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General Psychology
Psychology 100
3430 – Winter 2013
(Please print this out and read it. Thank you)
Dr. Robert J. Atkins, Ph.D.
Phone: (206) 934-7011 (Email is better than this office phone)
Office hours: 9:30 – 10:00 and 11:00 – 11:30 M,W,F and online 8:00 – 9:00 T, Th
Office: Rm. IB2327A
E-mail = Please send email for this class through the instructor’s campus email:
robert.atkins@seattlecolleges.edu
Subject: Include the item # and class you are in (E.g.#9600 Psychology 100.D1)
Class website: https://canvas.northseattle.edu/login
Login material (Write your items in the space below)
User name: _______________________
Your entire student ID number
Password: ______________________
The six (6) letters of your last name (Repeat if less than six eg. Liuliu)
eLearning student support: http://www.virtualcollege.org/
Course schedule:
The Course Calendar in the back of this syllabus gives you a schedule for the quarter.
Grading: Your class grade is based on the four non-cumulative multiple-choice
midterms (50 points each), and the average percent from the four exams (100 pts.).
My Grades:
Exam #1 _____, Exam #2 _____, Exam #3 _____, Exam #4 _____,
Average % from the four exams _____.
Total =______________
(Average % from four exams = points for comprehensive exam)
(Finding this total on the Grading Scale in this syllabus will give you your final grade).
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Hardware and software: This is only needed if you want to take exams online or access
the support materials online.
Computer: PC or Mac
Internet connection:
Preferably DSL or cable, not a dial-up (however, dial-up can work, it is just slow).
Software:
Internet browser: Firefox (PC or Mac) or Internet explorer (PC) is
recommended. Do not use Google “Chrome”.
Microsoft Word
Microsoft Power Point Viewer
You need the ability to use the above software. Your instructor is not “Tech. Support”.
Online materials: Available on class website
1. Chapter Diagrams
2. Class Presentations
3. Power Points
4. Study Guides
5. Discussion Questions
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**Instructor’s Information:
Background
Your instructor has an AA degree from Fullerton J.C., B.A. and Masters degrees
from California State University at Fullerton, and a doctorate (Ph.D. degree) from the
University of Washington. He is the senior tenured instructor in both Psychology and
Sociology in the entire Seattle Community College District, and has taught at NSCC for
over 40 years. Prior to teaching at NSCC, he taught at Jamestown College (a four year
college) and at St. Phillips Community College.
He has also had experience in the following areas: a public mental health clinic in
Seattle, the Educational Psychology Clinic at the University of Washington, The Adult
Development Program within the Dept of Psychiatry, in the School of Medicine at the
University of Washington, and the Sexual Dysfunction Clinic – Dept. of Psychiatry –
School of Medicine – University of Washington.
He has also visited and talked to inmates in the following institutions: Monroe
Penitentiary, Shelton Penitentiary, Purdy Women’s Correctional Center, Echo Glen
reformatory and Mc.Neil Island Penitentiary.
Other travel experiences include trips to: Europe, Japan, China, Mexico, Hawaii, Alaska,
the Caribbean, Egypt, Greece, and India.
Teaching Philosophy
In general, the objective of my instruction is to help you understand the terms and
concepts presented in the course.
Explanations are often given in the form of stories, examples, and case studies to
elaborate on the concepts presented. These ideas are often presented visually in power
point slides (sometimes accompanied by photographs). For auditory learners, the class
presentations are recorded. Finally, for those who do best reading, the text supplements
the class information.
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**Exams:
General description:
The four mid-term exams are not cumulative and cover only the chapters for that
exam. The exams are all multiple choice, and will test your knowledge of concepts,
terms, and findings. You will also be asked to apply some of the fundamental concepts to
new situations.
Online exam concerns:
1. Take the exams on a stable internet connection. If your internet crashes, try repeatedly
to restart the connection during the 50 minutes you have to take the exam. The test will
return at the same place you left off, however, the timer will keep going.
2. Once you start an exam you must complete the 50 questions in 50 minutes. You
cannot pause an exam to look up the answer and come back to it later.
