General Psychology - PSYC 001 OL1 - Course Syllabus

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PSYC 001: General Psychology, Online
Fall, 2012
Information in this syllabus is subject to change. This is Version 1; publication date, 28 August 2012. Some course information is only available in Blackboard.

Dr. Larry Rudiger, with Tosha Hawley Course website: https://bb.uvm.edu/. Most of the course is conducted via Blackboard. Your Blackboard ID and password are the same as your e-mail account. If you are not on the Blackboard student list, e-mail the instructors at [email protected]. Contact Email: [email protected]. In most cases, you will get a reply within 1 business day as e-mail is checked regularly. Do not hesitate to contact us. If you are experiencing a problem accessing the materials, don’t understand something, or have a nonacademic problem that is hampering your performance, please contact us. We want to help you. This is the first time many students have taken an online course, and many people may find it confusing. No question is a “dumb” question. We are ready and waiting to help you with any problem you may have with the course, no matter how small or large. How we contact you: Most information will be posted on Blackboard. If we need to contact you individually, we will use your UVM e-mail address. Students are expected to manage their own e-mail accounts so that they can receive messages related to the course. Textbook: Stangor, C. (2011). Introduction to Psychology (1st Ed.). Available in a soft-cover textbook (through the UVM bookstore) and electronic editions (directly from the publisher). Free, full-text online version is available at this URL: http://www.flatworldknowledge.com/. You will need to register as a student in this course. The learning tools available from the textbook publisher are not required. In addition, there will be required readings available from UVM’s electronic collection and accessible within Blackboard. U-Pace Psyc 001 Online: The gist In U-Pace Introduction to Psychology, follow the model schedule until you get the grade you desire. After the initial orientation period, you can go as fast as you want and finish the course early. You are in control. When you schedule time to work on the course is up to you. Course Description and Educational Outcomes This course is designed to introduce you to the science of psychology including the theories, research, and applications that constitute the field. In addition, this course is designed to familiarize you with the fundamental ways human behavior is shaped by biological, psychological, and social factors. You will learn about psychological research, neuroscience and behavior, sensation and perception, states of consciousness, learning, memory, cognition and language, intelligence, development, personality, health psychology, psychological disorders and their treatment, and social psychology. By examining how biological, psychological and social factors influence behavior, you will be able to understand the following: • • • • • • • • • • the scientific method and critical research and ethical issues; why the neuron is the basic element of behavior; how we sense the world around us and construct our world view; the foundations of memory, thinking and reasoning, problem solving and language; the nature of intelligence; how we develop, from conception to adulthood; the nature of personality and its measurement; the impact of stress and coping, psychological aspects of illness and well-being, and how to promote health and wellness; psychological disorders and how they can be treated, and persuasion, how we understand and are influenced by others, the foundations of prejudice, liking and loving, and aggression and prosocial behavior.

How does this course work? This course combines web-based instruction in Blackboard with the opportunity for one-on-one help. This course gives you as much help as you need and the flexibility to work at the times best for you each week. In a conventionally taught class, you would be responsible for studying 13-15 chapters and taking four large exams. In this course you will cover the same amount of material, but you will be responsible for learning it in small modules, which are equivalent to about half a chapter. In addition, we will be reading (and learning how to read) original research publications. Consequently, in this course you will be taking 33 quizzes. With a few exceptions, each quiz consists of 5-10 multiple-choice questions. There is a 5-minute time limit for the quizzes. You can retake quizzes an unlimited number of times without penalty. The retakes will also consist of 5-10 multiple-choice questions, but they will not be the same questions. Also, on any given quiz, there will likely be important concepts that are not tested. The quizzes are meant to test a sample of what you learned, and from that, we make an inference about your level of mastery of the unit’s learning objectives.

You are allowed to continue on to ONE additional module, even if you have not passed a quiz, but Blackboard will not allow you to progress any further. As we’ll discuss when learning about the nature of learning and memory, it may actually be more efficient to work on two modules at once—what’s known as interleaving. Also getting all questions on a quiz does not increase your grade. The goal is to complete all the quizzes (missing no more than 1 question on each) by the end of the semester. Will taking U-Pace Introduction to Psychology count as Introduction to Psychology? What will my transcript say? Yes, U-Pace Introduction to Psychology counts as Introduction to Psychology. Your transcript will say Introduction to Psychology. UPace Introduction to Psychology covers exactly the same material as conventionally taught face-to-face sections of PSYC 001. U-Pace Introduction to Psychology uses technology to enhance your learning and a proven system of instruction allowing you to control the pace of your learning with lots of support and encouragement every step of the way. Students report that this reduces the stressfulness of taking exams. The structure of this course allows students to spend greater time on difficult topics and helps them manage multiple responsibilities including doing well in other courses. Research strongly suggests that the structure of this course increases student learning. How should I study in this course? You decide when to study, and when to take quizzes. In this course, it is recommended that you set aside a minimum of 4 hours of preparation time for each module. Much of the time you would have spent in class is freed up to study, and when you do the math, it works out to be about the amount of time you should expect to be working toward earning 3 credits. Help with the material is available to you by email. Except where noted, you should study your reading assignment first, do the writing assignment, and then study the online lesson presentation (followed by the concept check, when available). The reading assignments are richer and fuller than the lesson presentations. The lesson presentation highlights concepts, but does not include everything you need to know for the quizzes. Studying the lesson presentation alone is not enough. Similarly, studying the reading assignment alone is not enough. In addition, there are writing assignments that are designed to both prompt you to retrieve what you’ve learned (an effective study strategy!) and to help you analyze the course material and break it up into learning objectives. How are students graded? You will get an A in the course if you complete all of the quizzes. You can earn an A+ if you complete all the quizzes and earn the two free-quiz passes described below. If you complete fewer than all of the quizzes, the corresponding letter grades are as follows:
Grade AB+ B BC+ C CD+ D DF Number of quizzes completed 32 31 30 29 28 27 26 25 24 23 22

