E220: Melissa Maffeo: Classroom innovations, academic life, the supernatural, and neuroscience

In this episode Garth interviews Don Christensen from Shoreline Community College in Shoreline, WA. They discuss the educational and professional journey that led Don from an attempted engineering degree at Stanford to a successful psychology career focusing on teaching and performance enhancement. They discuss Don's early influences, from collegiate golf to motivational psychology, and his transition back to Seattle for graduate studies. Don describes his strategies for integrating authentic assessment and the importance of intrinsic motivation in both academic and athletic settings. The conversation highlights Don's work with aspiring athletes and business leaders, applying mental training principles for peak performance. This episode is packed with insights on education, psychology, sports, and motivational strategies that enhance teaching and learning experiences. [Note. Portions of the show notes were generated by Descript AI.]

In this episode Eric interviews Noland White (Part 2) from Georgia College & State University in Milledgeville, GA. They discuss Noland's approach to teaching and the importance of mental health and work-life balance for both students and educators. Noland shares the evolution of his role as a co-author for an intro psych textbook, detailing his journey from attending a focus group to becoming a co-author with Sandra Ciccarelli. Reflecting on his teaching career, he emphasizes the value of continuous learning, the significance of transparent communication with students, and the role of resilience and confidence-building in education. He also touches upon the future of his textbook series and the joys of maintaining a fulfilling career in academia. [Note. Portions of the show notes were generated by Descript AI.]

In this sidebar, Eric describes the upcoming Biennial International Seminar on the Teaching of Psychological Science (BISTOPS), which will be held July 6-10, 2026, in Paris. The organizer is Doug Bernstein ([email protected]) from the University of South Florida. A PDF accompanies this episode, which contains the key details about this opportunity. The deadline to apply for BISTOPS 2026 is January 15, 2026.

In this episode Eric interviews Loretta McGregor (a Part 2 interview) from Arkansas State University in Jonesboro, AR. Loretta shares insights from her recent tenure as STP President, discussing the challenges and proud moments, including a strategic membership dues increase and launching a high school mentoring program. Loretta also details her new role as Interim Associate Dean at Arkansas State University, explaining her passion for mentoring faculty. The discussion concludes with reflections on late-career transitions, future plans, and the joys of teaching statistics in unique and engaging ways. [Note. Portions of the show notes were generated by Descript AI.]

In this episode Eric interviews Drew Christopher (a Part 2 interview) from Albion College in Albion, MI. The conversation spans various topics, including Drew's career transitions, roles as an editor for the journal 'Teaching of Psychology,' SPSP pre-conference coordinator, and currently as President-Elect of STP. Drew discusses his thought process behind taking on different roles, his eventual rise to STP President, and his strategies for managing career transitions. The discussion also delves into the challenges and changes in the academic landscape, particularly in higher education, and Drew's personal approach to maintaining mental health and work-life balance. They touch on the importance of collegial support, attending conferences, and engaging in meaningful professional interactions. The conversation wraps up with insights into Drew's plans for the future and considerations about retirement. [Note. Portions of the show notes were generated by Descript AI.]

In this episode, Dr. Robert McEntarffer, a former high school teacher and current college educator, discusses the cognitive offloading potential offered by AI and on those types of thinking it would be wise not to let AI replace. Rob offers a critique of the term artificial “intelligence”, suggesting that “large language model” may be a more appropriate term given that AI doesn't truly understand or derive meaning from text. Rob highlights both the potential benefits and drawbacks of AI in education and the need for a deeper understanding of cognitive processes in learning. References: David, L., Vassena, E., & Bijleveld, E. (2024). The unpleasantness of thinking: A meta-analytic review of the association between mental effort and negative affect. Psychological Bulletin, 150(9), 1070–1093. https://doi.org/10.1037/bul0000443 Hicks, M. T., Humphries, J., & Slater, J. (2024). ChatGPT is bullshit. Ethics and Information Technology, 26(2), 38. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10676-024-09775-5 Theme music was written by Thad Bromstrup

Join veteran educators Dr. Jordan Wagge, Professor and Chair of Psychology at Avila University in Kansas City, Missouri, and Dr. Alex Swan, Associate Professor of Psychology at Eureka College in Eureka, Illinois, as they share insights and lessons learned from incorporating AI tools into their professional lives and classrooms. This episode offers valuable perspectives for educators navigating the evolving landscape of AI in education.  Theme music was written by Thad Bromstrup

In this first episode of the PsychSessions: AI and Education, host Joe Slade speaks with Garth Neufeld, co-founder of the Psych Sessions podcast. They discuss Joe's research and experiences with AI in education, including the use of AI avatars, ChatGPT's voice mode, and the potential for AI workflows as teaching and learning tools. Joe shares his optimistic perspective on integrating AI into education while addressing the ethical and philosophical questions it raises. They also discuss future podcast series directions and the importance of diverse viewpoints on AI's impact on education. Theme music was written by Thad Bromstrup

In this episode Eric interviews Melissa Maffeo from Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, NC. Melissa shares insights about her freshman seminars on alcohol history, use, and misuse, emphasizing harm reduction over abstinence. The conversation delves into her biopsychology class and creative teaching methods, such as murder mysteries to teach neurobiology. The episode also covers Melissa's career path, her role as an associate teaching professor, and advocacy for teaching-focused faculty. Highlighting her passion for neuroscience and education, Melissa discusses her upcoming book 'Science of the Supernatural' and the Neuroscience Teaching Conference she co-founded. [Note. Portions of the show notes were generated by Descript AI.]

Dave talks with Jane Halonen (University of West Florida) and Dana Dunn (Moravian University) about opportunities to choose to do what brings us joy and also allowing opportunities for our more junior colleagues to gain experiences that will help with their career development.  We discuss the frustration of dealing with burdensome and unnecessary processes that can take time away from our teaching. Listen closely for an appearance by Dana's dog, Arno!