Mobilizing Faculty into the Future: Using Online Technology as Teaching Tools

Aris Karagiorgakis Ph.D.
Pedagogical Statement:
Topics in social psychology tend to generate frequent, sometimes heated, discussion points that are seemingly dominated
by the same handful of students. This blog, although serving a number of purposes, was initially conceived to
engage those other “shy” and less vocal students, and provide them with a safer outlet for their perspective. Most
importantly, however, the blog assignment has evolved to challenge students to take an introspective evaluation of
their own views and beliefs - by posting comments on a variety of topics prior to taking the class, and using class
material to assess their own posts/comments at the end of the course. This end-of-the-semester assessment will be
made by the students themselves outside of class, providing another avenue for self-examination, self-discovery, and
self-critique of their views. Expressing what they’ve learned via the blog, and how their viewpoints have evolved given
their exposure to class material, is expected to enhance the classroom experience, reveal shifts in their thinking
about the subject matter, and provide a lasting, personal, and reflective educational experience.
Biography:
Aris Karagiorgakis is an Assistant Professor of Psychology at Black Hills State University. He teaches a number of classes
including General Psychology, Learning & Memory, Research Methods, Introduction to Psychology Lab, Social Psychology,
and Psychology & Law. His current research projects involve the meditative benefits of art on stress, the impact
of acute stress on eyewitness memory, and assessing the influence of group size and gender of friends on ratings
of attractiveness. Past research projects have included: Body image and socio-cultural pressure; gender label conformity;
gender differences in compliance and personal space; and involvement in school activities and contentment.
His research interests include assessing youth perceptions and attitudes of substance use, assessing and evaluating
educational outcomes and programs such as after school programs, and Life Skills drug prevention programs. He received
his Ph.D., in 2010, in Cognitive Psychology, with an area of specialization in Psychology & Law, from Claremont
Graduate University in Los Angeles, CA.
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