SYLLABUS General Psychology, PSY TR 1:00-2:15 Fall 2013

Transcription

1 I. FACULTY INFORMATION: Name: Dr. Garrett Strosser Office Telephone Number: (435) Office Address: GC 308A Office Hours: MWF 2-3, W 4-5, R 2:15-3:15 garrettstrosser@suu.edu SYLLABUS General Psychology, PSY TR 1:00-2:15 Fall 2013 II. COURSE DESCRIPTION: Psychology is the scientific study of behavioral and mental processes. This course provides a broad overview of the field of psychological science. III. GENERAL EDUCATION: General Psychology (PSY 1010) is a course designed to give you a broad sampling in the field of psychology covering topics as diverse as abnormal, cognitive, developmental, social, and biological psychology. Through this course students should gain experience in critical thinking (e.g., identifying arguments that are not causal), develop the skills necessary to work successfully in a team (e.g., appreciation of differences, distribution of responsibilities, etc.), evaluate you own personal belief structure and behaviors in light of findings in psychology, and integrate these findings into your life. IV. REQUIRED TEXT & MATERIALS: Myers, D. G. (2012). Exploring psychology in modules (9 th Ed.). New York, NY: Worth Publishers. ISBN: *Additional readings will be provided if necessary. iclicker (available at bookstore) ISBN: Register at: 2. Enter in your First Name, Last Name, Student ID (iclicker ID found on Canvas under Grades), Remote ID, & Security Code (online). 3. Click on the Enter icon. 4. A confirmation screen will appear when your registration is successful. *Note taking items *Scantrons/paper for exams (details to be provided later prior to Exam 1) *Printing/photocopying capabilities and resources *Poster board *Creative materials construction paper, markers, glue, etc. ADDITIONAL RESOURCE: V. STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES: A. Knowledge of Human Cultures & the Physical and Natural World: *Explain and differentiate between the basic subfields of psychology

2 *Identify, describe, and apply the research methods used to collect information in psychology *Practice using psychological terminology and jargon *Identify, describe, and explain key ideas and studies in psychology B. Critical Thinking: *Express an informed opinion on currently debated issues in the field *Create alternative explanations to research findings C. Teamwork: *Interact with others in activities, demonstrations, and research studies related to the field of psychology *Work productively to create group projects *Gain experience interacting with individuals of different backgrounds and experiences *Practice using interpersonal team-building skills *Identify positive teammate characteristics D. Lifelong Learning: *Connect theoretical findings with applied situations in life *Identify subfields of psychology that are of interest to you personally *Assess how information covered in the scope of this course has altered your beliefs on human psychology and behavior VI. COURSE ASSESSMENT/EVALUATION TABLE: Exams (40%) Reading Quizzes (10%/5%) HW #1 & #2 (15%) In-Class Activities (10%) Poster Assign (10%) Team Member Evaluation (10%) Research Participation *Knowledge X X X X X X *Critical X X X X X Thinking Teamwork X X X X *Lifelong X X X Learning *Reflects core General Psychology ELOs (in the table above). VII. SCHEDULE OF ASSIGNMENTS AND ACTIVITIES (Tentative): Week Dates Topics Readings/Assignments Due Week 1 8/27 Introduction & Syllabus Theme 1 Foundational Psychology 8/29 History of Psychology/Psychological Module 1 Research Methods *Create Groups Week 2 9/3 Psychological Research Methods (cont.) Module 2 Handout HW #1 9/5 *Research Methods Activity *Develop Teammate Evaluation Items *Online iclicker registration deadline Reading Quiz #1 (over Module 2)

