We all know that being an educator is full of lifelong learning. To keep our teaching skills sharp and stay in the loop with the ever-evolving world of psychology, it's important to seek out professional development opportunities. Luckily, there's a whole bunch of options out there specifically designed for high school psychology teachers!
Conferences and Workshops for Psychology Teachers
Alright, picture this: You, surrounded by a bunch of passionate psychology educators, all geeking out about our favorite subject. Attending conferences and workshops is an amazing way to learn from the pros, swap ideas with other teachers, and get that much-needed dose of inspiration. Trust me, you'll come back with a notebook full of new strategies and a head buzzing with excitement. Here's a few opportunities that I highly recommend. Some are in-person (which I think is much more beneficial, but of course more expensive and less convenient) and some are virtual:
APA Annual Convention | August 8-10, 2024 | Seattle, Washington (different location each year) & Virtual - The location changes every year, so check the upcoming locations. If the location isn't convenient, consider the virtual option. APA hosts a HUGE convention for the entire field of psychology, so take the time to look over the schedule beforehand to determine which sessions you're most interested in. The scope is so vast that you can choose sessions that will directly improve your teaching, sessions that will grow your content knowledge, and even a few that you're just curious about. TOPSS (Teachers of Psychology in Secondary Schools) also hosts an in-person pre-convention workshop just for psychology teachers! APA membership is not required to attend, but it significantly lowers the registration fee.
APA/APF/Oregon State University Psychological Science Workshop for High School Psychology Teachers | June | Corvallis, Oregon & Virtual - This year was the first year this workshop went hybrid to allow teachers not in Oregon to participate as well. I recommend in-person if possible as there's more to participate in and more value to gain, but was grateful that I was able to attend virtually and still enjoy some of the benefits.
STP Annual Conference on Teaching | October 5-7, 2023 | Portland, Oregon (different location each year) - This large conference is created specifically for participants that teach psychology at the high school, college, and university levels. It includes key note speakers that are experts in the world of teaching psychology, presenting over multiple days of learning and collaboration. It does require STP membership to register.
STP Annual Conference on Teaching | February 12-16, 2024 | Virtual - If you're not able to make it to the in-person STP conference, this is a great option. There will be some of the same presentations that are available in-person, plus some virtual-only offerings.
TIP Northwest | April | Seattle, Washington - There are MANY regional psychology teacher conferences you can choose from based on your location and I obviously can't speak to all of them, but I can tell you this one is incredible! TIP (Teachers of Psychology) Northwest is a small conference that includes participants that teach introductory psychology at the high school, college, and university levels. As a high school teacher, it's rare and so valuable to be able to collaborate with teachers at other levels, not to mention this is a wonderfully kind and welcoming group.
NCSS Annual Conference | December 1-3, 2023 | Nashville, TN - This is a more broad conference, focused on teaching all of the social sciences, so you won't find as much information on teaching psychology specifically. But if you teach multiple social science courses, this is the conference for you!
Funding Registration and Travel
APF (American Psychological Foundation) also awards grants to psychology teachers interested in attending conferences but in need of funding for the registration and travel required. If there's a conference you'd like to attend, but cost is an issue, submit an application!
Embrace these professional development opportunities and watch your passion for psychology ignite. Remember, we're in this together, so let's keep learning, growing, and inspiring!
Are there any conferences or workshops you've attended and found valuable? Share in the comments!
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