HomeDLSU Dialogue: An Interdisciplinary Journal for Cultural Studiesvol. 15 no. 1-2 (1980)

Making the Teaching of Sociology and Psychology Relevant and Interesting

Jennifer A. Lauby

Discipline: Education

 

Abstract:

Since the topic of teaching sociology and psychology is so broad, I would like to focus on just one aspect: Possible teaching methods to make our classes more relevant and interesting.

 

The students we work with today are different from the submissive teenagers many of us were. T oday's college students generally know what kind of future they want and plan their education to fit this goal. They are not afraid to question their teachers or demand more interesting classes. Although the increased openness in our relations with students is generally helpful to their growth, it does put a greater burden on teachers to live up to the expectations of their ambitious students. One way to do this is by using methods that help students relate the subject matter they study to their practical concerns. In helping them apply what they read, we can demonstrate the relationship between theories and actual life experience.