Pedagogic psychology
Active members:
- Simon Bignell
- James Elander
- Maggie Gale
- David Kaposi
- Frances Maratos
- Jane Montague
- Kevin Silber
- Paul Staples
The pedagogic psychology research cluster is co-ordinated by Professor James Elander and conducts research on the teaching of psychology and the application of psychology theory and methods to learning and teaching. There is a presently a strong departmental emphasis on e-learning and e-tutoring, and factors affecting students' critical thinking skills.
Examples of current projects include:
- The Student Authorship project is a three-institution project to develop and evaluate teaching on authorship in psychology, funded by the HEA Psychology Network DTES. Preliminary findings were presented at the 2007 HEA conference.
- The Online Degree Evaluation project was funded HEA Psychology Network Mini Project scheme, and evaluated student experiences of the UK's first BPS-accredited on-line psychology degree. For more information, contact Maggie Gale.
- The Blended Learning project evaluates a programme to enhance staff e-tutoring skills, and extend blended and e-learning opportunities for campus-based and on-line psychology students, funded by the HEA Psychology Network DTES scheme. For more information, contact Paul Staples.
- The Exam Anxiety project examines cognitive factors associated with exam anxiety among psychology students, funded by a University of Derby Teaching Informed by Research award. For more information, contact Sigrid Lipka.
- The Synchronous Online Interaction project evaluates telephone conferencing and an online chat forum in online psychology modules, funded by a University of Derby Teaching Informed by Research award. For more information, contact Jane Montague.
- The Routes to HE and Thinking Skills project examines pre-university influences on psychology students' critical thinking skills, funded by a University of Derby Teaching Informed by Research award. For more information, contact Frances Maratos.
- The Blended Learning Revisited project is an exploration of undergraduate experiential learning in 3D virtual (Second Life) environments, overseen by the Second Life Working Group at the University of Derby and LIS. For more information, contact Simon Bignell.
- The Ready for University project evaluates workshops to help Access and A level psychology students understand university assessment criteria, funded by a National Teaching Fellowship Award. Findings were presented at the 2007 HEA conference.
