Syllabus for Psy 101, Fall 2008
Sect 1: Tue and Thurs 9:00-10:45 AM, Bush 160
Sect 2: Tue and Thurs 2:00-3:15 PM, Bush 229
Syllabus for Psy 101, Fall 2008
Sect 1: Tue and Thurs 9:00-10:45 AM, Bush 160
Sect 2: Tue and Thurs 2:00-3:15 PM, Bush 229
View Intro Calendar
Grading Scale
Instructor Access
|
Fall 2008 e-mail: rdray@rollins.edu |
NOTE: Please contact me either in class or by e-mail for appointments. Phone calls rarely find me and I check voice mail far less than e-mail!
Introductory Psychology is a broad survey course designed to introduce you to the myriad of topics investigated in the study of psychology. Upon successful completion of this course you will be in possession of a basic knowledge of physiological, developmental, sensation and perception, learning, cognitive, social, and personality psychology as well as motivation, psychopathology and a variety of research methods.
Unique to this particular offering of Psy 101 is its sole reliance on electronic
text, tutoring, and certification instead of a traditional textbook. Another major difference
in the class is its use of in-class annotated video presentations and integrated active student
responding to questions derived from these videos. Thus annotated video presentations and student
responding will substitute for traditional lectures and informal class participation. Because
these annotations, individualized responding to questions, and frequent group discussions of each
video serves as a tutorial, such tutorials are considered critical to your full understanding
and thus video tutorials will not be made available outside of class if you miss a class. Sources
for videos that make up the tutorials are available at:
http://www.learner.org/discoveringpsychology/index.html
Be aware that viewing these videos alone does not substitute for coming to class and participating!
The grading system is clearly laid out in this syllabus. Please review it carefully.
Electronic
Certification of Text Mastery 35% of your final
grade for the course will be determined by the composite (average) grades
established through electronic certification of chapter readings for ALL of the 14
chapters of text and tutorials assigned.
Any missed certification tests count in this average as a zero for each
skipped chapter. Certification
testing on any and all chapters takes place as follows: 1.
You may take any chapter certification test as many times as you wish, with only the
maximum obtained score counting towards your eventual course grade. Maximum scores are maintained on an
internet server, and you must have an active connection with that server at the
time of submission of your test results for the grade to be recorded. Only a score greater than your previous
score for that chapter will be recorded to the server. 2. You
may take any chapter certification at any time UP TO MIDNIGHT of the
published Certification Due Date for that chapter. Thus a test due on, say, Jan 20, 2009,
will have to be completed before 11:59 PM of Jan 20, 2009. When midnight starts Jan 21, your test
scores will no longer be accepted by the server. Attempts to start a chapter test after this date will also
give you a message that the due date for that chapter has expired and the test
is no longer available. 3. At
some point during the semester you may be required to use
tutoring services in the electronic text system if your initial certification
scores are sufficiently low to suggest that tutoring would be helpful in
teaching you the text materials.
If you certify twice on any chapter with a score of less than 80% then
you will be required to use the electronic adaptive tutoring services for that
chapter until you have mastered the material. 4. At
anytime any student may be asked to come to a laboratory setting to take/retake
a certification test under supervised administration. In the case of a retake, if the existing maximum score for
that chapter certification test is not matched or exceeded, the maximum score
obtained under supervised administration may,
at the instructorÍs discretion, apply as the maximum score and in such cases
the test will be administratively ñtimed outî to block further administrations
of the test for that student. IMPORTANT NOTE: You may observe from the schedule that
tests are typically timed-out on Monday prior to Tuesday classes and on
Wednesday prior to Thursday classes.
There is a reason for this.
All readings should be accomplished prior to the presentation and
discussion of video materials covering that same topic. Because there is only one day between
the Tuesday class and a subsequent Wednesday due date for the next chapter, all
students are STRONGLY ENCOURAGED to anticipate due dates in advance
and both read and certify well before deadlines. In fact, waiting until the last few hours of the deadline
date will almost always create sufficient traffic on the server as to make it less
than 100% reliable. If you wait
until the last minute it is quite likely that you may miss submitting your test
score successfully. DO
NOT PROCRASTINATE; instead, certify often and certify early! Required
Textbook: R. A. Kasschau's
Psychology: Exploring Behavior. Winter Park, FL: (AI)2, Inc. (Purchase
on-line at www.ai2inc.com as per pdf Purchase Instructions posted on BlackBoard)
Instead of traditional "hit-and-miss" class participation, where some individuals always respond and others always stay silent, this class incorporates personalized student answering to questions posed during class presentations as a systematic way to assure that all students participate, at least minimally, with what is occurring in class. This also takes the place of "pop quizzes," in that every class incorporates a "distributed set of quiz questions" throughout the class presentation and discussion segments. Based on the class' collective understanding of each segment, I may then clarify, elaborate, or review the material "as needed" based on class performance data. These quiz activities will collectively account for another 20% of the total course grade via an averaging of performances for each individual student across all classes where formalized in-class responding is used.