3 Week Dates Topics Readings/Assignments Due Week 3 9/10 Neurons & the Brain Modules 3 & 4 9/12 Nature & Nurture Module 5 HW #1 Due Week 4 9/17 EXAM #1 EXAM #1 9/19 Theme 2 Lifespan Influences Prenatal, Infancy, & Childhood Development Modules 9-10 Week 5 9/24 Infancy & Childhood Development (cont.) Modules Adolescent & Adult Development 9/26 Drugs & Consciousness Reading Quiz #2 Week 6 10/1 Psychological Disorders *Assign Psychological Disorder Poster & Identify Topics 10/3 Psychological Disorders (cont.) *Diagnosis Worksheet Activity Week 7 10/8 *Finish Diagnosis Worksheet Activity Module 8 Module 39 Modules 40 & 41 Bring Materials to Assemble Poster *Work on Disorders Posters 10/10 *Psychological Disorders Poster Session Bring Completed Poster to Class Week 8 10/15 EXAM #2 EXAM #2 10/17 Theme 3 Thoughts & Behaviors Sensation & Perception Modules 15 & 16 (pp ) Week 9 10/22 NO CLASS-Fall Break 10/24** Sensation & Perception (cont.) Week 10 10/29 Memory Modules 21, 22, & 23 10/31 Intelligence Modules 26 & 27 Week 11 11/5 Classical Conditioning Module 18 11/7 Operant Conditioning & Observational Learning Week 12 11/12 Operant Conditioning & Observational Learning (cont.) Modules 19 & 20 Reading Quiz #3 11/14 EXAM #3 EXAM #3 Module 36 Week 13 11/19 Theme 4 The Self & Others Social Thinking Zimbardo Video Handout HW #2 11/21 Antisocial Relations Module 37 Week 14 11/26 Prosocial Relations Module 38 Reading Quiz #4 *Research Credits Due by class time 11/28 NO CLASS-Thanksgiving Holiday Week 15 12/3 Complete Social Topics Above HW #2 Due 12/5 Personality & Freud *Evaluate Teammates Week 16 12/12 FINAL EXAM/EXAM #4 (Thur., 3-4:50 p.m.) **Last day to withdraw from individual classes with W Friday, 10/25/13. Modules 34 & 35

4 VIII. COURSE REQUIREMENTS: A. PREREQUISITES: None B. INSTRUCTOR S POLICIES: Attendance Formal attendance will not be taken in class. However, as with many courses the frequency of class attendance will most likely be related to one s overall course grade. A direct consequence of not attending class regularly will be a loss of In-Class Activity and Participation points, in-class bonus points, and information relating to the course and the subject. These items cannot be made up even if the absence is excused. If class is missed, please obtain information about the missed class first from a (trustworthy) peer, check CANVAS (the online learning resource through SUU), and then if necessary, talk with me. Late Work No late work will be accepted. If you need to miss a class, please turn in your work early by either giving it to me in class or dropping it into my office mailbox outside of my door (GC 308A). Assignments will not be accepted via unless arrangements with me have been made in advance. Work will be considered late if it is turned in after I asked for it in class. Classroom Procedure Please turn off all cell phones, pagers, and other electronic devices that could interrupt the class before entering the classroom. Only persons formally enrolled in the course are allowed to attend class. Pedagogical Philosophy On-topic classroom discussion is strongly encouraged as I believe that some of the most important learning experiences occur within group discussion. I also believe that disagreement of ideas is a great source of learning and of development for new ideas. I encourage academic discussions that challenge former ideas as well as the status quo. I will often pose purposefully controversial questions to the class not to cause anger or chaos, but to help us analyze currently difficult issues. Be mindful that during the discussions your comments should be tactful and considerate of those around you. Criticizing an individual is different than arguing a point of contention. Pedagogical Disclaimers While I strive to make the topics in this course as interesting and engaging as possible through the use of many interactive activities and discussions, I need your help to make this an enjoyable course. Your participation as an individual not only helps you, but it also helps everybody else involved in the class. Your positive involvement helps classmates to understand the material better, and it helps me as an instructor to fine-tune the topics to your needs as a student. Furthermore, although interactive activities and discussions will be dispersed throughout this course, portions of this course will still involve presentation/lecture-style delivery of information.

