London Visit inspires AS Psychology Students

6 March 2015

AS level Psychology students visited London earlier this week to learn more about various aspects of what has so far been covered on the AS course.

Students visited the Science Museum where they visited the ‘who am I?’ exhibition, before spending some time soaking up the atmosphere in London’s famous Covent Garden. During the evening students watched the West End musical ‘Billy Elliot’ in the Victoria Palace Theatre.

The following day students explored London Zoo where they experienced a systematic desensitisation session designed to assist people in overcoming their fear of spiders (arachnophobia). Systematic desensitisation aims to make people feel relaxed in the presence of their phobia and following the demonstration students were given the opportunity to hold a tarantula to prove that the therapy had actually worked.

Psychology Tutor, Roy Owen was pleased with how well the students took to the experience stating, “I believe that it is important to provide students with the opportunity to apply what they have learnt in the classroom to the real world and experiencing a systematic desensitisation demonstration at London Zoo enabled them to do this. Some of the students were incredibly brave and were able to actually hold a tarantula following the demonstration.”

Psychology student, Chloe McGuirk, who also studies Spanish, ICT and Health and Social Care at The Sixth Form College found the trip to be extremely beneficial stating, “It was absolutely incredible, the trip has developed our knowledge of phobias and the therapies to treat them in all areas of Psychology and has taken my knowledge to a new level.”

Fellow Psychology student Alex Kelly, who also studies Law, ICT and Sociology added, “I enjoyed site seeing and having independence whilst learning. I learnt more about fear of animals and how therapy can help to overcome this.”

The Sixth Form College organises dozens of UK-wide educational trips each year, reinforcing the classroom teaching and giving students the opportunity to expand their horizons.