Ella Rentz ‘24, Business/Ad Manager
As we roll out of the holiday season and into the new year, we get closer to the second semester, and now is the time for underclassmen to start planning what classes to take next school year. To help ease the stress of scheduling, let us take a deep look into one of the newest classes at SLHS, AP Psychology.
AP Psychology focuses on the functions of the brain and human behavior. Mrs. Colley, the teacher of the course, said, “We cover Foundations of Psychology, Biological Bases (the brain), Sensation and Perception, Learning, Cognitive Psych, Developmental Psych, Motivation/Emotion/Personality, Clinical Psych (disorders) and Therapies, and Social Psych.”
The class serves as an opportunity to learn college-level subject matter in high school, without having to pay for the course. Students are also given the option to pay to take the AP test for a fee, which grants the student an opportunity to earn college credit. Senior Olivia Leshok said, “I like being able to learn more about psychology without having to dual enroll.”
In terms of how the class operates, it follows a pretty consistent schedule. “An average day involves notes and an activity of some kind to further explore the topics we discuss. Almost every week there is reading and work based on that reading, but that is the only homework for the most part, so time management is key,” Colley said. Being an AP class, there are certain expectations to this course. The ability to manage your time is key to being successful in the class. Senior Lauren Collins said, “I think the workload is light. We don’t usually get homework except for the RONs [reading, outlines, notecards], in class we do activities a lot of the time.” The class tends to be manageable, as it focuses highly on in-class learning.
A good understanding of psychology can open many doors for a person. Colley said, “AP Psychology is a good starting point for anyone wanting to get a feel for a college-level course or anyone considering any career that might relate to people (therapy, teaching, human relations, management, etc.).” She added, “Understanding how people work and think is important in nearly all professions.” Psychology really can speak to everyone, and there is always something to learn on the subject.
Ultimately, AP psychology serves as a great option for students with a passion for psychology. It is for those who want to learn more about themselves and others, and should be in consideration for one of your electives next year if you have a deep interest in human behavior and how the brain works as well as a strong work ethic.
Lyon Life 