In-Class Testing of All Materials Covered.40% of your final
grade for the course will be determined by the composite (average) grades
established through in-class exams and your final exam. Exams will cover the video,
lecture/commentary material, and any discussion material, as well as assigned
text/tutorial materials. NOTE
this means you will be tested on text assignments both electronically and
in-class.
There will be four in-class exams and a final exam that is equivalent to two normal in-class tests. In-class exams cover all material covered up until that point of class but will focus on material covered since the last exam. The final is cumulative. All exams consist of multiple choice and association questions with the final having twice as many questions as an in-class test.
Psychology is all around you at Rollins. There are talks and activities outside of class that are related
to a myriad of the issues that we will be covering as a part of this
course. You are being asked to
participate in psychology-related events outside of class and write a short
reaction paper about your experience.
Reaction papers will be worth 2% of your grade. A list of approved
events is below. You are
responsible for making sure that you attend at least two events and turn in
two reaction papers before the last day of class. I will not grade more than two reaction papers. Each reaction paper will be graded on
your understanding of how the event relates to a psychology topic from class or
the book. It is important to
me that you see Psychology in the real-world and that you become active in the
extra-curricular events on campus.
Life, especially life at Rollins, is more than just the classroom.
Psychology is a science and the Psychology Department at Rollins is research active. This means that there is a need for you to participate in the studies that professors, other classes, and more advanced psychology students are undertaking. You are being asked to participate in one large survey session, two in-class research data collections, and two other experimental studies for a total of five participations during the semester. This is the easiest 3% of your grade that you can earn. You just have to show up. You are not graded on performance. You are simply awarded 3% toward your final grade when you complete your participation. Sign-up sheets will be passed out in class and you are responsible for making sure that you participate in three out-of-class projects before the last day of class.
The purpose of research participation is two-fold. First, the individuals doing the
research need data points and you are it.
Most psychology research is done with pools of introductory psychology
students. Second, it is important
to me that you see the research that is going on in your department and that
you experience some of the different methodologies used in the psychological
sciences.
To summarize, the percentages that each source applies to the total grades are:
Textbook Chapter Certifications 35%
In-Class Presentation Quizzes 20%
In-Class Exams (4 with final) 40%
Community Participation 2%
Research Participation 3%
Total 100%
You begin with a zero
(or an F) in this class. You earn
your grade by mastering the text, taking exams, and participating in the
psychology community. The scale
for final grades will be:
92.5
- 100 = A 89.5
- 92.49 = A-
87.5
- 89.49 = B+ 82.5
- 87.49 = B 79.5
- 82.49 = B-
77.5
- 79.49 = C+ 72.5
- 77.49 = C 69.5
- 72.49 = C-
67.5
- 69.45 = D+ 62.5
- 67.49 = D 59.5
- 62.49 = D-
F
< 59.5
Our
Commitment to Students with Disabilities
Rollins College is committed to equal access and does not discriminate unlawfully against persons with disabilities in its policies, procedures, programs or employment processes. The College recognizes its obligations under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 to provide an environment that does not discriminate against persons with disabilities.
If you are a person with a disability on this campus and anticipate needing any type of academic accommodations in order to participate in your classes, please make timely arrangements by disclosing this disability in writing to the Disability Services Office at (box 2613) - Thomas P. Johnson Student Resource Center, 1000 Holt Ave., Winter Park, FL, 37289 or call 407-646-2354 for an appointment.
The Honor Code and You
Honest (adj) – 1. Marked by or displaying integrity; upright
2. Not deceptive or fraudulent; genuine
3. Equitable; fair
4.
a) Characterized by truth; not false / b) Sincere; frank
5. a) Of good repute; respectable / b) Without
affectation; plain
6. Virtuous; chaste
Honor (n) – Principled uprightness of character;
personal integrity
Integrity (n) – Steadfast adherence to a strict moral or
ethical code
Virtue (n) – Moral excellence and righteousness;
goodness
Responsible
(adj) – 1.
Involving personal accountability or ability to act without guidance or
superior authority
2.
Able to make moral or rational decisions on one's own and therefore answerable
for one's behavior
3.
Able to be trusted or depended upon; reliable.