3. The exam labeled, “Practice Exam (Not graded)” is the only practice exam. All others
are real exams. This is to familiarize you with the test taking system. You may take this
exam unlimited times. The real exams can only be taken once. You are not expected to
know the answers to this practice exam, and it is not graded. This is just a trial run to be
sure you know how to take an exam.
4. You may use any notes, study guides, text, or other materials provided in the class
during the exams. You may not use any other source of help.
5. To reduce cheating, you can only see one question at a time. You cannot go back to
previous questions. If you simply looked at the questions without answering them, you
will receive a zero on that exam. Do not look at all the questions, then tell me your
computer crashed and ask me to reset the exam. I can see everything you do when you
open an exam, and if this is what you did, it will not be reset. Also, you may only take
each exam once. There are no make up exams, retake exams, or extra credit.
6. If an answer option is “All the above” and it is in position “B” for example, it means
all the other answers. This option may occur in other than the last (“E”) position because
the questions and answers are scrambled for each student.
How to do well on the exams:
The exams come from the text and many additional items to help you understand
the material. To understand each topic, read the text, listen to the class presentation, take
notes, review the chapter diagrams, and complete the study guides.
The “How to Study” sheet in this syllabus will discusses how best to read the text
material prior to listening to the class.
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Taking the exams:
When taking the exams online you may use the study guides, text, dictionary, and
chapter diagrams. You may not have anyone else helping you in any way. When taking
the exams, you must answer one question before going on. You may not go back. Also,
If you skip a question you may not go back to answer it. It is best to have an answer for
each question.
NOTE *** Turn off the pop-up blocker in your web browser
To turn off the pop-up blocker. With Firefox, go to tools > Options >Content,
and uncheck the "Block pop up window". With Explorer, go to Tools > Pop-up blocker >
Turn off pop-up blocker.
1. Log in and go to your course home page.
2. Click on “Quizzes” > then Exam (Quiz) number > then “Take the quiz” > then “Begin”
(Note the time remaining on the right side)
3. Answer the first question >then click “Next” (Answer all questions)
4. Finally, when all questions are answered, click “Submit Quizz”.
Note: Your time remaining is shown on the right side. At the end of that time, the exam
will automatically stop and will not be reset. Therefore, please watch your time
remaining.
********************************************************************
YOU MUST CLICK “SUBMIT” FOR ALL EXAMS BEFORE CLASS BEGINS AT
6:00 PM ON THE DAY OF THE EXAM AS INDICATED IN THE COURSE
CALENDAR.
*********************************************************************
Exam Grading:
The score you receive will be the grade indicated by the computer. I feel this is
the fairest for the largest number of students. While I am glad to discuss the exam with
you, it will not change your score. Any changes in question wording, etc. will be
considered for next quarter, but will not be used to change scores this quarter.
How to see your exam grades:
Your exam grade will be available when the exam has been completed online, or
the next class day if taken in class. Your grade will show up in the box on the right side
of the page when you have completed the exam. Due to the digital ability to copy all the
questions and archive them, or email them to friends and relatives, you will not be able to
see individual questions. However, you may see a copy of the exam in the classroom.
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Course grading summary:
Your final grade will be based on the total questions you answered correctly on all
four exams plus the average percentage of the four to be counted as a comprehensive
exam.
TOTAL
POINTS
300-270
269-240
239-210
209-180
179-0
%
90
80
70
60
GRADE
"A"
"B"
"C"
"D"
"E"
4.0-3.5
3.4-2.5
2.4-1.5
1.4-1.0
0.0
(See the "Grading Scale" page for a more detailed grade distribution)
Exam #1 = 50 pts.
Exam #2 = 50 pts.
Exam #3 = 50 pts.
Exam #4 = 50 pts.
Average % = 100 pts.
