Using the Biopac MP40 for In-Class Demonstrations and Student Projects William S. Altman Broome Community College

2 In-Class Demonstrations Show that psychology is a science Show that psychology is a science Demonstrate specific concepts Demonstrate specific concepts Have students do the demonstrations Have students do the demonstrations Can be used for class participation credit Can be used for class participation credit –Each student or group of students may be responsible for a particular demonstration

3 Student Research Projects Students get practical, hands-on experiences Students get practical, hands-on experiences –They see Ψ as a science –They see how other sciences work Types of projects: Types of projects: –Individual –Group –Hybrid

4 Scaffold the Projects Don’t give one big project assignment Don’t give one big project assignment –Stakes are too high –Students are too inexperienced Use nested assignments Use nested assignments –Each builds on previous ones –Culminate in final research report

5 Helping the Projects Succeed Help students come up with appropriate topics Help students come up with appropriate topics Provide class time for writing Provide class time for writing –You’re there as a research/writing coach Give one-on-one critiques Give one-on-one critiques –In class or during office hours Teach them how to use the tools they’ll need Teach them how to use the tools they’ll need –Research resources (e.g. PsycINFO) –Collaboration tools (GoogleDocs, Skype, Wikis) –The MP40

6 Outcomes Learning to develop and support hypotheses Learning to develop and support hypotheses Working with real equipment to test a hypothesis Working with real equipment to test a hypothesis Learning simple data analysis Learning simple data analysis Developing understandable explanations of results to their classmates Developing understandable explanations of results to their classmates Learning to determine what went right, and more interestingly what went wrong Learning to determine what went right, and more interestingly what went wrong More fun for them, & more fun for you! More fun for them, & more fun for you!