Psy 1000 - Introduction to Psychology I
Montana Tech – The University of Montana
Course Syllabus
Spring 2014
Instructor: XXXX
Contact Information
Phone: (XXXX)
Contact Hours: Tuesday 8:00-9:00 a.m. Although I am not on campus, this time is reserved
so you may call me, set up a time to meet over the phone or live chat online.
Email: XXX; in case of emergency you may use my private email XXXX
Start/End Dates
January 13 – May 12, 2014
Required Resources
A. Textbook: Myers, D.G. (2013). Psychology in Modules, Tenth Edition. New York,
NY: Worth Publishers.
B. ISBN-10: 1-4641-2073-0 ISBN-13: 978-1-4641-2073-2 ** be certain your book
has an access code for the video toolkit website only or you may purchase
access directly from the publisher’s website (about $20). The website to
purchase the video toolkit is http://www.courses.bfwpub.com/intropsychvtk.php.
Please say you are from University of Montana-Western (even though you are at
Tech). Section Tech. It will cost approximately $20. We will be using the video
portion of this website only. You do not need access to all of the book’s online
resources. This is expensive and you need only the video access.
C. Required registration for Psychology in Modules textbook website.
http://www.davidmyers.org/Brix?pageID=103 (free website)
D. Additional readings, articles, and/or website activities will be handed out via email
or course website.
E. You may purchase your book through the campus bookstore, a website like
www.amazon.com, or directly through the publisher. Distributers like
Amazon.com may have used copies or online books for very economical prices
as well. If you are unaware, you may rent the book or purchase an online version
for less than purchasing the book outright. You will need an access code that will
come with a package deal on a new book or is extra for a used book (see (B)
above for directions). Please be aware that waiting on a book to arrive will not be
an excuse for not being able to complete work, especially because it is available
online in a virtual text format. Order your book promptly to ensure you can
complete the required readings/work.
Course Description
Thanks to XXXX and the following websites for partial wording and ideas on this syllabus: http://www.oswego.edu/~klink/psy290/syllabus.pdf and http://bbresources.granite.edu/course_docs/wn11/behs501-wn11-iacuzzi.pdf retrieved on 4/18/2011
Course introduces the field of psychology and its basic concepts, theories, research
methods, and contributions to the understanding of human behavior. Topics include the
nervous system, perception, motivation, learning and memory, social behavior,
personality, developmental, and clinical psychology. The past and current theories and
contributions of major psychologists are explored.
Course Objectives
The major objective of this course is to give students a broad introduction to the field of
psychology. Upon successful completion of this course, students should be able to:
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.
G.
Discuss historical and philosophical foundations of psychology.
Discuss biological perspectives of human behavior.
Evaluate theories and perspectives on human behavior and mental processes.
Describe theories of human concept and language development.
Evaluate psychological disorders and therapies.
Demonstrate knowledge of research methodology.
Explore research related to topics such as sensation, perception, consciousness
and etc.
Enrollment
To enroll in the course you must have the following resources available to you on a
regular, preferably daily basis.
Your own running computer with Windows 95 or higher or a Macintosh. Please
note that regardless of your computer type, only word documents will be
accepted.
Regular access to the Internet with some kind of web browser for internet
searches and access to online materials.
An email address and the ability to send and receive email regularly. This email
address should be provided to the Registrar’s Office before the semester begins.
Please make any email changes with the Registrar’s Office promptly.
You are highly encouraged to have a virus protection program of some kind to
ensure the safety of your computer as well as those of colleagues’ and the
instructor.
Access to the required text materials or purchase the online version of the book
by the end of the 1st week of class.
The course will require that you read the text assignments and the materials available
on the websites. You will also need to correspond with the instructor and other students
through email. You will not need to visit any physical location at any time. Each chapter
will have readings and assignments/quizzes.
Conduct and Attendance in the Online Classroom
Membership in society implies minimal norms for civil behavior towards one another. It
is The University of Montana Tech’s expectation that all members of our college
community treat faculty, staff, and fellow learners with respect. Learners need to be
knowledgeable of and comply with college policies. Each individual is accountable for
his/her actions and for the consequences of any behavior that is inconsistent with these
values and expectations.
