Index of University Press Releases

Nov. 8, 2007

Kelly and Sprung present at national conference

Anne Kelly

Randy Sprung

MITCHELL – Anne Kelly, associate professor of psychology, and Randy Sprung, assistant professor of psychology at DWU, conducted a session at the annual Best Practices in the Teaching Psychology Conference in Atlanta on Oct. 12-14.

The DWU professors presented their project, “Serving Your Strengths: A Strengths-Based Approach to Service Learning.”

The objectives of this project were to orient freshmen declared as psychology majors to Dakota Wesleyan’s commitment to service learning and to the strengths-based approach to education. The project also focused on engaging students in meaningful relationships with peers, professors and professionals in the community.

“The Dakota Wesleyan psychology department engages students in civic life,” said Sprung. “We believe that classroom lessons should be complimented by work outside the classroom, and we encourage students to apply their skills in psychology to very real community problems. Knowing, understanding and valuing the most real aspects of oneself allows one to engage in meaningful community service that will enhance academic skills, foster a commitment to civic participation and promote people skills.”

Six students took part in four, two-hour strengths-based seminars and took the Clifton StrengthsFinder, a talent assessment based on principals of positive psychology. The objectives were to discern what they do best and determine how to use their talents to collaborate effectively, improve their performance and increase their learning. The project required students to select, design, implement and evaluate a service activity.

The conference is sponsored by Society for the Teaching of Psychology, Society for the History of Psychology, National Institute on the Teaching of Psychology and Kennesaw State University Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning.