Calling all QLD Psychology teachers! Are you ready for 2019?

Now that we're more than half way through Term 3, the reality of teaching Psychology to a new syllabus is starting to hit me! I don't know about you all, but I'm planning for next year and realising that the Unit 1 and 2 syllabus is too dense to be covered in approximately 3 terms (with interruptions in year 11) and I'm thinking about cropping some of the topics out! 

I've noticed that a lot of the topics in Unit 1 and 2 although interesting, does not directly relate to Unit 3 and 4? So right now, I'm thinking about leaving out (to some extent) Cognitive Development and Emotion and Motivation units so that I can focus more time on the assessment types and also scaffolding those activities. Any thoughts?

I've included a plan of what it will look like for my school, what about yours? 

Term 1 2019: Unit 1 

Research Methods: Approximately 2 weeks (note this is longer than the 5 hour notation time but I think you need to extend this time to cover statistical significance and variation)

Brain and Nervous system: 3 weeks covering subject matter and Maguire and Raine as studies
I'm also planning on making links with USQ or UQ to do an excursion for brain imaging technology.

Consciousness and Sleep: 3 weeks covering Normal waking consciousness and Altered states of consciousness as well as sleep, sleep studies and sleep disorders. Again, I will be trying to find someone to come in (perhaps from a sleep lab) to give the students an incursion.

Last two weeks of term: Preparation for Data test and perhaps Data test in the last week to term or First week back (depending on interruptions in Term 1)

Term 2 2019: Unit 1 and 2

First two weeks of term, discuss data test (or students to sit it) and explaining Student Experiment. Including conducting research based on Sleep and one other variable (using Mandatory prac) and in small groups modifying. Due Week 4.

Review Research Methods: Week 3 formative test

Intelligence: 2 weeks (stressing validity and reliability because this is important to the student experiment) - Gardner's intelligence test (stations around the school to test for different types of intelligence)

Diagnosis: 3 weeks (focus on reliability and validity of diagnosis and cross-cultural differences) - to set up claims. Using claims here, work through an example with the class on how to get to research question.

Mental health: 3 weeks Discuss a variety of disorders to introduce diagnostic manuals and symptoms as well as prevalence. Holiday homework, students to work on claims (given to them on diagnosis and mental health) to develop their own research question.

Term 3: Unit 2

First two weeks of term students will work on Research investigation in class. Research questions to be approved prior to research. Use IB EE's as exemplars.

Revision of content from Term 1 and 2: Four weeks in tutorial style in ability groupings

Week 7 or 8: Mock Exam: Whole year

Week 9 and 10: Set up notes and introduce Unit 3 and 4: Go over Research Methods again (might add cognitive development back in here as a fun topic)

Note: For cognitive development: You can conduct experiments on Piaget's development by using kids in the primary school if you have one near you. It's a great way for students to test object permanence or conservation. 

I'm presenting and helping with writing a textbook!!!

Hello all, so a little about me!

I've taught Psychology over the last six years, in VCE (Victoria), in the IB (International Baccalaureate) and also now in QLD (with a year 10 program).

Although I teach Biology and Science as well, Psychology is my passion, I just love to teach it!!

So I feel very honoured and lucky right now to be in the position that I am in where I am creating the Year 10 course and also planning the senior syllabus for the QCAA at my school. In addition, I've also been asked to help write Chapters in the new Psychology textbook for the QLD syllabus and to speak to science teachers at the STAQ conference later in the year. I'm so happy to do this and I hope I can share lots of resources with you guys and we can develop strong networks to help each other through the next couple of years.

Write back to me and let me know how you are going with psychology implementation at your school and please don't hesitate to ask if you have any questions too! I don't claim to be an expert, but I do love what I do!!

Luv Jo

Queensland to Start Teaching Psychology!!!

FINALLY!

Queensland has had a massive curriculum reform and they are finally offering Psychology at high school level which multiple Australian states have had for years!

The course itself if you haven't seen it can be accessed through the QCAA site:

https://www.qcaa.qld.edu.au/downloads/portal/syllabuses/snr_psychology_19_syll.pdf

It is a combination of VCE Psychology and IB Psychology with some elements from the A Levels and GCSE courses.

I think the course has a nice range of topics available that are relevant to students and also fun to teach. Having taught psychology over two syllabuses (VCE and IB) and working on the syllabus for psychology with the QCAA, I understand the content well but the teaching not as much. I'm still very apprehensive about how to teach this as a 50% exam Science subject in QLD. Anyone else?

I'm currently teaching a semester based elective subject in psychology, any feedback, input or interest in discussing psychology as part of the QCAA would be greatly appreciated!

Please comment below, would love to start the conversation early so we can all be ready next year for the start of Psychology syllabus.

Teacher burn out! It’s real y’all!!

It’s that time of year!

No not Christmas time, but the time where kids and teachers are exhausted and barely able to make it to school let alone learn to the best of their ability.

This is also often the time of year that is the busiest for teachers.

It often amazes me how little people who are not in the Education realm understand about teachers. If I had 5 cents every time someone has said to me "Oh what do you have to complain about, teachers are always on holidays! You have it so easy." I would never have to work again!

The truth of the matter is, sure we get holidays, sure we technically have shorter days, but any good teacher works well before and after each day of the week, we are marking, replying to emails, talking with parents, managing sports teams and marking all hours of the day just to name a few of our responsibilities. Not only this, we are in charge of between 25-30 kids all day long, their safety, their learning, their engagement and entertainment, their mental health and their motivation. It is a lot to ask of one person no matter how brilliant you may be.

So to those who say that we have no right to complain because we have more holidays, all I respond with is "If it is so easy, why don't you do it?"

I am always met with stutter or the individual looking down as if ashamed of their response. "Oh No, I couldn't possibly give up my job." But why? If it is so easy shouldn't everyone do it?

Now, I don't want to have a whinge and a moan, but I did want to talk about something that is very real. Teachers are human beings. We are tired, we have had a manic amount of marking and teaching this term, for example over a 3 day period, I marked over 100 two hour long papers including essays. I know many teachers that had more.

Teachers who last more than 5 years in the profession is a rarity these days and that's because there is such a high demand for time and none given. And with the change in curriculum to external exams in QLD, this lack of time will cost not only our schools, but our students if things do not change.

So in this busy time of year, spare a thought for us teachers, and help us to get through the year so that we can be the best that we can be for your kids!

If you're a teacher, or a student, leave a comment, let me know what you think about what I have written. My goal for this part of the blog is to add in useful resources as well as hints and tips especially for those going into external exams next year! In the meantime, teachers in the QLD state system, only 6 days to go!!