SYLLABUS DAY
Welcome to Psychology
WHO AM I?

Meaghan Altman Ph.D.


Email: maltman2@ucmerced.edu
Office hours: Mon 9:30-11:00 & Tues 12:00-
1:30

Office: SSM 252B
YOUR TEACHING ASSISTANTS…
Katie Coburn
 kcoburn@ucmerced.edu
 Office hours: Wends 2-4 PM

Erin Roby
 Eroby2@ucmerced.edu
 Office hours: Thurs 12:30-2:30
 Office: SSM 337

YOUR TEACHING ASSISTANTS…
Vona Fe Ofamen
 vofamen@ucmerced.edu
 Office hours: Wends 7:30-9:30 AM

Pauline Light
 Email: plight@ucmerced.edu
 Office Hours:

YOUR TEXTBOOK…

Nairne, J.S. (2008). Psychology 5th
Ed. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth /
Thomson Learning.

THIS BOOK IS ONLINE

My general rules about textbooks.
Top Hat
Monocle
What is monocleCAT?
A tool for interaction in the classroom that’s used for
conducting polls, interactive demos, and facilitating
discussions
Getting started:
Create an account at
https://www.tophatmonocle.com/register/
Cost:
You can purchase a subscription for $20 at
your bookstore or online when you register
Top Hat
Monocle
Make your username your UCM
username.
Enter your phone number
Once you have your account, don’t forget
to enroll in your course by selecting it from
the course dropdown list and choosing
“Enroll” Sp13 Psy 01
Please check your gradebook at least
once every few weeks to make sure
your answers are being recorded. In
case of any error, contact THM support.
If you’re texting in your answers double
check that you’re sending them to the
right phone number and save the
number to your contacts.
If you have a smartphone you can
download the Top Hat Monocle app or
use your mobile browser to submit
answers
Top Hat
Monocle
There’s a support link at the bottom left
of the console when you’re logged in
Bring issues to Top Hat Monocle and
they’ll help you figure things out
Please don’t raise tech support issues during
class, because it tends to be very disruptive,
just use the support link and they’ll help you
out
SOME GENERAL STATS ABOUT ME…

Most students pass my classes
B&C
 As


Expect this course to be reasonably difficult.
Lots of information
 A passing grade in the class indicates you are
competent or better in the topic of psychology.

COMING TO CLASS…

Attendance is NOT required
This means that I will not take points away from
your grade for attendance.
 Attendance IS recommended


The difference between an A & a C
EASTER EGGS


Usually a piece of information which may or may
not be relevant to class material.
I will tell you EXPLICITLY that this information
will be on the exam
I will tell you material that will be on the exam
 something that happens in class spontaneously.
 Generally makes up between 5-10% of each exam.

QUIZZES

I will give several pop-quizzes during the
semester
Multiple choice
 These WILL NOT hurt your grade
 These are NOT extra credit


Rather these are “benefit of the doubt points”

If you are on the border between 2 grades, I will use scores
& attendance on these quizzes to determine your grade.
NOTES
Abridged version of notes are online
 Usually will be available the night before class


If you are going to be absent, plan on getting
notes from your neighbor….

Please do not ask me for my slides.
EXAMS
4 exams will be given
 BIG red scantrons.
 Applied multiple choice questions
 Exams 1-3  50 questions (2 pts each)
 FINAL  100 questions (1 pt each)

Final is cumulative
 Please double check the date of the final BEFORE
making summer travel plans.

MAKE-UP EXAMS
ONLY in the event of extreme circumstances
 You MUST MUST MUST provide written
documentation
 If you know you will miss an exam – you must
notify me at least 2 days in advance
 Emergencies


Essay exam option
EXTRA CREDIT
EC assignments will be presented IN CLASS
 Depends on need –


Due Dates are NOT flexible

Will be graded on quality -
PARTICIPATION IN EXPERIMENTS…

University of California is a research university

Most psychologists study normal people


(Intro psych students)
2 options –

1. participate in 3.0 hours of experimental
participation
SONA
 What will I be doing?


2. alternate assignment