5 Study Tips & My Thoughts (on How to be Successful in this Course) 1. Check the calendar section of the syllabus prior to every class and read the required materials in advance with the expectation of comprehending the material. 2. Use class time as a means to a) clarify confusing points, b) ask questions, c) apply the already read concepts to an activity, d) see the concepts in action, and e) take notes on new material. (The objective of class time is not to review everything covered in the book. Rather, the objective of class time is to expand and apply your knowledge of different areas of psychology to various situations and clarify confusing topics.) 3. Access CANVAS to review and study the material presented in class. 4. When studying, refer back to your textbook to clarify any confusing points and to review any topics not explicitly covered in class. If desired and/or necessary, make use of the free online review material at 5. Throughout this whole process, allow yourself to be curious. This mindset will make the class more enjoyable, and it will actually help you to remember more material with less effort. 6. Turn in all work, complete, and on-time. C. ASSIGNMENTS: Exams (40% Total/10% Each Exam) Four exams will be given as indicated on the Semester Calendar section of the syllabus. Each of the first three exams will be non-comprehensive and will only include material covered since the previous exam. The final exam will be cumulative and will include both the new material covered as well as the previously tested information. Exams will consist of multiple-choice, short-answer, matching, and fill-inthe blank questions. Questions on the exams will come from both in-class discussions/presentations as well as assigned readings. More details will be provided prior to the first exam. Talk with me in advance if you are going to miss an exam, as they cannot be made-up after it has been given in class. Reading Quizzes (10% Individual/5% Team) Four reading quizzes will be given as indicated on the Semester Calendar section of the syllabus. Each reading quiz will consist of 10 multiple choice questions. Questions will come from materials to have been read for class that day. Since quizzes are reading, time-sensitive, quizzes cannot be made up outside of class for any reason. However, I drop the lowest of your four individual and four team quiz grades. (A portion of your reading quiz will be an individual score, and a portion of your score will be a team score. I will provide more details later in the semester regarding how quiz taking will work.) Homework Assignments (15% Total/7.5% Each) There are a total of two formal written Homework Assignments due throughout the semester of this course. Each of the Homework Assignments will be different from each other. One of the assignments may involve writing essay responses to current psychological dilemmas, while one of the assignments may involve evaluating how a particular psychological aspect impacts your life. I will give you details in advance as to how to complete each of the two Homework Assignments. The due dates of these assignments are listed on the Calendar section of this syllabus. Not turning in Homework Assignments will severely hurt your grade. Poster Assignment (10%) There will be one poster assignment for this course. This will be an activity that requires students to work together in small groups to research a particular psychological disorder. Upon completion of these posters, we will hold a poster session day in class. See the Semester Calendar section for dates related to the Poster Assignment. Additional information will be provided to you later.

6 In-Class Activity & Participation (10% Total) A number of in-class activities will be given throughout the duration of the course. Activities will involve items such as in-class demonstrations, video-response questions, reading quizzes, written opinionresponses, and iclicker questions. These activities will usually be unannounced, and hence, they cannot be made up or completed in advance. However, meaningful participation in these activities will generally serve to (hopefully) increase one s interest in the topic and to boost one s overall grade. Missing only a few days of in-class activities during the course of the semester, should not have a huge impact on a student s overall final grade. Team Member Evaluation (10%) Given that a variety of In-Class Activities, the Poster Assignment, and the Team Reading Quizzes are team-based, you will have an opportunity to assess each of your teammate s performance at the end of the semester. The criteria we will use to assess each teammate will be developed as a class later in the semester. Research Participation Given that the topics we will be covering in psychology often stem directly from research studies, it is important to see how this information is collected first-hand. To meet this objective, this course requires that you participate in four psychological studies: two online studies and two in-person studies. After completing each study, please turn in a typed response that includes the following items: 1. Your Name 2. The date and time that you completed the study, as well as the overall duration time of the study 3. A brief (3-5 sentences) description of the activities you performed 4. The variables of interest in the study (e.g., attitudes towards smoking, birth order, etc.) 5. What the experimenter was trying to learn in the study. For each study not completed and turned-in by due date (Tues., 11/26/13) at 1 pm, a 1.5% drop in one s overall grade will be applied to the average. Not completing all four credit hours will result in a 6% drop in one s average. Completing all of your four study credits will result in a 1.5% bonus added to one s final grade. *I will present specific details on CANVAS later in the semester that will describe how to go about signing up for these experiments. D. GRADES: A % C 73-76% A % C % B % D % B 83-86% D 63-66% B % D % C % F < 60% IX. ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: Scholastic dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent. You are expected to have read and understood Policy 6.33 Academic Integrity and the current issue of the student handbook (published by Student Services) regarding student responsibilities and rights.

7 X. ADA STATEMENT: Students with medical, psychological, learning or other disabilities desiring academic adjustments, accommodations or auxiliary aids will need to contact the Southern Utah University Coordinator of Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD), in Room 206F of the Sharwan Smith Center or phone (435) SSD determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of services. XI. EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT STATEMENT: In case of emergency, the University's Emergency Notification System (ENS) will be activated. Students are encouraged to maintain updated contact information using the link on the homepage of the mysuu portal. In addition, students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Emergency Response Protocols posted in each classroom. Detailed information about the University's emergency management plan can be found at XII. HEOA Compliance statement: The sharing of copyrighted material through peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, except as provided under U.S. copyright law, is prohibited by law. Detailed information can be found at XIII. SANS Reports: I care about your success and therefore will participate in the Student Assessment Notification System (SANS) an early alert program designed to provide peer mentor support and resources. If I feel you are struggling in my course, you will receive a notice of concern from me through SANS. I expect you to utilize these resources designed for your benefit. XIV. DISCLAIMER: Information contained in this syllabus, other than the grading, late assignments, makeup work, and attendance policies, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.)