Total =
300 points
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Grading Scale
Total
Points
300 (100%)
299
298 4.0
297
296_____
295
294
293 3.9
292
291_____
290
289
288 3.8
287
286
285_____
284
283
282 3.7
281
280_____
279
278
277 3.6
276
275_____
274
273
272 3.5
271
270____(90%)
A
269
268 3.4
267_____
266
265 3.3
264_____
263
262 3.2
261_____
260
259 3.1
258_____
257
256 3.0
255_____
254
253 2.9
252_____
251
250 2.8
249_____
248
247 2.7
246_____
245
244 2.6
243_____
242
241 2.5
240____(80%)
B
239
238 2.4
237_____
236
235 2.3
234_____
233
232 2.2
231_____
230
229 2.1
228_____
227
226 2.0
225_____
224
223 1.9
222_____
221
220 1.8
219_____
218
217 1.7
216_____
215
214 1.6
213_____
212
211 1.5
210____(70%)
C
209
208
207 1.4
206
205
204_____
203
202
201 1.3
200
199
198_____
197
196
195 1.2
194
193
192_____
191
190
189 1.1
188
187
186_____
185
184
183 1.0
182
181
180____(60%)
179 0.0
D
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The grading scale is the same for everyone:
After all grades are in, students come to my office wanting me to make a new, easier,
grading scale just for them that does not apply to the rest of you.
These requests sound like this: “I only need one more point to get the next higher grade
… please.” “I am failing the class, so don’t give me the grade I earned, give me an NC
(or an Incomplete) instead.” “If you give me the grade I earned, I can not get into the
university.” “I need a 2.0, or I will be deported.” “I will lose my financial aid.” “I
forgot to take the test when it was scheduled with everyone else, so can I take it now
(several days later)?” “I tried (or I learned a lot) so you should give me a higher grade.”
“I had personal problems during the quarter, so you should increase my grade (or any
deadlines should not apply to me).” “I did not remember it was due then, so can I turn it
in now?” I can not grade based on any of these factors. You need to do the best you
possibly can from the first day of class, and feel confident the grade you receive at the
end was the best you are capable of.
If you need help with anything, please see me. I want you to do very well in class and
have established many items to help you do so. These include:
(1) “How To Study” sheet in this syllabus
(2) Online recordings
(3) Online power point slides
(4) The text
(5) Class discussion questions
(6) Study Guides
(7) Chapter Diagrams
(8) My office hours if you need additional help understanding the material.
With all this support, please remember, the grading scale is the same for everyone.
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**Instructor created support materials:
Class Presentations (Videos):
To view the presentation, click on the file. After the download finishes and the
introductory slide appears, click on the right pointing triangle. This will start the
presentation. Be certain the volume is on (mute turned off) and the volume is turned up
to a comfortable level. You may then simply sit back and listen to the presentation as if
you were attending the class which created these presentations. However, you have the
advantage of being able to pause or rewind and review the presentation using the controls
at the bottom of the screen.
These recordings have been made “live” in class.
When listening to the recordings and watching the slides, it is good to have the Study
Guide, Chapter Diagram, and text in front of you to use as guides to what will be on the
exam. If you wish to print out the slides, they are available in a file entitled “Power Point
Slides”.
Power Point slides:
The Power Point slides are not “canned” from the textbook, they have been made by your
instructor specifically to help you with the exams, and are the same ones used in the class
presentations.
Chapter Diagrams:
Chapter diagrams are “Concept Maps” of the key concepts being discussed in
lecture, test, and exams. The theory behind these maps is that you can remember a
diagram (or photograph or drawing) better than written text or an outline. This is
particularly true of visual learners.
How to use them:
The best way to use these is to print them out on a color printer and have them in
front of you (along with the study guides) when you listen to the lectures. When listening
to the lectures, or reading the text, you can take notes and transfer the key ideas to the
concept diagrams for later study.
When writing the notes into your diagram, ask yourself if you understand them;
then explain it to yourself (or someone else). It will work even better if you can say this
aloud to yourself so you can hear it.
How to study with them:
1. Add any notes you want to the diagram
2. Develop a mental image of the diagram
3. Try to reproduce that image on a blank piece of paper without looking at the
original diagram.
4. Compare your diagram to the original.
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A. The missing items are the ones you need to concentrate on
B. Repeat this process.
Study Guides:
Go to: Course Resources >Chapter Title > Study Guides. This file gives you a study
guide for each chapter. These are designed directly from the exams. While you read the
text, listen to the class presentations, and view the Power Point slides, keep these sheets
with you, and work toward being able to answer each of the questions. These will then
help you during the exams.
Finally, these are just study aids. You do not need to use them if you do not want, and
there is nothing to complete or hand in.
**CLASS POLICIES
Extra credit: Extra-credit work is not available.
