Peer Review

Department 12

Material Detail page

Reviewed:: Feb 10, 2022 by Psychology

Bookmark

Ratings

Overall Rating:

Content Quality:

Effectiveness:

Ease of Use:

Overview:

Dr. Ben Butina is an industrial-organizational psychologist who hosts the Department 12 Podcast. In addition to the podcast, the Department 12 website contains articles, a mailbag area (where Dr. Butina answers questions and shares guidance), and a free 30 minute mini-course entitled Intro to I-O Psych, where students may earn a digital certificate of completion.

Type of Material:

Collection

Recommended Uses:

The site offers a rich array of resources--e.g., podcasts, articles, and a mini-course in I/O psychology. Dr. Butina recommends that instructors consider embedding the mini-course into existing courses or assigning it as extra credit. The podcasts and articles can be incorporated in class discussions and assignments. Much of the material would serve as an excellent augmentation of a class presentation about careers in I/O psychology.

Technical Requirements:

Department 12 visitors will need only an updated browser to enjoy all that the site has to offer. Speakers will be helpful for listening to the podcasts.

Identify Major Learning Goals:

Articles and podcasts cover a vast array of I-O psychology including its application and careers. A 30-minute short course allows anyone to review the basics of I-O.
Visitors to the Department 12 website will learn about the field of I/O psychology, the practitioner-researcher role of the I/O psychologist, and contemporary issues in I/O psychology.

Target Student Population:

College Lower Division, College Upper Division, Graduate School

Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:

No prerequisite skills are needed though a general introduction to the field of psychology would be helpful.

Content Quality

Rating:

Strengths:

The content is engaging, varied, and contemporary. A mini-course introduces students/visitors to the major areas of I/O psychology, podcasts provide an opportunity to hear I/O psychologists talk about their projects, and the articles explore everything from current issues (e.g., diversity) to historical figures in the field (e.g., Lillian Gilbreth).

Concerns:

None.

Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool

Rating:

Strengths:

The mini-course represents a complete educational experience that includes learning goals, a brief-but-comprehensive overview of the field, and quizzes to assess knowledge uptake. Students may print out a certificate of completion. NOTE: The mini-course allows one to earn a certificate by attaining 70% or higher on an end-of-course quiz. The units must be opened sequentially, an approach that supports students in building knowledge. (Users cannot skip to the quiz if they elect to pursue the certificate.)
Overall, many possible activities may be implemented from this collection of resources. The articles and podcasts can be assigned as reading/listening and discussed in class.
In service of continuous learning, students can subscribe to the podcast and also to the Department 12 Newsletter.

Concerns:

None.

Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty

Rating:

Strengths:

The website is well-organized and easily navigated.
Menu links at the top of the home page are self-explanatory and take visitors/students directly to areas of interest (e.g., podcast, articles).
The right-hand menu links out to social media and features courses, the newsletter, and latest podcasts.
Podcasts and videos are associated with transcripts.

Concerns:

There is a keyword search feature for articles and podcasts but a more advanced search would allow one to target articles of interest more quickly.
One recommendation to improve accessibilty and usability would be to allow the transcripts to be downloaded, not just the podcasts. Currently transcripts are displayed on the page only.

Other Issues and Comments:: Department 12 is an outstanding resource for I/O psychology faculty and students.
Creative Commons: