The Society for the Teaching of Psychology (STP) is Division 2 of the American Psychological Association. It is an academic society that promotes effective pedagogy while providing supports for teachers of psychology at all levels (high school to colleges and universities). Although it is one of the divisions of the American Psychological Association, it does not require its members to join the APA. STP provides access to peer-reviewed teaching resources, such as course syllabi and e-books, free of charge to the general public through its website. Some sections of the website (e.g., applications for grants and awards) require STP membership to gain access.
History The STP was founded as Division 2 of APA in 1945. Past presidents include notable key figures in the field of psychology, such as Wilbert J. McKeachie, John Dashiell, Susan A. Nolan, Charles Brewer, Ludy T. Benjamin, Virginia Andreoli Mathie, Diane Halpern, and Jane Halonen. In its early years, the STP struggled to increase membership and clarify its professional identity and purpose. In 1947, Division 2 had only 184 registered members, lagging behind other divisions. In 1950, the STP created the Teaching of Psychology Newsletter. In 1951, the STP's 6th president Claude E. Buxton surveyed the membership to find out more about the current composition and possible future direction of the STP. Buxton found that the STP membership mainly consisted of educators interested in undergraduate liberal arts education, and lacked graduate-level instructors. Finding that most survey respondents saw a need to continue and improve the STP, Buxton worked on increasing membership, and a proposal requiring membership in another APA division before joining Division 2 was not adopted, as it seemed to subordinate the STP to other APA divisions. By the end of the 1950s, Division 2 had gained greater prestige, and included members of various disciplines in psychology (especially social, experimental, and clinical psychology) from both small and large institutions of higher education. In the early 1960s, Wilbert J. McKeachie gave the Teaching of Psychology newsletter a more polished image. Between 1960 and 1974, the STP saw a marked increase in membership, and the organization increased services to help teachers of psychology, and formulated more rigorous standards in the scholarship of teaching psychology. In the early 1960s, STP president Robert S. Daniel was instrumental in making sure that teaching tips and sample psychology course syllabi were available to instructors. The STP also took a leading role in developing educational television during this period. During his leadership the STP also provided supports and equipment to aid departments operating on a limited budget. Daniel also lobbied the American Psychological Foundation to establish an annual award for outstanding teachers. In 1974, Daniel was also responsible for turning the Teaching of Psychology Newsletter into what is now the journal Teaching of Psychology. By 1965, membership in Division 2 was higher than that of all other APA division, except divisions 8, 12, and 15. The establishment of the Teaching of Psychology journal (ToP) by a group of editors around Robert S. Daniel in 1974 was a major step forward for STP. This journal became widely respected within the discipline by 1981. During the 1950s, efforts to begin a journal had been defeated by those arguing that a journal giving teachers an identity apart from other areas of specialization would actually diminish the prestige of Division 2. Between 1975 and 1987, leaders of the STP worked to recruit new members, in order to offset declining enrollment in Division 2 and across many APA divisions. During this period, STP leadership developed awards that recognized exceptional teachers. In the early 1990s, the STP aimed at increasing its outreach to academics at the regional level through the Council of Teachers of Undergraduate Psychology (CTUR). During this period, former STP president Patricia Keith-Spiegel developed the Office of Teaching Resources in Psychology (OTRP) to achieve these outreach-related aims and to provide academics and teachers of Psychology with centralized and accessible resources. The STP Members approved a bylaws revision in 2018 to shorten the title of this office to Director of Teaching Resources. The STP also worked on developing exchange systems for course syllabi and activities. During the mid 1990s, under the presidency of Margaret A. Lloyd, the STP developed the Long-Range Planning Committee to help Division 2 enter the 21st century with increased visibility and influence. The STP adapted to rapid changes in technology by making all resources computerized, and focused on maintaining the high quality and integrity of the Teaching of Psychology journal.
Resources The Society for the Teaching of Psychology offers many resources to help teachers of psychology. The Primary Resources page contains a wealth of materials, ranging from classroom assignments and class demonstrations to books about teaching psychology, to mentorship programs for teachers of psychology or scholars of teaching and learning.
Resources for Teachers of Psychology STP provides Resources for Teachers of Psychology, These include peer-reviewed assignments, demonstrations, and strategies for teaching at all levels. Resources are divided into about 25 categories that reflect different sub-disciplinary areas and covers the responsibilities of teachers beyond the classroom, such as advising and writing letters of recommendation.
Project Syllabus STP hosts Project Syllabus through which experienced teachers review syllabi submitted by teachers of psychology from across the nation. Project Syllabus has posted over 100 syllabi that can be used as inspiration for novice teachers or first-time teachers of a specific course.
Teaching of Psychology Idea Exchange (TOPIX) The Teaching of Psychology Idea Exchange (TOPIX) curates ideas psychology teachers have posted about teaching strategies, assignments, ideas, and discussion topics that are innovative, creative, and open for use.
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