Undergraduate Course: Psychology Outreach and Engagement (PSYL10143)
Course Outline
| School | School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences |
College | College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 10 (Year 3 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | Psychology Outreach and Engagement is a project-based course where students design and carryout an outreach project that communicates some element of the field of Psychology and related subjects beyond the university community.
The course will enable students to:
1) develop expertise in outreach and engagement;
2) improve communication skills for non-academic audiences;
3) learn key career skills such as project management; and
4) work in a professional capacity liaising and collaborating with external clients.
Students will work with schools, community centres, museums, outdoor visitor centres, science centres, community groups, online public and other clients, to design, develop and deliver resources and materials for outreach and engagement. Resources can include classroom teaching resources, leaflets, websites, smartphone/tablet applications, community events, presentations or materials for museums and visitor centres, etc. The subject matter can include anything within the remit of Psychology. Opportunities exist to undertake projects that contribute to the development of teaching resources to support the Scottish school curriculum (Curriculum for Excellence). Feedback from students indicate that successful completion of the course has enhanced future employability and opened up diverse career options such as science communication and education. |
| Course description |
This course will allow students to develop expertise in science outreach, teaching and/or knowledge transfer. Students will work with external partners in schools, exhibitions, museums or other relevant areas, to design and implement specific packages of science outreach and engagement. Researchers within the School and University may also act as clients in relation to the communication ('impact') of their research programmes to appropriate audiences. Outputs are potentially diverse, and may include for example teaching packs, presentations, animations or work with members of the public or children.
This course will provide the time to research, develop and deliver resources and materials to a higher level and in more rounded/complete form, with greater depth and/or more extended scope. Further work will be specified and undertaken in the form of literature-based or action research on relevant or wider aspects of the project (e.g. science education and pedagogy; contextual science education; interdisciplinary and cross-curricular science education; topical science; critical review of public engagement principles and practice; the relationships between science engagement and education sectors, e.g. schools, HEIs, industry, public engagement sectors, employers etc). This work will be presented in written form, and as seminar and/or poster form at a student conference. The course will bring together final year Psychology students with 4th year students in the Geoscience Outreach and Engagement course to their mutual enrichment.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
Students MUST have passed:
Psychology 2A (PSYL08011) AND
Psychology 2B (PSYL08012)
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
| Additional Costs | Some student projects will require some additional funding (approximately £50 per student) to cover expenses such as travel, printing, etc. |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | Visiting students who are Psychology majors and in their third or final year at their home university are welcome to take this course. |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
| Not being delivered |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Develop expertise with community outreach and engagement.
- Learn key communication skills including verbal, visual, video, and online/social media communication.
- Refine skills with project development and time management.
- Build relationships with community partners including schools, charities, museums, community groups, etc.
- Create learning resources, educational materials, delivery of workshops.
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Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Not entered |
| Special Arrangements |
Depending on number of students, there is a heavy workload associated with setting up projects with external (and occasionally internal) clients, and PhD tutor/Teaching Coordinator assistance will be required. |
| Keywords | psychology,outreach,engagement,project |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Robert McIntosh
Tel: (0131 6)50 3444
Email: |
Course secretary | Ms Stephanie Fong
Tel: (0131 6)51 3733
Email: |
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