HONORS INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOLOGY H.LA12.01.0.5
www.AdvancedAcademics.com Course Description
Course Objectives
HONORS INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOLOGY is a one-­‐semester course that challenges you to decide whether or not psychology is a true science and gives you the tools to answer that question for yourself. It discusses research methods used in the field and delves into specific areas of psychology, such as developmental psychology, learning, memory, and psychological disorders. You will also explore the various ways in which technology has affected the field of psychology. When you finish this course, you will be able to:  Explain how and why psychology is considered a science  Describe the various ways in which technology has affected the field of psychology  Understand various research methods used in the field of psychology  Use the scientific method in psychological research projects  Explain how people change psychologically over the course of their lives  Detail the various theories of learning  Describe the various theories about personality  List the symptoms, possible causes, and treatments for major psychological disorders Look for your teacher’s comments when you see this icon. Teacher Blog Check out your teacher’s blog, which can be found in the classroom in ROADS. Be sure to check it out often throughout your enrollment in this course and participate by reading and reflecting on the posts and leaving comments about your reflections. Following your teacher’s blog may help you to fully understand the concepts in the course and therefore help you perform better on your course assignments. Assignment Weights Knowledge Checks Assignments Projects Discussions Papers Unit Tests Midterm Exam Final Exam COURSE TOTALS Suggested Course Schedule
150 pts 196 pts 40 pts 104 pts 159 pts 180 pts 80 pts 120 pts 1029 pts 15% 19% 4% 10% 15% 17% 8% 12% 100% The suggested time frame shown below is based on learning sessions. A learning session is a 45-­‐minute period of time. This course should take approximately 90 learning sessions to complete, but this schedule is just a suggestion. You may work on each unit at your own pace, completing as many learning sessions as you’d like in one sitting. However, keep in mind that you must finish the entire course within the time specified by your school district. ©2010 Advanced Academics, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Learning Session 1-­‐16 Content Covered Unit 1: Foundations of Psychology The human mind is a powerful thing. But there was a time when psychology wasn’t considered a field of study on its own; it certainly wasn’t considered a science. Over time, we’ve learned a lot about the human mind, and psychology has become a respectable field. In this unit, there will be: 1 Knowledge Check 10 pts 2 Assignments 28 pts 1 Project 40 pts 2 Discussions 16 pts 1 Unit Test 30 pts The key conflict to consider in this unit is whether or not psychology should be considered a
science. Be sure to formulate your own thoughts about this controversial question.
17-­‐30 31-­‐41 Unit 2: Research Methods Psychology is a scientific field supported by valid experimentation. In this unit, you will learn about various research methods used in psychology. In this unit, there will be: 3 Knowledge Checks 30 pts 4 Assignments 56 pts 2 Discussions 16 pts 1 Unit Test 30 pts Unit 3: Developmental Psychology You aren’t the same person you were five years ago, and in five years, you won’t be the same person you are now. People change throughout their lives. In this unit, you will explore the changes people face as they go through life. In this unit, there will be: 3 Knowledge Checks 30 pts 1 Assignment 14 pts 2 Discussions 16 pts 1 Unit Test 30 pts 42-­‐44 45-­‐62 Think about how you’ve changed over the years. Are you the same person you were five years
ago? How are you different? Why do you think you changed?
HONORS INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOLOGY Midterm Exam 80 pts Unit 4: Learning and Memory Understanding the ways people learn gives us insight into why people behave in the ways they do. This understanding allows us to remedy situations and conditions that result in the learning of negative behaviors, as well as create effective learning environments in schools, work places, and even at home. In this unit, there will be: 3 Knowledge Checks 30 pts 3 Assignments 42 pts 2 Papers 66 pts 3 Discussions 24 pts ©2010 Advanced Academics, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 1 Unit Test 30 pts While you study this unit, think about the ways in which you learn. Do you learn better from
some teachers rather than others? Consider why that is.
63-­‐72 73 – 87 88 -­‐ 90 Unit 5: Personality Personality makes each person unique. Having a clear awareness and appreciation for the elements of personality lays a foundation for study about how to communicate effectively with one another. Each person communicates differently based on their varying personalities. Taking into account personality styles when communicating makes for a more successful exchange. In this unit, there will be: 4 Assignments 56 pts 2 D
iscussions 16 pts 1 Unit Test 30 pts Unit 6: Psychological Disorders Psychological disorders affect a significant percentage of people every day. This unit will cover the causes, symptoms, and treatments of a variety of psychological disorders from depression and anxiety to schizophrenia and Alzheimer’s disease. In this unit, there will be: 5 Knowledge Checks 50 pts 2 Papers 93 pts 2 Discussions 16 pts 1 Unit Test 30 pts HONORS INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOLOGY Final Exam 120 pts Privacy Policy No member of the Advanced Academics staff is authorized to release student information without the written permission of the student’s parent or legal guardian. Names, images, and/or class work of Advanced Academics students will not be published in print, video/film, or on our public website without written student and guardian consent. Disability Statement If you have a disability or condition that may affect your ability to succeed in this course, please contact your teacher. It’s important that you discuss the problem with him or her so accommodations may be made to give you every opportunity to perform well. Your teacher and virtual school program coordinators are committed to helping students with disabilities succeed, and every request will be treated with respect and confidentiality. ©2010 Advanced Academics, Inc. All Rights Reserved.