Attendance in an online class is accomplished by visiting the class website, reading the
materials found on the class website, reading email, received from the instructor and
other class members, sending email to the instructor and other class members,
participating in class forums and turning in assignments on time. You are expected to
participate in the above activities on a regular basis, just as you would in an on campus
class.
Submission of Assignments
All work must be saved as a .doc or .docx file and submitted through the assignments
portion of the course website. Email and dropbox assignments will not be accepted. All
work is due on the due date listed on the assignments page and calendar. Should you
choose to turn in work late without a documented emergency; assignments will be
deducted 10% per day past the due date.
Evaluation/Grading Procedures
a) Honor Code: A student once said “I don’t know what plagiarizing is, so I’m
gonna take the easy way out and just copy something off the internet.”
Considering this, it is my policy as well as the college’s policy that cheating,
plagiarism, and ethical violations are strictly prohibited. The term “plagiarism”
includes, but is not limited to, the use by paraphrase or direct quotations, of the
published or unpublished work of another person without full and clear
acknowledgement. All ethical guidelines for conducting research apply to the
research project. Academic Dishonesty is a serious offense at the College
because it diminishes the quality of the scholarship and learning experience for
everyone on campus. An act of academic dishonesty may lead to penalties such
as a reduction in grade, probation, suspension, or expulsion. For more
information, consult the student handbook.
b) Grades: Grades will be based on four different areas: (a) quizzes/exams, (b)
assignments, and (c) forum questions, and (d) final paper.
(10) Quizzes @ 20 pts each ..................................= 200 pts
(10) Forum questions @ 20 pts each …………… = 200 pts
(4) Assignments @ 25 pts ea……………………. = 100 pts
(1) Syllabus Assignment and quiz @ 25 pts…..…= 25 pts
(2) Exams - 1 @ 100 pts; 1 @ 75 pts................... = 175 pts
(1) Movie Analysis @ 100 pts….………………… = 100 pts
Total
= 800 pts
The grading scale is as follows:
Letter Grade:
100 – 92% = A
91 – 90% = A89 – 88% = B+
87 – 82% = B
81 – 80% = B79 – 78% = C+
77 – 72% = C
71 – 70% = C –
69 – 68% = D+
67 – 62 % = D
61 – 60 % = D –
59 or below = F
Point Value - Grade:
800 – 733
732 – 716
715 – 700
699 – 652
651 – 636
635 – 620
=A
= A= B+
=B
= B= C+
619 – 572 = C
571 – 556 = C –
555 – 540 = D+
539 – 482 = D
481 – 476 = D –
475 or below = F
** Please note that the grade scale will be strictly followed. “Rounding” up of grades will
occur only if the grade is within .5% of the next grade up. For example an 89.5% would
be a 90% and an A- grade. An 89.4% would be an 89% and a B+ grade. You will be
allowed to drop 2 low or missing quiz grades (worth 20 points each) and 2 forum
question grade (worth 20 points each). The Syllabus activity and Syllabus quiz may not
be dropped. Additional make up opportunities or extra credit will not be assigned at any
point during the semester in order to boost a grade up the grade scale.
Description of Class Assignments
a. Due Dates: Generally, you will have a chapter reading, chapter quiz, forum
question, and an assignment due each week. The assignment timeline is
intended to help you keep up with the work load and successfully complete the
course.
b. Quizzes: Quizzes will consist of primarily multiple choice questions, but may also
contain any of the following: short-answer, true/false, or essay questions. Format
will vary from quiz to quiz. Content will pertain to the information received since
last quiz or test. There is a time limit listed for each quiz. You MUST complete
the quiz and submit it before the time limit expires or answers may not be saved
in the system.
c. Exams: Exams may contain multiple choice, true/false, short-answer, and/or
essay questions. The content for each test will pertain to material covered from
the last exam or beginning of class. The final exam is not comprehensive.
d. Assignments: Assignments are designed to demonstrate your content
knowledge and serve as a reflective practice on reading material. These activities
will attempt to apply the educational and psychological concepts covered in the
class. They may consist of, but are not limited to, online interactive activities,
real-world interactive activities, internet exercises, observational write-ups, group
activities, or field research. Remember: several questions on each chapter quiz
will be devoted to the assignments. It will be HIGHLY unlikely that you pass the
quizzes without completing the assignments.
