Psychology Class at Collier High School

“Teaching is more than imparting knowledge, it is inspiring change. Learning is more than absorbing facts, it is acquiring understanding.” -William Arthur Ward

When a student is anxious, depressed, or even angry, they seek answers as to why they feel the way they do. Knowledge about what they are experiencing is a powerful tool to understanding and moving forward on the path of healing. Psychology class at Collier High School is one way for students to learn about these things, and the students in the class are ever eager to learn more and more!

In Mrs. DiStefano’s Psychology class various topic areas such as dreaming, learning, child development, and mental illnesses are discussed. The class is one of many academic electives at Collier High School geared to preparing students for college. Notes are given lecture style, there is an open and lively exchange of ideas, and papers and /or projects are assigned. Sigmund Freud, Parapsychology, Humanistic Psychology, and Structuralism were all recent student presentations given through various media including comic art work.

Newborn infants is the current topic under study in the class. What are the capabilities of a newborn? What is meant by Nature versus Nurture in child development? Are feral children real? How does a child learn language? These areas of inquiry fully engage the minds of Collier High School students and are brought more to life through movies, videos, and case studies.

Next up for the classes is the cognitive development of infants and the theories of Jean Piaget.