Would you like to share your excitement of learning about human behavior and cognitive processing with others? Would you like to help educate people about the science of psychology? If this type of outreach appeals to you, the Psi Chi National Council encourages you to consider participating in the American Psychological Association's (APA) Exploring Behavior Week initiative:
http://www.apa.org/science/ebw.html

>> More Info: Background | Procedure | Benefits


Background/Purpose of Exploring Behavior Week:

The American Psychological Association, through its Science Directorate, is one of several professional organizations cosponsoring the multidisciplinary Decade of Behavior (2000-2010) initiative in an effort to inform the public about the importance and relevance of social science research. APA's emphasis is to educate the public about the science of psychology. Exploring Behavior Week (EBW) is one of the programs included in the Decade of Behavior initiative.

EBW is a program that recruits college faculty and students to conduct a 45- to 60-minute presentation in the middle schools and high schools in their communities. APA has developed a 23-page instruction booklet and a 27-slide PowerPoint presentation with lecture notes that college faculty members, graduate students, and undergraduate students can use for their presentations. Presenters can also add their own ideas and research interests to the presentation. APA provides information about how to make the first contact with a local school, how to present the idea to the school principal, how to prepare for the presentation, and how to use the materials prepared by APA so that the presentation is an exciting, engaging, and scientifically-based one. The presentations can be done at any time; there is no pre-established week for the presentation, although some groups have chosen a specific week in order to maximize student participation. The EBW website provides more details about EBW as well as the downloadable instruction booklet and PowerPoint presentation.

Procedure to Become a Student Presenter:

1. Discuss the project with your Psi Chi chapter faculty advisor.

2. Contact Jessica Bryant, Coordinator for Decade of Behavior Initiative in the APA Science Directorate, to inform her of your interest in EBW and to coordinate the activity with APA. She will send your chapter the resources you need to conduct the presentation (booklet, manual of lectures, overheads for PowerPoint presentation, resource CD for middle and high school teachers, gifts for students, etc.).

Jessica Bryant, Coordinator
Decade of Behavior Initiative
APA Science Directorate
Telephone: (202) 336-6126
E-mail: jbryant@apa.org

3. Visit the APA Science Directorate EBW site and download additional materials.

4. Contact the principal at a local middle school or high school to determine if there is a teacher who would be interested in having a Psi Chi student give a presentation to the middle school or high school students. The instruction booklet provides strategies for making this contact and presenting the idea.

5. Discuss the presentation with the teacher so the teacher is aware of the purpose and nature of the presentation.

6. Schedule a time to conduct the 45-minute presentation.

7. Study the instruction booklet, the lecture notes, demonstrations, and the PowerPoint presentation APA provides in order to prepare for the presentation. The instruction booklet also provides useful teaching/presentation tips to help college students prepare for this form of teaching.

8. Use the APA PowerPoint presentation, demonstrations, and lecture notes for the presentation.

9. Send information (date given, school, teacher, grade level, number of students who attended, etc.) and evaluation forms (students', teachers', presenter's reactions) about the presentation to Jessica Bryant.

10. Inform the Psi Chi National Office of your chapter's participation in this project so we can publish this information in the Eye on Psi Chi.

Benefits to Psi Chi Students of Participating in Exploring Behavior Week:

1. You will learn more about the science of psychology as you prepare for and give the presentation.

2. You will develop your oral presentation skills.

3. You will have the opportunity to "teach" other students about psychology and share your interest in psychology with these students.

4. If you are actively involved in research you will have an opportunity to share your research with middle and high school students as part of the presentation.

5. You will engage in a partnership with local schools and provide a service to the schools.

6. You will get to know the students at the schools and learn about the local community.

7. You will provide a service to the discipline of psychology by informing the public about the science of psychology.