Introductory Psychology: Six Key Approaches
A 6-week/topic self-paced course examining the main theoretical approaches to explaining human behaviour
Dr Steph Acaster
Average rating:
5.0
Number of reviews:(253)
Star Educator
What's included
6 pre-recorded lessons
6 weeks
of teacher support1 year access
to the contentHomework
2-4 hours per week. Students will be encouraged to summarise their ideas about the class content after each session. Weekly assignments, such as research/discussion prompts, and short question sets. Optional extra reading materials will also be suggested.Assessment
Continuous learning is encouraged: Students will receive informal feedback from the teacher on every task they upload, and will be invited to resubmit and discuss any areas where they have misunderstandings.Grading
No scores/letter grades, but a certificate of participation/completion is available upon request for learners who complete this course.Class Experience
Beginner - Intermediate Level
The class is an ideal introductory-level Psychology class, and will focus on one 'approach' each week: -Cognitive Psychology (including the multi-store memory model, and perceptual illusions) -Humanistic Psychology (including Maslow's hierarchy of needs) -Social Psychology (including social learning theory and how to measure social behaviours) -Biological Psychology (including brain regions and genetic inheritance) -Behaviourist Psychology (including operant and classical conditioning) -Psychodynamic Psychology (including Freud's theories and psychology as a science) This is a flexible-schedule class, which allows students to watch the recorded presentations at any time during the week. Students will start with a post at the beginning of the each week, outlining all the key steps and tasks to completing the class. Each Monday, the week's topic will be covered in a lecture video uploaded alongside the relevant assignment details for the week. I will check the classroom and respond to messages regularly throughout the week. Quizzes, discussion threads for students to engage in on-topic discussions with the teacher and/or peers, and 'homework' tasks will be assigned each week. Some examples of work which students will complete and write/upload to discussion threads include: - Form a psychological research hypothesis and describe how you would test it - Colour and label diagrams of the brain and nervous system - Summarise what you learnt from a documentary or article - Compare two approaches from different weeks of the class For many of the tasks, students may choose to give a written response or record a verbal response. Students will be required to do some independent research and to feed back to the group discussion threads. This may include some structured research questions to answer, a suggested documentary, or suggested reading to discuss, as appropriate to each week's topic. Students with a keen interest in the topics are encouraged to share their knowledge from work beyond the class video too. No prior knowledge is required as this is an introductory class, although it would also suit those who want to revise the key approaches (e.g. for A-level/AP Psychology students). Accessibility/inclusivity: The flex class means that all students can review material and look back at the lecture portions of class if/when required. I welcome discussion/suggestions if you have any requirements to make my flex classes as accessible as possible! Learners who join this class are also able to join my "Psychology and Neuroscience GROUP" for a free trial (refunded when signing up), to allow opportunities to interact with more peers and gain exposure to an even wider range of topics in Psychology.
Learning Goals
Students will learn to define and describe the features of the six key approaches.
Syllabus
6 Lessons
over 6 WeeksLesson 1:
Cognitive Psychology
Lesson 2:
Humanistic Psychology
Lesson 3:
Social Psychology
Lesson 4:
Biological Psychology
Other Details
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Sources
The materials for this class are teacher-created, but follow topics taken from A-level and AP Psychology courses.
Some examples of key references for historical theories mentioned in the course:
Multi-Store Model of Memory (Atkinson & Shiffrin, 1968)
Self-Concept (Rogers, 1959)
Hierarchy of Needs (Maslow, 1943)
Conformity (Asch, 1951)
Obedience (Milgram, 1974)
Social Learning Theory (Bandura, 1963)
Learning Theory (Watson, 1924)
These examples provide a starting point for understanding some of the different perspectives that people may use to approach the subject of psychology.
Relating to each learner's enrolment dates, learners will also be encouraged to read about different recently-published studies in psychology which link to one or more of the topic areas.
