Psychology One Conference
Teaching Expo:
Creating a More Diverse and Inclusive Introduction to Psychology Course
Melinda Ciccocioppo
Brief Description:
The purpose of this presentation is to demonstrate how instructors can transform their introduction to psychology course to better represent the theories of a diverse group of researchers and clinicians in the field, as well as create an environment in which all students feel comfortable and included in the classroom. Most introduction to psychology textbooks present psychological theories developed primarily by White men. This can be alienating for women and students of color and presents a limited view of human psychology. Creating a diverse and inclusive introduction to psychology course can help increase feelings of belongingness of all students in the classroom.
The purpose of this presentation is to demonstrate how instructors can transform their introduction to psychology course to better represent the theories of a diverse group of researchers and clinicians in the field, as well as create an environment in which all students feel comfortable and included in the classroom. Most introduction to psychology textbooks present psychological theories developed primarily by White men. This can be alienating for women and students of color and presents a limited view of human psychology. Creating a diverse and inclusive introduction to psychology course can help increase feelings of belongingness of all students in the classroom.
Speaker Bio:
Melinda Ciccocioppo is a lecturer in the psychology department at the University of Pittsburgh. Her duties include teaching two large (300-400 student) sections of introduction to psychology every semester as well as a course in her content area of gender. Melinda earned her PhD in psychology from the University of Pittsburgh in 2012. She has had experience teaching a diverse group of students throughout her teaching career. Melinda’s transformation of her introduction to psychology course to be more diverse and inclusive earned her the University of Pittsburgh’s Provost Award for Diversity in the Curriculum in 2017.
Melinda Ciccocioppo is a lecturer in the psychology department at the University of Pittsburgh. Her duties include teaching two large (300-400 student) sections of introduction to psychology every semester as well as a course in her content area of gender. Melinda earned her PhD in psychology from the University of Pittsburgh in 2012. She has had experience teaching a diverse group of students throughout her teaching career. Melinda’s transformation of her introduction to psychology course to be more diverse and inclusive earned her the University of Pittsburgh’s Provost Award for Diversity in the Curriculum in 2017.
