VCE Psychology Incursions

VCE Psychology Incursions
(Presentations can also be modified for younger year levels)

Have your students learn in a highly engaging and motivating manner. All workshops are presented by Dr Brad Rundle – a highly experienced educator and animal behaviourist.

Dr Rundle explains the concepts covered in psychology with his amazing dog Radar and/or other members of the Therapy Animals Australia animal team.

UNIT 1: AOS 1 Psychological Development and Influencing Factors
Developing a successful working dog requires an understanding of how genetics and environmental factors combine and are used in a real-world application. From his experience with assistance dogs, Dr Rundle discusses the development and training required to produce these highly trained canines. From the critical developmental periods of puppyhood and adolescence to a functional working dog, Dr Rundle draws parallels between canine psychological development and that of humans. This is a highly engaging learning experience that your students are sure to remember.

UNIT 2: AOS 2 The Role of Attention and the Utilisation of Top-Down and Bottom-Up Processing
This incursion unpacks the role of attention together with top-down and bottom-up processing using a canine training model. Dr Rundle discusses and demonstrates the use of sustained, divided and selective attention when training an animal. Similarly, he discusses and demonstrates how to establish the appropriate perceptual sets in canines that provide them with desired prior knowledge. This prior knowledge coupled with a dog’s perception of a situation is used to enable faster and more reliable training outcomes.

UNIT 3: AOS 2 Classical and Operant Conditioning
Dr Rundle demonstrates a range of canine learned behaviours (this may include anything from obedience behaviours through to scent detection) and breaks them down to discuss how he trains behaviours and how he utilises both classical and operant conditioning. This includes the three-phases of each type of conditioning, reinforcement, punishment (behaviour quadrant), factors that influence reinforcement and punishment and, a comparison between classical and operant.

UNIT 4: AOS 2 Mental Wellbeing and Phobia
Dr Rundle uses his expertise from training assistance dogs for individuals suffering mental illness to describe and explain mental wellbeing. He does so from a level of functioning and resilience whilst considering mental wellbeing as a continuum. Using examples from the animals he has trained he relates the concepts to humans. Drawing on lived experience, Dr Rundle works through the concept of phobia including biological and psychological factors and, interventions.

Please Note: For VCE, the incursions can be used as an engaging/informative session or used as the basis for a SAC (in this case Dr Rundle can be very specific about what is covered following discussion with the classroom teacher). He can also adjust the content to cater for lower year levels as needed.

Study Skills Workshop: “Putting Theory into Practise”
This workshop assists students to gain a deeper insight into the process of learning as well as how to develop more effective study habits. Alongside a highly trained canine, Dr. Rundle helps students to understand what approach works best, and why. Watching highly trained canines in action and unpacking the techniques used to teach these behaviours, provides the perfect platform for making learning about learning more engaging and memorable. This workshop covers exam writing techniques and is a great tool for assisting students to reflect on their own habits and feel good about making some positive changes and increase their confidence levels.

Some incursions can also be conducted online!

Book now to secure a session for your students. Contact info@therapyanimals.com.au for details or call 0438 770 994.

Cost: $485* excl GST per session (28 students per session^)
* additional travel charges may apply
^ additional students $13.75 per head