e. Online Practice: The textbook website has tutorials, vocabulary practice, two
practice quizzes, and other online study tools. Online practices should be used
as study tools and you are required to complete them. However, they are not
graded. Remember: several questions on each chapter quiz will be devoted to
the online practices. It will be HIGHLY unlikely that you pass the quizzes without
completing the online practices and the module practice quizzes located on the
book’s website.
f. Movie Analysis: Choose 1 movie from the list presented in class. Write 2-3
pages on how the movie relates to the given chapter/topic stated on the list. Use
specific examples from the movie and the chapter supporting your perspective or
interpretation of the movie. Include a title page and follow APA format. Note: All
assignments must be saved as a word document. Any other form may not
open or be able to be graded. It is the student’s responsibility to make sure
assignments are submitted properly and before the due date for full credit.
Assignments must be submitted via the assignments portion of Moodle. Do
not email your work. Assignments submitted in the incorrect format or via email
will be considered late and deducted at least 1 (10%) letter grade for every day
they are late.
g. Forum Questions/Engagement/Class Participation: each week a class forum
question will facilitate a class discussion on a topic related to that week’s
readings. Students will be graded on the following scale. Each forum question is
worth 20 points, 17 points for answering the question and 3 points for responding
to another student’s posting in a thought provoking manner. Please note that an
A grade cannot be earned without responding to
Highly Active (18-20 Points): Student is highly active in forums and with their
engagement. Student contributes multiple ways: timely homework, initiates forum
topics, and actively and appropriately responds to comments. Consistently
responds to posts within 24 hours and uses correct grammar with few spelling
errors. Student expresses self clearly and concisely. Participation adds new
information, questions, and considerations. Contributions from the student are
related to the topic and are based on class readings, personal and work
experiences, and additional references. Responds to other students’ postings in
a thoughtful and respectful manner.
Visible (16-17 Points): Student is a regular contributor, but less than highly
active. Regularly responds to the Instructor and originates new forum topics, but
not consistently. Comments and contributions reflect quality thinking and
reflection. Posts contain few grammatical and spelling errors. Student’s posts are
clear with occasional lack of connection to the topic. Responds to students in a
supportive manner, but does not pose new thoughts or expand on other students’
postings.
Responsive (14-15 Points): Student competently contributes to forums. Regularly
responds to the Instructor when input is directly sought, but seldom takes
initiative or originates new forums. Student’s posts occasionally are unclear
and/or appear unconnected to the topic. Student attempts to provide comments
and contributions reflecting quality thinking and reflection. Posts contain several
grammatical and spelling errors. May or may not respond to other student
postings.
Reluctant (13 or less points): Student contributes to forums only when input is
directly sought. Comments and contributions tend to be offered merely for the
sake of responding to the forum. There is poor spelling and grammar evident in
many posts. May not respond to other student postings. May not fully answer the
forum question posed.
h. Grades: Grades will be updated regularly, generally on a weekly basis and may
be viewed via the course website. Please allow at least 1 week for any
handwritten work to be graded.
i.
Technology Pass: Each student may have 1 Technology Pass. This pass may
be used to reset a quiz that froze or for some reason, due to technology, internet
service, server error, or did not load properly. The student must notify the
instructor 24 hours before the due date and time has expired. If a technology
error is experienced with less than 24 hours notice, the student may use one of
their previous mentioned opportunities to drop a low score. Quizzes will not be
reset after the due date has passed, as the answers will be released at midnight
on the due date.
j.
Dropping of low scores: All students will have the opportunity to drop their 2
lowest 20-point quizzes and 2 lowest 20-point forum question scores. This
means that you will have the opportunity to drop up to 4 low or missing scores.
Low scores will be dropped at the very end of the semester. Syllabus activity and
Syllabus quiz may not be dropped. Should you experience more than 1 technical
issue (which is vary rare), you may use one of your low quiz drops to take the
place of the zero.
k. Pace of Class: This is a full semester course. There will be a quiz and forum
question due each week. Assignments will be spaced periodically throughout the
semester. There are recommended activities that will assist you in understanding
the materials and study for the quizzes. You are also required to take the online
practice quizzes, however, they are not graded. All quizzes, assignments, and/or
tests will be available at the beginning of the semester, so students may get a
head start on the class work. You may submit assignments early.
l.