Incompletes: No “Incomplete” (I) grades will be given.
No Credit “NC” grades and Withdrawals: You must request an "NC" grade or
withdraw by the “last day to withdraw” as stated by the college. If you have not,
you will receive a decimal grade for this course.
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When the Registrar’s office says you may receive an “NC” grade up until the end of
the quarter, they mean they will process it. What they tend not to tell you is that
you can only receive an NC if requested by the instructor based on the criteria for
assigning an NC grade. My criteria are that you can only receive an NC grade if it
is requested prior to the last day to withdraw. After that date you will receive a
decimal grade. Do not tell me the Registrar said you could get an NC grade up until
the end of the quarter – you cannot.
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Cheating: Any cheating on exams will result in a score of zero (“0”) for that exam (which
cannot be retaken). Copying an exam, sending an exam to another student, or keeping an
exam is considered cheating. Facilitating the cheating of another student is also
considered cheating, and both parties will receive a zero.
Exams: You may use the text or any other materials you wish when taking an exam
online. However, the exams have a time limit, and looking up information takes time.
Students taking in class exams may only use a dictionary.
Guidelines for Student Conduct: Students are expected to comply with student conduct
policy and procedures. Information on student responsibilities and rights is available at
the following website: www.seattlecolleges.com/services
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**How to:
How to check your internet browser if you are having problems
1. Go to the class website and log in.
3. Often, simply turning off “pop-up blockers” on your web browser will solve problems.
4. Another way to check your browser is to try all the class activities, such as the Power
Points, the recordings, and the class materials. If these all work, you are ok. If you still
have questions, contact the eLearning office on the first page of this syllabus.
How to see your final course grade:
You may check your grades via the internet at: NSCC home page > Services >
Online Services > Grades/Records > Grades/Unofficial Transcript. Put in your Student
ID and Student PIN, then click on “Get My Transcript”.
How to withdraw from the course: You may withdraw from a course via the internet at:
NSCC home page > Online Services > Register/Add/Drop Classes, and follow the
directions.
**Class discussion postings (voluntary)
Throughout the quarter, you may talk with other students by sending comments,
and obtaining replies. This is the distance-learning equivalent of talking in class.
There are suggested questions to spark discussion by going to: Course Resources >
Chapter title > Discussion Questions. An introduction to the discussion questions is
covered in the file entitled, “Instructor Introduction – Discussion Questions”.
As in class, there is no additional credit for comments and discussions; however,
it makes the class more interesting.
How to post your comments for a discussion:
1. From the class homepage, click on “Discussions”.
2. Click on “Topic title”
3. Put in the title and type your posting
4. Click “Save”
How to reply to a post:
Click on “reply” at the bottom of the posting, and type your reply message.
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HOW TO STUDY
1. Before class
A. Look at the Course Calendar to see what topics are being discussed that
evening.
B. Print out and bring the Power Points, Chapter Diagrams, and Study Guides to
class.
C. Scan the chapter and highlight the key concepts and terms to be covered.
2. Come to class each evening.
A. Add information to the Chapter Diagrams, Power Points, and study guides.
3. After class
A. Review notes quickly
B. Read the sections of the text discussing the concepts presented in class that you
do not understand.
C. Spend perhaps fifteen minutes each day reviewing the previous material
covered since the last exam.
D. Listen to the class videos posted online for review prior to the exam.
Course Calendar
Psychology 100
DATE
February 7
12
14
19
21
26
28
March 5
7
12
14
19
21
TOPIC
Introduction + Ch. 1–Thinking critically
Ch. 2–Biology of the mind
Ch.3-Consciousness + Ch. 4-Nature, Nurture
Exam #1 + Ch. 5-Development through the life span
Ch.6-Sensation & Perception + Ch.7-Learning
Ch.8-Memory + Ch.9-Thinking & Language (On exam #3)
Exam #2 + Ch.9 Cont. Intelligence
Ch.10-Motivation + Ch. 11-Emotions
Exam #3 + Ch.12-Personality
Ch.13-Psychological disorders
Ch. 14-Therapy
Ch.15-Social Psychology
Exam 4
(Average % from four exams = points for comprehensive exam)
Above dates may vary.
Feb. 22nd is the last day to withdraw