Using Discussion to Teach Capstone Courses in Psychology

Abstract

The American Psychological Association (APA 2002(APA , 2007(APA , 2013 recommends the inclusion of a capstone course in psychology undergraduate teaching alongside traditional lecture-based learning. This review explores what is meant by a capstone course by taking a fresh look at empirically derived pedagogic theory and how this may address some long-standing curricular needs of the psychology faculty and undergraduate students. It then explores the use of Socratic teaching methods and how this could be used as a template for teaching a capstone course within psychology.