An Innovative Teaching Method: Including Students as Advisors in Professional Work

Abstract

<p>This article describes the evaluation of a novel way to stimulate psychology-student learning and interest. The method involves inviting students to help plan the professional work of the course instructor, e.g., providing psychotherapy or doing research. The article focuses on the instructor's inviting students to help plan therapy for a client, a teaching method I have used for four years in my Behavior Modification course. I evaluated the effects of the method on self-reported student learning and interest. This past year several students posted suggestions on the course online learning platform. I applied the methods they suggested, while using my own judgment in sessions, and the client achieved her therapy goal. Students who completed an evaluation of the activity found it educational and interesting. Student evaluations of the course were high. The results suggest that the method has positive effects on learning and student interest. Psychology teachers can use the student-as-advisor teaching method to help psychology students learn and to help increase student interest in the content of a course.</p>