Completing all of quizzes will give you a sense of accomplishment and provide you with a fuller understanding of psychology useful to your everyday lives now, performance in future psychology related coursework, and eventual careers. Every student should follow the model schedule until you get the grade you desire. Where indicated, however, you can go at a faster pace. Incompletes will not be given for failure to successfully complete quizzes. >>> IMPORTANT NOTE: There are some modules that do NOT have a quiz. Instead, the learning objectives for that module are combined with the quiz in the next one. For example, Module 12 does not have a quiz. In these cases, the later Module’s quiz grade will stand for both. Thus, your score for Module 13 will stand for it and for Module 12. How can I earn extra credit? There will be two opportunities for you to earn extra credit towards your final course grade. Complete at least Quizzes 1-3 by 11:55 pm, Tuesday, September 4. Meeting this deadline will allow you to earn a free pass on ANY quiz of your choice (with the exception of re-taking the quizzes on Chapters 1 and 2). If you are having difficulty with a particular quiz and want to use the free pass you earned by completing at least quizzes 1-3 by the first deadline, just let us know. I will pass you on the quiz you selected. You can also earn a free-quiz pass by completing the brief online survey about academic integrity and other aspects of the course. But you have to do so BEFORE you begin working on any of the modules, AND do it before Tuesday, September 4. PSYC 001 Online: Syllabus Fall, 2012 Page 2 of 5

How can free passes help? So, for example, a student who completes quizzes 1-25 in the course could have one quiz added for completing the first 3 quizzes by the first deadline and one quiz for doing all 3 surveys. In this example, the student’s final course grade would be C+ (17 quizzes + 1 free quiz pass for completing quizzes 1-3 by the first deadline + 1 free pass for completing all 3 surveys = 27 quizzes). This student’s grade would increase from a C- to a C+. How much time do I have to take each quiz? You have 5 minutes to complete each quiz. At the end of the 5 minutes, you will receive an immediate score. If the quiz has 5 or 8 questions—which is true of some of the external readings—then you still have 5 minutes. Please submit your quizzes at the end of 5 minutes whether or not you have answered all the questions. If you don’t submit the quiz, it may become hung up preventing you from retaking it again in two hours. If you are supported by ACCESS and are interested in accommodations, please contact us ASAP. NOTE: As detailed on the schedule, you will take the quizzes on Modules 1 and 2 on two different occasions: at the start of the semester; and at the end, to assess your learning of the many “big-picture” concepts presented in these chapters. When you take these quizzes at the start of the semester, take them THREE times, no matter what your performance is. And as detailed below, for those quizzes, at the start of the term, you do NOT have to wait 2 hours between each of the 3 attempts. This is meant to give you practice in re-taking quizzes. Also, to take some of the pressure off, the time limit (the first time around) is 10 minutes. But you may want to work toward completing them in 5 minutes so you are used to thinking that fast. How soon can I retake a quiz? You must wait at least two hours. Do not violate the two-hour wait for retakes! You may retake a quiz as many times as you wish without penalty to pass it by missing no more than 1 question. The two-hour wait is from the time after you submitted a quiz, missing no more than one question. In addition, you can move on to the next quiz or content area—but no further. NOTE: Taking the same quiz multiple times within a two-hour period constitutes cheating and is a violation of the Code of Academic Conduct. If you cheat, without exception the matter will be referred to the Center for Student Ethics and Standards. Do not attempt to cut it close. The two-hour wait is for retaking the same quiz. Computer problems (i.e., computer froze, etc.) are not valid excuses for violating the two-hour wait rule. Some students have to take the quizzes several times before achieve a 9 out of 10 (or 4 out of 5, or 7 out of 8) correct. Try not to get too frustrated. For the quizzes on the first 2 chapters, you will take them twice: at the start and at the end of the semester. At the start, you will take each 3 times, and you do not have to wait two hours between your attempts. This is meant to give you practice in navigating the system. Can I use my book or notes during a quiz or have someone help me with a quiz? No. The quizzes are to be completed without books or notes and without the help of anyone. Using your book or notes or getting someone else to take the quiz for you or help you during the quiz is forbidden and are clear cases of academic dishonesty. What if I don’t have a computer with Internet access or something happens to my computer during the course? Use the computer labs on campus and computers in local libraries in your community. Dedicate hours to this course in an academic planner and follow your schedule. What if I need special accommodations? This course was designed with all kinds of learners in mind. Students with disabilities may do better in this course than in one that is conventionally taught because they can go at their own pace. If you are ACCESS-supported, please have them e-mail documentation to the course’s address ([email protected]). Where can I find information on grade appeals and other policies? If you think there was a mistake in how your grade was computed, e-mail [email protected]. We find that most questions can be resolved through e-mail. If you believe that your grade was calculated in a way that is inconsistent with the syllabus, then you may request an investigation. There are formal processes for appealing grades. You can review them at this URL: http://www.uvm.edu/~uvmppg/ppg/student/gradeappeals.pdf Tips for Success • • Carefully review the course documents as there is important information regarding the format and grading of this course, which is necessary to know for successful completion. Study the reading assignment in addition to (but before) completing the lesson presentation and review activities. Reading the text first (followed by the writing assignment) will better prepare you for the lesson presentation and will better solidify the information in your memory. This course is designed to utilize both the text and the online resources; therefore, you will not be prepared to take a quiz without completing everything. DO NOT violate the two-hour wait for quizzes! You may retake a quiz as many times as you wish pass the quiz (missing no more than 1 question) and move on to the next quiz or content area. However, you must wait a full 120 minutes before attempting the same quiz again. Failure to wait the two-hour is considered cheating and will be treated as such. If you completed a quiz, missing no more than 1 question, then you may move on to a different quiz or content area without waiting. Fall, 2012 Page 3 of 5