Joined June, 2020
5.0
253reviews
Star Educator
Teacher expertise and credentials
2 Degrees
Doctoral Degree in Psychology from Sheffield Hallam University
Bachelor's Degree in Psychology from University of Birmingham, UK
ABOUT ME
I love to learn, and I am a big advocate of following your interests - even if they might not seem compatible at first glance!
My teaching philosophy is to encourage intellectual curiosity, motivation, and aspiration in students, whatever their current stage of education.
I teach a range of subject areas, including Psychology, Biology, Music Theory, and Maths. I'm developing new ideas all the time, so please feel welcome to get in touch if there's something you'd like to see! I can also create custom sessions - so if there's something you're looking for and can't find, please just ask!
GENERAL TEACHING APPROACH
My teaching style differs depending on different topics/activities, but my general approach is to welcome students into an environment where they can engage at a level where they feel comfortable, whilst also having opportunities to reach further and learn new things. I believe that learning is forever, and that learning should never be constrained by just one syllabus/curriculum. Students tend to learn best when they are really interested in the subject, and I love to be able to give students the chance to explore their interests!
I encourage students to tell me what they already know about a topic, and I don't assume that I'm always the expert! I believe that learners can learn from each other's experiences and knowledge too. I also encourage everyone to ask 'why' things work as they do, and to research further around topics that capture their interest.
I don't use AI tools to provide feedback to learners as I believe that feedback should be provided that is genuine and written in my own voice.
I also believe that everyone should be able to participate in my classes, so if there may be barriers or you require adjustments to allow you to participate in a class, please feel welcome to get in touch.
Aside from initial verification when joining the session, I do not require students to use their camera for the full session (though sometimes I will request for certain activities!). I ask students to participate, but accept that this may be verbal discussion, writing in the chat box, or using zoom 'reactions' or visual cues on camera to respond during class. In general, I will invite anyone who would like to get involved to raise their hand, rather than putting an individual 'on the spot'.
MY CLASSES - OVERVIEW
I offer a range of sessions on Psychology topics - including themes such as Introduction to Neuroscience/Neuropsychology, Psychology of Music, Brain History, and Psychology of Gaming. The aim of these sessions is to capture students' interest, share knowledge from an unusual angle, and/or give space for students to discuss their interests while bringing in elements of the science of Psychology in an accessible way.
The most popular courses in 2023 were my ongoing sessions where students can further their learning in a relaxed setting, such as my Biology, Animal Anatomy, Plants, and Neuroscience colouring classes (where students can listen whilst making creative learning resources, with little pressure to answer questions and no pressure to be tested).
I offer lots of Flexible Schedule classes suitable for learners who prefer to take time to process information or to dig into a topic more deeply before coming back to discussion or to complete assignments. These classes allow students to take time to engage with material and written discussion threads outside of the constraints of a live session schedule, and spend additional time completing assignments that will encourage deeper thinking and topic enjoyment. These classes can also be great as holiday-projects!
I offer individual tutoring for students who would like to explore additional topics in Psychology, Biology, Mathematics, or Music. These sessions can be used to supplement other classes, as an individualised study session/program, or as subject-related mentoring.
For all my classes, if you don't see a suitable section scheduled, please do reach out as I can often fit in additional meetings!
WHAT ELSE DO I GET UP TO?
As well as teaching online on Outschool and independently, I also work as an Associate Lecturer in Psychology at the Open University. When I'm not teaching, I can usually be found practicing the violin, playing in orchestra, reading, and learning new things.
I previously completed a PhD in Psychology/Cognitive Neuroscience, which involved using EEG (an electrical brain recording method) to investigate visual perception. I have taught high school and university level Psychology classes since 2014, and I have tutored in Biology, Maths, and Music Theory since 2018. I started to learn the violin as an adult and progressed through to ABRSM Grade 8 in violin and AMusTCL Diploma level in music theory!Reviews
Self-Paced Class
$13
weekly or $78 for all content6 pre-recorded lessons
6 weeks of teacher support
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1 year of access to the content
Completed by 34 learners
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Ages: 12-17
