Course Syllabus
PSY 301.110
Texas A & M University —Central Texas
Department of Psychology & Counseling
Fall 2014
Aug. 25, 2014 – Dec. 12, 2014
Course: Psychology of Learning
Class Times: Online
Location: the Interweb
Office Hours: M: 2:00 – 5:30 p.m.
T: 2:00 – 5:00 p.m.
W: 2:00 – 5:30 p.m.
1.0
Professor: Richard K. Yeager, PhD
Phone: 254-519-5775
Office:
Secretary: Ms. Barbara Peek: (254) 5015879
(Barbara.peek@tamuct.edu)
E-mail: through Blackboard (preferred)
or ryeager@tamuct.edu
Course Overview:
Psychology of Learning. (3-0). An investigation into the major theoretical approaches, concepts
and principles, and experimental methods of learning. Prerequisites: PSY 101 or approval of the
School Director.
2.0
Course Objectives:
The general objectives for this course are:
Define learning and discuss its importance
Distinguish between classical and instrumental conditioning
Identify the physiological processes that occur with thinking and learning
Discuss the principals of social cognitive theory
Identify concepts related to retrieval and forgetting as they concern long term
memory
Discuss major cognitive theories, both historical and contemporary
Identify and compare major theories related to developmental perspectives
on cognition ( Vygotsky and Piaget)
Discuss the importance and impact of the social process in learning
Relate basic human needs and affect to motivation
Identify the impact of cognitive factors on motivation
3.0
Required Textbook:
Ormrod, J. E. (2011). Human Learning (6th ed.). Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Prentice
Hall. ISBN: 9780132595186
A student of this institution is not under any obligation to purchase a textbook from a
university-affiliated bookstore. The same textbook may also be available from an
independent retailer, including an online retailer.
4.0
Course Requirements:
4.1. Exams: 300 Total Points
There will be three exams during this course. Each exam is worth 100 points each. Exams will
be online, open book, and open note but must be completed individually. Exams must be taken in
Blackboard on the dates in the attached schedule (see course calendar). Once begun, exams must
be completed within three hours. You will be given one opportunity to take each exam. Make
sure that you are someplace with a reliable connection to Blackboard. Student computer or
student Internet Service Provider problems will not be accepted as an excuse for failing to take or
complete the exam. Students will only be allowed to retest if there is a problem with Blackboard
or with University computing facilities. If a problem occurs with University equipment, please
have the computing lab staff document the problem.
Alternate test forms may be presented to the students. If you want to challenge a test item, you
will do so in writing no later than 1-day after the test has been closed. You are required to provide
me with the question, your argument as to why the exam question is incorrect and any supporting
information from the text or your notes supporting your argument. Your misunderstanding or
misinterpretation of the item is not justification to present a challenge to the exam. Students are
on the honor system for these exams and any violation will result in the student receiving a zero
(0) for the exam and the possibility of further sanctions according to university policy (see
Academic Honesty & Integrity, below).
Make-up exams will only be given for University excused absences. The professor reserves the
right to change the exam format for make-up exams (e.g. essay as opposed to objective).
Appropriate documentation will be required to be given a make-up exam. If you know that you
will not be able to take an exam on the scheduled date and contact me PRIOR to the scheduled
date, alternate arrangements may be made at my discretion. If you have missed an exam, contact
me IMMEDIATELY. Do not assume that if a Make-Exam appears on Bb, that you can take the
exam. If you take a Make-Up Exam without prior permission, you will earn no points for that
exam.
4.2. Presentation: 25 Total Points
Each student will be required to create and post a PowerPoint presentation on Blackboard. This
presentation will compare and contrast two of the approaches to learning that we will be covering
in the course. Students will need to have their topics approved by the professor. Presentation
guidelines will be posted in a separate document. Due dates for topic approval and the
presentation are listed in the attached schedule.
4.3 Homework: 15 Total Points
There will be several questions posted for each chapter. Students are required to answer each
question and submit their answers through the appropriate assignment tab in Blackboard.
Students should work on these questions individually. Each chapter’s questions will be worth
one point.
4.4 Weekly Discussion Posts: 10 Total Points
You will have a number of discussion board posts during the semester and will be required to
comment. All posts must be substantive and demonstrate that you have done all the reading
associated with the discussion item.
You can find your weekly questions posted under the “Discussions” tab in Blackboard. In your
tentative schedule below, you will find the dates and times when postings open for discussion and
when they are no longer available. “No longer available” means that once the discussion board is
closed and you will not be able to make up those points. Weekly posts are currently open and will
close at the day and time indicated in Blackboard.
