Learning is a junior-level course in Psychology. It meets one of several
core-course requirements for the student who plans a major in Psychology.
The course is also designed for non-majors. The pre-requisites for the course
are Introductory Psychology and Experimental Methods and Statistics I. The
general educational goals of the course include: 1) the development of an
advanced technical vocabulary in the topical area of Learning, 2) your initial
introduction to some of the specialized technical journals and materials
used for professional communication on the phenomenon of Learning and Learning
research, 3) an introduction to animal laboratory procedures, philosophies
and ethics, 4) an introduction to appropriate content and APA formats for
communicating scientific information and observations, and 5) the development
of advanced personal study and time-management skills. The course is somewhat different from others in that it stresses the actual
experience of its own subject matter. Thus it requires you to learn while
also teaching you the conceptual and empirical foundations of the process
of learning. As such, the first half of the course is focused upon basic
concepts and uses a relatively standard format for course mechanics. These
include: 1) lectures, 2) demonstrations of processes discussed, 3) laboratory
exercises, including laboratory report writing, 4) discussions and guided
group and independent design projects, and 5) frequent examinations using
an association-item format. Regular attendance is highly recommended, but
not required. No make-up exams are given, but one missed exam may be prorated
under excused circumstances based on average test grades prior to contracting.
Subsequently missed exams are counted as zero. The second half of the course, however, is designed to offer a more unique
experience in applying the principles learned in the first half of the course.
This opportunity comes in the form of group discussions and negotiations
designed to totally restructure the course format. Eventually, the course
recognizes those fundamental learning principles studied within the course
and applies them to students most in need or most desirable of their application.
These deliberations and negotiations result in a contractual basis for the
second half of the term. Details of such a contract remain for the class
to collectively determine at the appropriate time. PLEASE NOTE: Grading criteria have been established
by a ten year cumulative curve of actual test performances during the course.
These are:
Attendance of classes is the student's responsibility and I do not take
role. No points are given or removed based upon attendance per se, although
you are always responsible for work accomplished or assigned during periods
of absence. This is not the case for labs. Points may be assigned for execution
(attendance) as well as reporting of laboratory projects. NOTE: All Written Assignments MUST be Word Processed on
Computer! It is advisable to keep a copy of each assignment turned
in for grading. All assignments should also be backed up on disk in the
event of computer/printer difficulties.
96-100 A
94-95 A-
92-93 B+
89-91 B
87-88 B-
84-86 C+
76-83 C
73-75 C-
71-72 D+
67-70 D
65-66 D-
There are NO rewrites available for lab reports or the term paper assignment.
Please note the importance of doing your very best writing on reports before
you hand them in.
All assignments are due at the beginning of class of the day specified. Papers turned in after this time WILL BE considered LATE. Late assignments must be turned in either to Dr. Ray or Kevin Miraglia not just left on one of our desks--and must be marked with the date and time of presentation. Consequently no late papers can be accepted during the weekend.
Lab Reports are to be submitted electronically. Lab reports
which are turned in past the assigned due date will lose points at the rate
of 5 (five) points per day, up to 20 (twenty) points--or four days. Lab
reports will not be accepted more than four days late, and no points will
be awarded for such papers. (A paper due on a Tuesday will be accepted no
later than Friday. A paper due on Thursday will be accepted on Friday and/or
no later than Monday.)
Special Note:
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.
STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES
If you are a person with a disability and anticipate needing any type of academic accommodation in order to participate in this class, please make appropriate arrangements with Lisa Marsh, CRC, Disability Services Coordinator, located in the Thomas P. Johnson Student Resource Center, (407) 646-2354, e-mail lmarsh@rollins.edu.
Honest
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.
Some previous offerings of this course have allowed students to drop their
pre-contract grades from consideration and thus complete the course only
on the basis of contracted performance. Radical abuse of this policy by
a select few students has led to the significant alteration of this option
in contract negotiation. Be forewarned, what you accomplish (or fail to
accomplish) prior to contracting counts in determining the options you will
be offered!!
This Syllabus is a projection of my best intentions in conducting this course, and circumstances almost always arise which require some alterations of goals, content, assignments or schedule. I, therefore, reserve the right to change any element of this Syllabus at any time by a simple verbal announcement of these changes during class.
Catania, A. C. (2007). Learning (Interim 4th ed.). New Jersey: Prentice-Hall, Inc.
American Psychological Association. (2001 / 2009). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (5th or 6th ed.).Washington, DC: Author.
Ray, R. D. (2005). CyberRat. Winter Park: FL: (AI)2, Inc.
Skinner, B. F. (1963). Walden II. New York:The Macmillan Co. Skinner, B. F. (1971). Beyond freedom & dignity. New York: The Macmillan Co.
Skinner, B. F. (1971). Beyond freedom and dignity. New York: The Macmillan Co.
Dr. Roger Ray
Johnson Center - Room 183
By Appointment
direct: 646-2278
or via Vicki Long, Secretary: - x2227
rdray@rollins.edu
Kevin Miraglia
Johnson Center
Second Floor Laboratory Rm. 277
x2570
kmiraglia@rollins.edu