A Durham University Professor of Psychology, who is on a mission to transform the way people engage, communicate and drive action, has secured an exciting partnership that will transform the way students learn.
Professor Richard Crisp, The Influence Doctor, has taught the psychology of social influence for over 30 years and written multiple books on the subject. He has now teamed up with Top Trumps to create a social science version of the world’s leading card game.
The game aims to get people learning in a refreshing, interactive – and human – way, in a bold move away from the seemingly ubiquitous use of AI and online learning that has been increasingly employed in higher education.
The Top Trumps Social Psychology card game can be bought by individuals on Amazon or via the It’s Academic website, but where the game really shines is as a brand new learning resource for universities and colleges looking to buy them for students to use in interactive lectures, classes and workshops.
To help instructors, there is a free instructor’s guide that details lesson plans, learning outcomes and game variants that all utilise the cards. Prof Crisp also delivers a 2-hour seminar via zoom that uses the cards to illustrate some of the most interesting and useful concepts and theories in social psychology (free to those who purchase classroom or workshop bundles). He said:
“I created The Influence Doctor as a new, skills-based approach to enhancing persuasive communications using insights from psychological science. It’s a mission to help organisations communicate with clarity, influence with integrity, and drive lasting change.
“As part of this, I have partnered with Top Trumps to provide lecturers with an exciting new way to teach social psychology – an educational and entertaining version of the classic card game. The cards provide a short, accessible summary of important theories and concepts along with key information points. QR codes on each card also link to a more detailed description and further resources meaning that every time you play you can delve deeper in to this fascinating field of study!
“I believe, as educators, there’s a real risk of us moving too far down the path of AI, or on-line, isolated learning. While undoubtedly new technologies are helping students learn, it’s also so important to bring them together in engaging, interactive learning. That’s what I hope Top Trumps Social Psychology can achieve – the perfect balance of in-person, fun-focused interaction, combined with a juducious use of technology (via the QR codes on each card and the associated web resources). It’s in-person learning that uses technology to magnify its benefits (not as a replacement for human interaction). There is just no better way to learn – by having fun with each other while we’re doing it!”
As well as a classroom resource, the cards are also gaining interest from schools and colleges, as well as proving to be a hit with avid collectors of the brand. The cards have even been adopted as promotional merchandise and they make an unique gift for prospective students on open days.
Beyond the education sector, a business-focused seminar is also available in which Prof Crisp uses the cards to show how social psychology can help address a range of contemporary business challenges (such as building confidence, enhancing communication, team-working and productivity).
Claire Simon, Marketing Manager at Top Trumps, commented:
“At Top Trumps, we’re always looking for new and meaningful ways to engage people with learning, so we couldn’t be happier to partner on this exciting project. Social Psychology is such an important and relevant subject and seeing it come to life through Top Trumps is incredibly exciting. We’re proud to help make learning more interactive, memorable and fun – whether that’s in a classroom, lecture hall, or at home with friends.”
Prof Crisp concluded:
“I am delighted to see how much interest there is in this totally new version of the Top Trumps game – I really believe it can help more students engage with the subject, learn with their peers, and gain critical skills along the way. Understanding the science of social influence is the key to good communication and in a world going predominantly digital it is so important that we all harness these skills and celebrate human to human interaction. Top Trumps Social Psychology is my way of taking a stand.”
You can find more information at http://www.itsacademic.co.uk