VCE Psychology
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Apply psychology concepts in a real-world conservation setting.
This VCE Psychology program (Unit 2 and Units 1-4 Key Science Skills) uses the zoo as a real-world context to explore human behaviour, ethical decision-making and scientific investigation. Through observation, discussion and fieldwork, students examine how psychological concepts influence behaviour in a conservation organisation and apply key science skills to contemporary ethical issues.
Students will learn
VCE Psychology Units 1-4:
- Key Science Skills required for scientific investigation, including data collection and analysis
- How to understand and apply ethical guidelines to science-related issues
- How ethical concepts relate to contemporary animal welfare issues
- How to analyse and interpret qualitative and quantitative data, identify limitations and make recommendations
- Critical and creative thinking when investigating and responding to contemporary issues
VCE Psychology Unit 2
- Role of attitudes, attributions and stereotypes in information processing and decision-making
- How cognitive biases and cognitive dissonance influence behaviour and conservation messaging
- Positive and negative influences of heuristics on decision-making and problem solving
- How social groups, obedience and conformity influence behaviour in real-world contexts
- Classical and contemporary psychological research relevant to a zoo setting
Support for teachers
- Great day at the zoo - access to trails and scheduled keeper talks
- Teacher resources with classroom and excursion activities
- Pre-visit information to support planning and preparation
- Opportunity to celebrate learning and become a Fighting Extinction School
Choose your zoo experience
This program is delivered at Kyabram Fauna Park (Units 1-4) and Melbourne Zoo (Units 1-4 and Unit 2).
VCE teaching guides are password protected, with access details sent to you before your excursion or on request at booking. To ensure students get the most out of their zoo experience, please bring printed copies of the workbook.
Kyabram Fauna Park
- Focus on investigating psychology ethics in a zoo setting by examining bias, affective state and animal welfare, supported by qualitative and quantitative fieldwork data collection and analysis (Units 1-4)
- Introduction for groups
- Workshop (80 minutes)
Teaching guide
Workbook
Fauna Park map
Want to know more? Join an online Teacher Information Session.
Melbourne Zoo
- Focus on applying psychological ethical guidelines and Key Science Skills through animal welfare investigations, including role-play as an Animal Ethics Committee and observational data collection related to orangutan care (Units 1-4)
- Focus on analysing social cognition and behaviour through Zoos Victoria’s Safe Cats, Safe Wildlife campaign, examining how attitudes, biases and decision-making processes influence visitor behaviour in a conservation organisation(Unit 2)
- Introduction for groups arriving 9:40-10:00am
- Workshop (80 minutes)
Teaching guide - Units 1-4
Workbook - Units 1-4
Teaching guide - Unit 2
Workbook - Unit 2
Melbourne Zoo map and itinerary
Planning your visit
The Plan Your Visit page has costings, risk assessments, payment information, travel details, sensory maps and social stories.
Your excursion will be outdoors. Please ask your students to dress for the weather.
Book your education experience
Use the online form to book your visit.
Make booking nowWhen you book, please include:
- Name of program
- Preferred date/s
- School name and address
- Contact details of organising teacher
- Number of students/classes and year level