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This study used a short-term longitudinal design to test the social-cognitive model of career self-management's (CSM) theorized pathway in which exploratory actions mediate the association between career exploration self-efficacy and decisional outcomes. The study clarifies the role of exploratory actions in the decision-making process by distinguishing between self-exploration and environmental exploration. College students (N = 136; 77% female; mean age = 18.71 years [SD = 1.19]; 47% with undeclared majors) completed an online survey assessing self-efficacy for self-appraisal and self-efficacy for obtaining occupational information. A month later, they reported the frequency of their engagement in self-exploratory and environment-exploratory actions over the past month and completed measures of two decisional outcomes reflecting readiness to make career decisions (vocational identity and need for additional occupational information). The CSM's mediational pathway was supported with respect to self-exploration but not environmental exploration. I discuss implications for the CSM model and for career-development interventions.

Background: College students frequently identify social media sites (SMSs) as in-class distractions, although students continue to use these sites during class. In a technology-driven world, students' fear of missing out (FOMO) may drive SMS behaviors, whereby classes and study time serve as obstacles to fulfilling one's social desires. Objective: The current study investigated whether students' use of SMSs during class and study time was predicted by demographic characteristics and students' FOMO. Method: Participants (N = 198) completed an online survey assessing their media use during class and study time, FOMO, and their perceived advantages/disadvantages of media use. Results: In-class Twitter and Instagram use were predicted by students' FOMO, whereas Snapchat and Facebook use were only predicted by age. Age also predicted Snapchat use during study time. Most participants indicated that media was a distraction, while also reporting a range of benefits from media multitasking. Conclusion: Given that students recognize both benefits and drawbacks of media multitasking, they may trade-off between their desire to engage with learning materials and their desire to stay socially connected with others. Teaching Implications: Educators can begin to address the socio-emotional needs of students through modifications made to course design and student-centered learning materials.

The pandemic resulted in many courses being shifted to online delivery, but some courses are designed as online courses from their conception. Courses intentionally designed for online delivery should be well-received by students, but it is not clear which aspects of courses students find particularly appealing and unappealing. We examined students' perceptions of one such online asynchronous course in psychology in order to better understand students' preferences in terms of specific course elements. Students were asked to identify what they particularly liked and disliked about the course in two open-ended questions. Responses were then coded to quantify the frequency of each aspect of the course. An inductive and latent approach to coding was used, with codes being used to develop themes based on the underlying meaning of the text. Overall, students identified few negative aspects about the course. They particularly enjoyed the specific psychology content, format, and structure of the course, that it related to their real lives, and the flexibility provided by the asynchronous nature. The hope is that this information can be used to improve this particular course as well as inform instructor decision-making related to the design of online asynchronous courses in general.

This article describes a model for supporting undergraduate research that can be adapted for very different classroom contexts; we implemented this model in a first-year general education composition class, a second-year Psychology class and a fourth-year English literature seminar. We examine student work created for each class as well as reflections and interviews to explore student attitudes towards and perceptions of research. While the scaffolded approach had an impact on students' understanding of the research process, the effects did not vary significantly by level and context as we had expected.

Although study skills courses improve student retention, the impact of study skills courses on students' academic self-efficacy has not been investigated. The present study examined pre- and posttest levels of academic self-efficacy in college students enrolled in a study skills course (n = 126) compared to students enrolled in a general education course (n = 111). Students enrolled in study skills courses had lower initial levels of academic self-efficacy and demonstrated greater increases than comparison students, reaching equivalent levels or surpassing the comparison students at posttest. Results are considered in light of the broader issue of student retention and in the context of current practice.

This essay argues that the endemic moral crisis and the crisis of confidence in education are related; and both are a function, in part, of a paradoxical divide between two types of human understanding: psychological and biofunctional. In the psychological realm, people cause understanding using the psychological theories they know. Biofunctionally, understanding is "caught" by the understander, by analogy to catching a cold, caused by an unknown biological function, without the understander (a) having direct access to the cause, (b) knowing what the cause is, and (c) realizing how the cause works. This paradox introduces a divide between people's psychological and biofunctional types of understanding. Unwarily, people tend to overlook this divide thereby compromising their full understanding potential. In this essay, I elaborate on the nature of this paradox, the awesome divide that it causes, and its implications for moral and general education.

Over the past few decades, diversity and multiculturalism have received considerable attention in the field of psychology. While there have been notable efforts to ensure these important areas are addressed in undergraduate psychology training, little is known about this undertaking. The present study examined how diversity and multiculturalism were addressed in the course titles and course descriptions of 200 undergraduate, psychology programs across North America and their corresponding general education programs. Analyses revealed that while most undergraduate psychology programs offered diversity or multicultural courses, very few programs required these courses. Moreover, when these courses were offered, they typically examined diversity or multiculturalism in a singular fashion, giving very little attention to the intersectionality that exists among cultural factors. With respect to the institutions' general education programs, we found that while some institutions had a multicultural awareness requirement, few offered or required psychology-based diversity or multicultural courses of their psychology students. Implications of these finding are considered, and several recommendations and resources for improving undergraduate psychology programs are provided.

