Workshop Overview

The workshop reflects current trends and ongoing national conversations about undergraduate education in psychology. In the past, study abroad was often viewed as relevant only for certain majors and fields of study, such as foreign language, area studies, and art history. A broader range of today's college students, however (including those studying psychology), sees value in gaining global perspectives through off-campus learning. The (2002) APA report, Undergraduate Psychology Major Competencies, articulated ten goals for undergraduate education in psychology, including the goal of Sociocultural and International Awareness, which asserts that psychology majors should be able to "recognize, understand, and respect the complexity of sociocultural and international diversity.

Keynote speakers Professor Carol Enns (Cornell College) and Professor Helle Harnisch (Denmark International Study Program) will share their experiences collaborating with international colleagues and organizing and leading study/travel courses in Japan, Denmark, and other places in Europe.

Workshop Goals

Workshop sessions will emphasize practical issues such as:

• Better understanding the current state of psychology outside of the United States
  
• Exploring methodological, technological, and ethical issues in international research
  
• Facilitating students' use of psychological knowledge and understanding of cultural differences and behavior to become aware of their own cultural biases and interact effectively with people whose beliefs, philosophies, and values differ from their own
  
• Preparing students to utilize psychological knowledge and research skills to maximize the benefit of traditional study abroad courses and service learning in international settings
  
• Integrating international perspectives across the psychology curriculum, from introductory courses to advanced seminars and in undergraduate research
  
• Assessing learning outcomes of international and off-campus study in psychology, as well as in on-campus courses incorporating related issues
  

Intended outcomes for participants include:

• Increased knowledge about APA learning goals and initiatives for enhancing students' sociocultural and international awareness
  
• Knowledge of best practices and lessons learned by faculty who have taught psychology courses off campus in international settings
  
• Poster session presentation of a poster describing the participant's interests, plans, obstacles, and needs for internationalizing teaching and research
  
• Development of an ACM network to encourage and support faculty who would like to develop off-campus psychology courses in international settings or incorporate related issues into courses taught on campus
  
• Creation of a listserv for continued discussion and collaboration among ACM workshop participants, exploring avenues for co-authoring publications
  
• Creation of an online database of presentations, teaching materials, and bibliographies from ACM faculty related to internationalizing psychology
  

Dates and Times

Friday, June 3, 2011 at noon through Saturday, June 4 at 5 pm

Expectations

• Before the workshop - readings, prepare poster (optional)
• During the workshop - participate in all sessions, develop a poster based on workshop material
• After the workshop - submit teaching materials, submit course descriptions
  

Costs

An ACM FaCE grant awarded to the workshop conveners will cover travel (up to $450/person), lodging (one night), and several meals (dinner on June 3, breakfast and lunch on June 4) for up to 28 participants.

Participant Eligibility

Eligible individuals include faculty from psychology departments at ACM schools. We have funding to cover two participants per ACM school. However, should fewer than two individuals apply from some schools, additional spots would open.

Facilities

The Friday session will take place at Carleton College, and the Saturday session will take place at St. Olaf College. The two colleges are located about a mile apart in Northfield, MN.

For More Information

Dana Gross, Professor, Psychology Department, St. Olaf College
grossd@stolaf.edu 507-786-3624

Kenneth Abrams, Assistant Professor, Psychology Department, Carleton College
kabrams@carleton.edu (507) 222-5024