It’s just so boring! And how do you shut off your real thinking to do it? Today I try to be less in my head and more with my body and heart, which is the opposite of Simon's advice. He was a mentor on my master’s thesis committee. I still remember with affection how he admonished me in way nobody else has ever done, “you really need to be more analytical.” Rest in peace, Herb.
William Eggleston, Tricycle and Memphis
1970 photograph of a typical tricycle illustrating perspective matters, and powerfully sharing a child-like perspective with the viewer
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What do I know about Hollywood, just a dream I got sitting through too many double features. ... Now I got a lady pig, and a bear and ... I brought them all out here to the middle of nowhere, and it's all my fault. / Still, whether you promised them something or not, you gotta' remember, they wanted to come. / But that's because they believed in me. / No, they believed in the dream. / Well, so do I but / You do? / Yeah! Of course I do. / Well then? / I guess I was wrong when I said I never promised anyone. I promised me.
Category within Class
Template of an Item
Here is a description of the item. Probably write about two sentences so it's clear to visitors what the item is and they can decide if to click into it. This is about the maximum length.
Category within Class
Template of an Item
Here is a description of the item. Probably write about two sentences so it's clear to visitors what the item is and they can decide if to click into it. This is about the maximum length.
Notes for Teachers, with legend:
I hope you find something helpful for your classes! ~ Katie
self-reflection online activities
📈 individual differences:
🎨 demonstrate concept in action
💙 sensitive
engaging classroom experiences
🏔️ individual hands-on learning.
💬 class-wide discussion:
🧩 breakout groups:
🤔 engaging lecture (e.g., vivid examples)
pedagogical research & essays.
🍎research
✒️ personal essay reflections about teaching
📖 reference documents (e.g., handouts, how to guides)
self-reflection online activities
📈 individual differences:
🎨 demonstrate concept in action
💙 sensitive
engaging classroom experiences
🏔️ individual hands-on learning.
💬 class-wide discussion:
🧩 breakout groups:
🤔 engaging lecture (e.g., vivid examples)
pedagogical research & essays.
🍎research
✒️ personal essay reflections about teaching
📖 reference documents (e.g., handouts, how to guides)