PSYC 001 Online: Syllabus

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Seek help by e-mailing us. The beauty of this course is that it is online, but also provides the personal help you may need. DO NOT get behind! Yes, this is a self-paced course, but you should be completing the lesson presentation and the related quizzes for each unit as listed on the model schedule. Stay on track. Do not assume that you will be able to catch up if you fall too far behind in the beginning of the course. Some students underestimate how much time it takes to get to the point where you can pass by missing no more than 1 question. Don’t let this happen to you. Start off with a bang! Do as much as you can now in case something happens later in the semester in your life outside of school. Blackboard is typically slow during the end of the semester due to the large quantities of users during this time. Do not wait until the last days of the term to try and take many quizzes, because you will likely have difficulties accessing the site. DO NOT get discouraged! We are here to support you and help you understand all the material. It is our goal for every student to earn an “A” in this course and this is completely possible! If at any point you become confused or unsure about any aspect of the course, from material being covered to how to open course material, contact us immediately! We will do whatever possible to help you to ensure your success.

PSYC 001 Online: Syllabus

Fall, 2012

Page 4 of 5

Model Schedule Note that (1.) the textbook is assigned somewhat out of order and that (2.) there are 4 external readings that are available via Blackboard (abbreviated Bb below). The Milestones are strongly suggested goals so that you complete the course within the allotted time.

Module 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 1 2

Assignment Chapter 1* Chapter 2* Chapter 8, Section 1 & 2 Chapter 8, Section 3 Bb 1 (Journal article on psychic power) Chapter 3, Section 1 & 2 Chapter 3, Section 3 & 4 Chapter 5, Section 1 Chapter 7, Section 1 Chapter 7, Section 2 Chapter 7, Section 3 Chapter 4, Sections 1 and 2 (up to 4.10) Chapter 4, Sections 2 (from 4.10) and 3 Chapter 4, Sections 4 and 5 Chapter 9, Section 1 ° Chapter 9, Section 2 Chapter 9, Section 3 Chapter 6, Sections 1 and 2 Chapter 6, Section 3 Chapter 6, Sections 4 and 5 Bb 2 (Journal article, Intelligence §) Chapter 10, Sections 1 and 2 Chapter 10, Sections 3 and 4 Chapter 14, Section 1 Chapter 14, Sections 2 and 3 Chapter 11, Section 1 through 2.1 ° Chapter 11, Section 2.2 to end Bb 3 (Journal article on sustainability§) Chapter 12, Section 1 Chapter 12, Section 2 Chapter 13, Sections 1 and 2 Chapter 13, Sections 3 and 4 Bb4 (Journal article on HIV and stress§) Chapter 1* Chapter 2*

Milestone 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4

Be at this module no later than…

Grade

Thursday, September 6

Thursday, October 4

Thursday, November 8

Thursday, December 13

F DD D+ CC C+ BB B+ AA (A) (A)

* These quizzes are taken on two occasions: at the start of the semester and again—for points—at the end. They are NOT eligible for skipping with a free pass. ° There is no quiz for these modules. The material is tested with the quiz on the following module, and your performance on it will stand for both quizzes. § These quizzes contain 5 or 8 questions, and you need to miss no more than 1 question to pass the quiz.

PSYC 001 Online: Syllabus

Fall, 2012

Page 5 of 5

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