This paper relates an interview with Wilbert J. McKeachie, Professor Emeritus of Psychology and former Director of the Center for Research on Learning and Teaching at the University of Michigan. In more than 30 books and monographs, 120 chapters, 200 journal and professional articles, and 500 scientific and professional presentations and workshops, he has left a legacy of immense proportions to the fields of psychology and education. Perhaps he is best known for "Teaching Tips, Strategies, Research and Theory for College and University Teachers" (2002, 11th ed., Houghton Mifflin).

Assessment of general education has a long history, although relative to the age of liberal education and educational evaluation it is a very recent development. One of the first recorded efforts to comprehensively assess student achievement in higher education in the United States occurred in the late 1920s and early 1930s, when many institutions had general education programs in practice but not necessarily in name. In this effort, nearly forty-five thousand high school and college students were given a multiple-choice test that assessed students' knowledge of the physical world, mathematics and science, and the social world including psychology, sociology, statistical methods, and ancient cultures. This article gives a brief history of general education assessment, responds to common criticisms of general education assessment, and makes a case for assessing general education as a critical element of faculty members' responsibility.

This study is an investigation of whether social skills training provided by paraprofessionals to elementary grade children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) in both partially and fully included classrooms can result in perceived gains in social skills as measured by teacher ratings. Results showed that several areas of social responsiveness noticeably improved as a result of the intervention in the short run; however, sustained improvement was difficult to detect. This study extends the research on the development of social skills among children with ASD by examining perceptions of social responsiveness rather than noting how often the children engaged in prosocial behaviors. It further extends the research by studying the efficacy of using trained paraprofessionals to deliver the intervention inconspicuously in the child's general education classroom. (Contains 1 figure and 1 table.)

Richard Peters argued for a general education based largely on the study of truth-seeking subjects for its own sake. His arguments have long been acknowledged as problematic. There are also difficulties with Paul Hirst's arguments for a liberal education, which in part overlap with Peters'. Where justification fails, can historical explanation illuminate? Peters was influenced by the prevailing idea that a secondary education should be based on traditional, largely knowledge-orientated subjects, pursued for intrinsic as well as practical ends. Does history reveal good reasons for this view? The view itself has roots going back to the 16th century and the educational tradition of radical Protestantism. Religious arguments to do with restoring the image of an omniscient God in man made good sense, within their own terms, of an encyclopaedic approach to education. As these faded in prominence after 1800, old curricular patterns persisted in the drive for "middle-class schools", and new, less plausible justifications grew in salience. These were based first on faculty psychology and later on the psychology of individual differences. The essay relates the views of Peters and Hirst to these historical arguments, asking how far their writings show traces of the religious argument mentioned, and how their views on education and the development of mind relate to the psychological arguments.

Educational institutions are value-added suppliers of academic capability. Community colleges, while focused on access and diversity, operate within this framework. Unlike other institutions, however, remediation is a much greater part of their mission. It is consequently important to show that remediation has value. This article examines the impact of English attainment on success in subsequent general education courses. It finds a strong relationship between the two. Moreover, that relationship is not mainly a function of students' initial or placed level but is found to be a function of the last attained level. The implications of this for community colleges and for students entering college at low levels of ability are discussed. (Contains 3 figures and 4 tables.)

Academic dishonesty among students reveals potential problems in the teaching of psychology. In particular, a teaching pedagogy that emphasizes information delivery, and uses examinations as a method to discriminate among students aspiring for social and financial status, contributes to an academic climate of dishonesty. As a constructive response, I recommend that psychology faculty discuss with students (and with each other) certain fundamental assumptions of liberal education and consider how these assumptions relate to the discipline of psychology.

Introductory psychology courses are often designed as technical, preprofessional courses for majors, but they should instead offer a view of human nature. A Wesleyan University course was designed on the notion of the psychological human, and covered the functions of perception and memory, cognitive processes, the social dimension of human nature, and psychopathology. (MSE)

Describes curriculum enrichment aimed at giving engineers the background necessary to deal with systems from a holistic point of view. Explains science and society interactions as reasons for implementation of courses in (1) the physiology and psychology of work; (2) law, sociology, technology, and environment; and (3) economic growth and ecological equilibrium. Includes evaluation and future plans. (JM)

Discusses the didactic value of literature study. Considers contemporary irrationalist philosophy's emphasis on human experience's subjective nature and its rejection of the possibility of shared, objective moral concepts being conveyed by reading literature. Acknowledges literature's subjective elements, while stressing the objective, cognitive contributions of literature to general moral education. (AYC)

Discusses how changes in teaching conditions, student characteristics, and career needs affect undergraduate psychology programs. The author suggests that the objectives of undergraduate psychology programs can combine a liberal arts orientation with practicality by training students in methods of inquiry and increasing their competence in problem solving. (AM)

