New York Institute of Technology
Course Title: Introduction to Psychology
Contact: Spencer Turkel
New York Institute of Technology (NYIT) plans to redesign Introduction to Psychology, which enrolls ~835 students annually. The course is taught in a traditional lecture format by both full-time and adjunct faculty on the Manhattan and Old Westbury campuses. Approximately 17 sections, each meeting twice a week, are offered each year.
The traditional course faces two academic problems. The first is a lack of consistency. All faculty use the same textbook, but teaching styles, course requirements and course content vary from section to section. Auburn plans to standardize course outcomes, objectives and requirements for all students. The second problem is that the lecture format creates a passive learning environment in which there is only minimal student participation. Although the traditional format includes some interactive, online experiences, it does not sufficiently engage students.
NYIT will redesign the course, using the Supplemental Model to create an active learning environment. NYIT will add online interactive labs and assignments that students will complete, either individually or in groups, prior to class. Students will also complete online tutorials and quizzes to be submitted for review by peer mentors and tutors when appropriate. Peer mentors will also lead review sessions, assist with small groups during class, help grade assignments and proctor exams.
Quality will be enhanced by standardizing content, requirements and delivery across sections, ensuring that all students have the same learning experience. The redesign will engage students as active learners, teaching them to apply theoretical concepts in hands-on-demonstrations. The online activities prior to class will enable the instructor to scale down the direct lecture time and incorporate activities such as discussion sessions and collaborative work by students in groups. Students will receive immediate feedback on their online work, and their progress will be monitored. If they encounter problems, they will be scheduled for a review session where they will receive assistance from a peer tutor or the preceptor. The team hopes that the active learning environment will appeal to a broader range of students, thus increasing the number of psychology majors, and that the course will serve as a model for other introductory courses in the department and across the institution.
The impact of the course redesign on learning outcomes will be assessed by comparing performance data from two parallel sections, one traditional and one redesigned. Final exam grades, common content items selected from three semester tests and overall final course grades will be compared. In addition, a survey that assesses students’ expectations of the course, interest level in the topic and the likeliness of enrolling in additional psychology courses will be administered to students in both sections on the first and last day of class.
Cost savings will be generated by reducing the number of sections from 17 to 10. Section size at Old Westbury will increase from ~80 to ~110 and at the Manhattan campus from between 20 and 49 to ~60 students. The number of adjuncts will be reduced from six to two. With the addition of peer mentors and a part-time preceptor to manage the peer mentors, the cost-per-student will decrease from $99 to $64, a 35% reduction.
Quick Links:
