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Design. Alexandria, VA:
Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development
i
TEACHING THE INTRODUCTORY COURSE
LAYING THE FOUNDATION FOR A WELL
ORGANIZED COURSE
Most of us have experienced at least one truly exciting, memorable course with smoothly flowing lectures
neatly tied together by threads of conceptual continuity, audiovisual presentations that began on time and
kept every student alert even though the lights were out, reserve readings that were actually available in the
library, and demonstrations that brought a thrill of discovery into the classroom. Such superb educational
experiences do not erupt spontaneously from mystical qualities found in a few gifted teachers. To make
them possible, certain basic ingredients must be assembled and organized well before the first class meets.
We present here a systematic planning guide to preparing for the introductory course. The methods could
be applied to just about any other course as well. For starters, a list of suggested administrative tasks and
teaching aids should help make course preparation efficient and even pleasant. As you organize your
course, an essential notion to bear in mind is that small things done at just the right time can be crucial both
in preventing major difficulties and in creating the conditions that turn an adequate course into a rich
encounter with a new world of ideas and information. The time sequencing suggested here should not be
taken lightly. It is intended to maximize your access to first-choice resources and allow a comfortable
margin for creative responses to unexpected contingencies.
GOALS OF AN INTRODUCTORY PSYCHOLOGY
COURSE
Introductory psychology is designed to present a broad view of the discipline and is generally a prerequisite
for all subsequent courses in the curriculum. The first step is to determine your goals for this course. What
do you intend to accomplish?