Examines the social changes influencing the educational objectives of undergraduate psychology programs. Faced with increasingly diverse student needs, program planners are pressured to choose a vocational over a liberal arts orientation. The author argues that psychology should develop a professional course alongside its present-day curriculum, preferably as a post-baccalaureate year. (AM)

Describes an interdisciplinary team-taught course which applied the psychological viewpoints of Freud, Skinner, and Rogers to the interpretation of major literary works. Identifies literary works used, along with problems encountered, and provides suggestions for teaching methods. (JDH)

Discusses how undergraduate psychology programs can contribute to a good, general education. Programs can reinforce intellectual skills, such as a sense of history, the ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing, and the ability to think quantitatively. The educational factors influencing sex differences in mathematical ability are examined. (AM)

Discusses how greater student diversity and rapid changes in the field of psychology increase the need for individualized, innovative teaching methods and continued professional growth. Future psychology curricula should stress information-gathering skills, problem solving, and effective communication. (AM)

Examines the role of the faculty in preparing undergraduate psychology students for their postgraduate careers. Increasing concern with career development has led to proposals for curriculum revisions, career development courses, and a changing faculty role. Research indicates that faculty interest in postgraduate careers may increase student interest in psychology. (AM)

Reviews major areas of interest in the future of undergraduate psychology education. Educators will be concerned with the increasingly diverse student needs, the value of a liberal arts education, and the need for personal and professional growth. The debate over educational objectives and program course content will continue. (AM)

To identify target areas for professional development, this mixed-methods study examined general education teachers' perceptions of autism and pedagogical practices in early elementary classrooms in the United States. In focus groups, teachers (N = 18) identified terms they associated with autism and strategies they used for inclusion and relationship building. Participants systematically free-listed and ranked their responses to three prompts. Using ranked responses, saliency scores were calculated to assess the perceived importance and frequency of responses. Teachers' most salient perceptions of autism (e.g., social difficulties, focused/fixed interests) revealed an awareness of core symptoms. Salient inclusion practices included assigning special classroom responsibilities and showcasing student talents; salient relationship-building strategies included embracing students' special interests and engaging in one-on-one time. Implications for teacher trainings are discussed.

Psychological readiness for secondary school requires new development tools. The article focuses on conceptual thinking as a factor in the psychological readiness of younger schoolchildren for secondary school. The research objective was to identify the effect of conceptual thinking on psychological readiness for secondary education. Conceptual thinking is a key factor for the development of academic knowledge, as well as for the formation of meta-subject competencies. In fact, it is regarded as a criterion for psychological readiness for academic activities in general. The article focuses on psychological readiness from different angles, e.g., as adaptation to the peculiarities of the academic process. It describes the difficulties that students face in the learning process, as well as analyzes the necessary competencies and neoplasms necessary for secondary school. The authors developed recommendations for effective psychological readiness. The results obtained can be used for pedagogical and psychological support.

The ability to critically evaluate neuroscientific findings is a skill that is rapidly becoming important in non-science professions. As neuroscience research is increasingly being used in law, business, education, and politics, it becomes imperative to educate future leaders in all areas of society about the brain. Undergraduate general education courses are an ideal way to expose students to issues of critical importance, but non-science students may avoid taking a neuroscience course because of the perception that neuroscience is more challenging than other science courses. A recently developed general education cluster course at UCLA aims to make neuroscience more palatable to undergraduates by pairing neuroscientific concepts with philosophy and history, and by building a learning community that supports the development of core academic skills and intellectual growth over the course of a year. This study examined the extent to which the course was successful in delivering neuroscience education to a broader undergraduate community. The results indicate that a majority of students in the course mastered the basics of the discipline regardless of their major. Furthermore, 77% of the non-life science majors (approximately two-thirds of students in the course) indicated that they would not have taken an undergraduate neuroscience course if this one was not offered. The findings also demonstrate that the course helped students develop core academic skills and improved their ability to think critically about current events in neuroscience. Faculty reported that teaching the course was highly rewarding and did not require an inordinate amount of time.

Drawing on the literature on governmentality, recent studies of colonial power emphasize the role of sovereign power and discipline as the means of creating obedient subjects in the exercise and maintenance of colonial rule. Through examining educational materials of the Bakht er Ruda educational institute of Anglo-Egyptian Sudan and its work in liberalizing education, this essay argues for the significance of liberal technologies of rule as modes of exercising power and securing colonial rule over the natives. Specifically, we will look at two aspects of Bakht er Ruda's programme. Through a close reading of colonial era documents, we will first examine the use of school societies as a means of training the Sudanese into a harmonious and orderly social whole through the interiorization of a set of norms, bringing together ideas and practices relating to freedom and responsibility. Secondly, we look at the introduction of psychology as a language and set of techniques utilized by the institute in the construction of political subjects skilled in the self-regulation of desires and actions necessary for the free and responsible subject, upon which liberalism as a strategy of power depends. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]