Definitions
Quoted Directly from The American Heritage¬ Dictionary of the English Language,
Fourth Edition
Copyright
© 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published
by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Downloaded
from www.dictionary.com on 8/17/06
The Honor Code is About a Culture of Integrity, Not About Rules:
As a student at Rollins College, you belong to a community where the members (i.e., students, faculty, and administration) have agreed to abide by an Academic Honor Code. Although this code includes rules, judicial processes, and sanctions for dishonesty, its primary purpose is not as a system of enforcement and punishment. At its base, the Rollins College Academic Honor Code recognizes that you are a responsible individual embodying the characteristics of honesty, honor, integrity, and virtue. Because you are this type of individual, we are proud to have you as a member of our community. The Honor Code is not about being a good student, it is about being a good person. We trust that you are a good person and hope that you will never violate this trust.
As an individual of honesty, honor, integrity and virtue, we acknowledge that you would never engage in acts of plagiarism, cheating, unauthorized collaboration, fabrication, or lying, nor would you submit work prepared for another course for a current assignment without the professor's permission, facilitate academic dishonesty, or violate testing conditions (see definitions below). We also acknowledge that, as a responsible style='font-size:10.0pt'> member of your community, you would feel obligated to report an honor code violation if you had knowledge of one occurring.
If you do not think that you
can live up to these expectations, if you are not fully committed to the
principles of the honor code, or if you simply believe that this whole policy
is unrealistic and nonsensical, you do not belong at Rollins College – we
wish you well, but please find another school that is better suited to your
world view.
Definitions from the Rollins College Academic Honor Code:
1. PLAGIARISM. Offering the words, facts, or ideas of
another person as your own in any academic exercise.
2. CHEATING. Using or attempting to use unauthorized
materials, information, or study aids in an academic exercise. This includes sharing knowledge of
previously administered or current tests.
The keeping of tests, papers, and other assignments belonging to former
students is prohibited. Use of
external assistance (e.g., books, notes, calculators, conversations with
others) in completing an "in class" or "take home" examination,
unless specifically authorized by the instructor, is prohibited.
3. UNAUTHORIZED
COLLABORATION. Collaboration,
without specific authorization by the instructor, on homework assignments, lab
reports, exam preparations, research projects, take home exams, essays, or
other work for which you will receive academic credit.
4. SUBMISSION
OF WORK PREPARED FOR ANOTHER COURSE.
Turning in the same work, in whole or in part, to two or more
instructors, without the consent of the instructors in both courses.
5. FABRICATION. Misrepresenting, mishandling, or
falsifying information in an academic exercise. For example, creating false information for a bibliography,
inventing data for a laboratory assignment, or representing a quotation from a
secondary source (such as a book review or a textbook) as if it were a primary
source.
6. FACILITATING
ACADEMIC DISHONESTY. Helping
another student commit an act of academic dishonesty.
7. VIOLATION
OF TESTING CONDITIONS. Looking at
other studentsÍ answers, allowing other students to look at your test, and
working past allotted time are just a few examples where test conditions may be
considered to be violated.
8. LYING. Lying is the making of a statement that
one knows to be false with the intent to deceive. It includes
actions such as (a) lying to faculty, administrators, or staff; (b) falsifying
any college document or record by mutilation, addition, deletion, or forgery;
or (c) lying to a member of the Honor Council or judicial affairs officer.
9. FAILURE
TO REPORT AN HONOR CODE VIOLATION.
Failure to report occurs when a student has knowledge of or is witness
to an act in violation of the Academic Honor Code and does not report it within
five class days.
Honor Code Statement
Membership in the student body
of Rollins College carries with it an obligation, and requires a commitment, to
act with honor in all things. Because academic integrity is fundamental to the
pursuit of knowledge and truth and is the heart of the academic life of Rollins
College, it is the responsibility of all members of the College community to
practice it and to report apparent violations.
The following pledge is a
binding commitment by the students of Rollins College:
The development of the virtues of Honor and Integrity are integral to a Rollins College education and to membership in the Rollins College community. Therefore, I, a student of Rollins College, pledge to show my commitment to these virtues by abstaining from any lying, cheating, or plagiarism in my academic endeavors and by behaving responsibly, respectfully and honorably in my social life and in my relationships with others.
This pledge is reinforced every time a student submits work for academic credit as his/her own. Students shall add to all papers, quizzes, tests, lab reports, etc., the following handwritten abbreviated pledge followed by their signature:
"On my honor, I have not given, nor received, nor witnessed any unauthorized assistance on this work."
Material submitted electronically should contain the pledge; submission implies signing the pledge.