4.5. Informal Discussion Board Posts:
Apart from the assigned homework questions, you are encouraged to pose your own questions
and/or comments on the discussion board in Blackboard. There might be topics or issues that you
would like to discuss with the professor and/or your classmates. I will create an Informal
Discussion thread on Blackboard. Feel free to use this informal discussion board to raise
questions, comments, etc. Since this is an online class, this provides everyone with an
opportunity to interact with each other and provide opportunity for learning.
5.0
Grading Criteria:
Exam #1
Exam #2
Exam #3
Presentation
Homework
Weekly Discussion topics
6. 0
(100 points)
(100 points)
(100 points)
(25 points)
(15 points)
(10 points)
29%
29%
29%
7%
4%
3%
315 - 350 points = A 90 – 100%
279 - 314 points = B
80 – 89%
243 – 278 points = C 70 – 79%
207 - 242 points = D 60 – 69%
< 206 points = F
Course Calendar*
Week Ending
8/31
9/7
9/14
9/21
Available 9/14 through
9/21
9/28
Chapter
1
3
4
6
1, 3, 4, 6
Topic
Introductions and Perspectives
Classical Conditioning
Instrumental (Operant) Conditioning
Social Cognitive Theory
Exam 1
7
Cognition and Memory
10/5
10/5
10/12
8
9
Long-term memory
Presentation Topic due for Approval
LTM Continued
10/19
10
Still more LTM
10/26
11
Developmental Perspectives
Available 10/20 through 9, 10, 11
Exam 2
10/26
11/2
12
Metacognition
11/9
13
Problem Solving
11/16
14
Social Processes and Knowledge Construction
11/23
15
Motivation
11/30
16
Motivation Continued
12/7
Presentation due on Blackboard
Available 12/8 through
Exam 3
12/12
* Professor reserves the right to amend this syllabus at any time. Assignment dates and times subject to change.
Please check for current dates/times in Blackboard assignment/assessment links
7.0
Drop Policy
If you discover that you need to drop this class, you must go to the Records Office and ask for the
necessary paperwork. Professors cannot drop students; this is always the responsibility of the
student. The record’s office will give a deadline for which the form must be completed, signed,
and returned. Once you return the signed form to the records office and wait 24 hours, you must
go into Duck Trax and confirm that you are no longer enrolled. If you are still enrolled,
FOLLOW-UP with the records office immediately. You are to attend class until the procedure is
complete to avoid penalty for absence. Should you miss the deadline or fail to follow the
procedure, you will receive an F in the course.
8.0 Academic Honesty
Texas A&M University Central Texas expects all students to maintain high standards of personal
and scholarly conduct. Students guilty of academic dishonestly are subject to disciplinary action.
Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, cheating on an examination or other
academic work, plagiarism, collusion, and the abuse of resource materials. The faculty member is
responsible for initiating action for each case of academic dishonesty.
9.0 . Disability Services
I will provide reasonable accommodations to students with disabilities, so as not to
discriminate because of that disability. Student responsibilities primarily rests with
informing faculty at the beginning of the semester and in providing authorized
documentation through designated administrative channels. If you have or believe you
have a disability, may wish to self-identify. You can do so by providing documentation to
the Director of Student Affairs. Students are encouraged to seek information about
accommodations to help assure success in this class. Please contact Brandon Griggs at
griggs@ct.tamus.edu, (254) 519-5721 or Main Building Room 114.
10. Library Services
INFORMATION LITERACY focuses on research skills which prepare individuals to live and
work in an information-centered society. Librarians will work with students in the development
of critical reasoning, ethical use of information, and the appropriate use of secondary research
techniques. Help may include, yet is not limited to: exploration of information resources such as
library collections and services, identification of subject databases and scholarly journals, and
execution of effective search strategies. Library resources are outlined and accessed at
http://www.tarleton.edu/central texas/departments/library/
11. Resources/Expectations.
Students are expected to read the assigned materials prior to each class and be prepared to discuss
those reading. Open, active discussion and questions related to course concepts are strongly
encouraged. Such discussion fosters a critical evaluation and understanding of concepts. Students
are responsible for meeting the course requirements on assigned dates as outlined in this syllabus.
Students who are absent from class are responsible for that day’s material, as outlined in the
syllabus. Students are responsible for reviewing the course calendar included with this syllabus
and in Blackboard for all assignment deadlines so they can plan to complete the assignment in a
timely manner and/or before the deadline. It is the student’s responsibility to plan accordingly so
that all deadlines are met. Please note that all requirements are outlined in the syllabus and in the
Blackboard course section.