LATE WORK - Should you have any concerns about completing assignments,
please contact the instructor BEFORE they are due. Extensions will be given
ONLY in documented emergency situations. If late work is accepted for reasons
other than documented emergency it will be deducted at least 1 letter grade for
every day it is late. This means that you may turn in work late, even though this is
HIGHLY discouraged, as your grade will reflect this choice. ONLY late
assignments should be submitted via email. Late quizzes are not accepted
without a documented emergency.
m. A grade of incomplete will be given only if at least 3/4 of all course work is
complete by the end of the semester and only for the following reasons: (a)
documented illness, (b) documented personal emergency, or (c) academic
conditions beyond the control of the instructor or the student. In the event an
incomplete grade is entered into the record, the student will have four weeks
from the start of the next regular academic semester to complete all course work.
Any extension of that deadline must be negotiated with the instructor.
See list of Assignment Due Dates listed below.
Montana Tech of the University of Montana
Assignment Timeline
For each chapter or module reading, complete a forum
question, online activities, module practice quiz (located on
book website), and Moodle quiz.
Week
#
Due
Date
Modules
(M)
Assignment
Forum
Question
(FQ)
1
1/13
2
1/27
Syllabus
3
1/27
4
2/3
Introduction
Assignment #1
FQ 2
Modules 1-3
Biology
Modules 4-6
FQ 3
Consciousness
Modules 7-10
Nature/Nurture
Modules 11 – 12
FQ 4
Life Span
Modules 13-16
Sensation/Perception
FQ 5
Modules 17-19
Learning
Assignment #2
FQ 6
Modules 20-22
Memory
FQ 7
Modules 23-26
*************Spring Break**************
5
2/10
6
2/17
7
2/24
8
3/3
9
3/10
10
11
3/17
3/24
14
3/31
13
4/7
14
4/14
Quiz
(Q)
Class begins
Syllabus
Assignment
FQ 1: Syllabus
Syllabus Quiz
Q1
Q2 - Modules
4 - 10
Q3 – Modules
11 - 16
Q4
Q5
Q6
*************** Midterm (Modules 1-26) ***************
Language & Intelligence
FQ 8
Q7
Modules 27-31
Motivation
Assignment #3
FQ 9
Q8
Modules 32-34
Emotions, Stress
FQ 10
Q9
Modules 35-39
Personality
Assignment #4
FQ 11
Q10
Modules 40-42
15
4/21
16
4/28
17
Wednesday
5/7
**************** Movie Analysis Paper *************
Social Psychology
Q 11
Modules 43-46
Psych Disorders
Modules 47-51
Q 12 – modules
FQ 12
47 - 54
Therapy
Modules 52-54
Please note: this is a WEDNESDAY!
************** Final Exam (Modules 27-54) ************
** All assignments/quizzes are due at 11:55 p.m. on Mondays, except the Final Exam. The
Final Exam is on WEDNESDAY 5/7. Most quizzes cover 3-5 modules and are timed at 25
minutes. Quizzes covering more modules are timed at 40 minutes. Midterm is 90 minutes
and the final is 75 minutes.
KEY SUGGESTIONS FOR ACADEMIC SUCCESS
Please keep that in mind as we work our way through the course. If you have questions,
comments, or suggestions, don't hesitate to speak up. As you all know, feedback is a
critical element of communications. Working together we can make this a productive
semester for all of us.
To become a successful scholar, here is a list of critical tips that you should consider:
1. Decide early in the semester when you are going to work on this course
and then stick with that schedule. Try and set aside times three days
during the week to work on the course. It is just too easy to dig a deep,
deep hole by putting off distance course homework. Like any other
introductory course, general psychology has to both develop a basic
vocabulary and cover a wide variety of topics. If you do part of that general
task over a number of days each week, it should be interesting and even
enjoyable. Try and cram everything into a compressed time frame and the
chances for success drop dramatically.
2. If you have any questions about or difficulties with the technical aspects of
the course ask for help IMMEDIATELY! Do not put it off; it just makes it
more difficult to solve the problem.
3. Always identify yourself by name, course, and assignment when you
contact me.
4. Make sure Tech IT knows about any change in your email address. I use
their email service and if you switch providers without letting Tech IT
know, you'll miss my messages.
Again, please remember if you have any questions, concerns, or
comments to let me know right away. I welcome any feedback you're
willing to offer.