STUDENT PERFORMANCE AND LEARNING OUTCOMES for PSYC 2301:  These are the MINIMUM COMPETENCIES.  After studying the material presented in this course, the student will be able to do the following as evaluted by the faculty in the department/program:

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1. Define psychology and list and discuss the goals of psychology
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2. Compare and contrast the major theoretical perspectives in contemporary psychology.
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3. Explain what is meant by the scientific method and describe the various research methods.
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4. Describe the parts and functions of the nervous system.
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5. Define and discuss sensation and perception.
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6. Describe learning from the behavioral and the cognitive perspectives.
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7. Describe the functioning of sensory, short-term and long-term memory.
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8. Define motives, needs, drives, and incentives.
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9. Explain and evaluate the cognitive-appraisal theories of emotion.
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10. Discuss the nature-nurture controversy in developmental psychology.
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11. Define Piaget's concepts and outline Piaget's four stages of cognitive development, describing the major characteristics of each.
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12. Describe the major personality theories and projective and objective measures of personality.
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13. Describe the psychological disorders and the biomedical and psychological therapies that are used.
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14. Describe the social context of human behavior, emphasizing attribution theory, relationships between attitudes and action, conformity, group/cultural influences, prejudice, aggression, social conflict, attraction, altruism, and peacemaking.
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Students Rights and Responsibilities

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In order to receive your AC Connect Email, you must log in through AC Connect at https://acconnect.actx.edu .

If you are an active staff or faculty member according to Human Resources, use "Exchange". All other students, use "AC Connect (Google) Email".

Expected Student Behavior

STUDENT BEHAVIOR: What is expected of you!

Students are expected to attend class, to participate in class and to prepare for class lectures and discussions by reading the text and doing homework assignments. Students are expected to turn off all electronic devices (if you have a sick child, you may bring your phone and put it on vibrate). Please do not engage in side conversations during class time, texting, reading newspapers, taking naps, and any other distracting behaviors. If you miss class, you are expected to contact the instructor and/or other students in the class to get information about the class.  Since this instructor emails reminders via the AC ONLINE classroom announcement page, it's best to check into your AC ONLINE class frequently.  As well, all course notes and assignments are in the AC ONLINE classroom folders, as directed by your instructor.   It is your responsibility to get the information and printed materials, as well as take EXAMS in the AC Online classroom. If you don't have a computer, simply check the ones in the library.  You can get onto AC ONLINE from any computer anywhere!

Each student is expected to engage in academic honesty, refraining from cheating or plagiarism. YOUR EXAMS ARE MEANT TO BE TAKEN BY YOU!  IF THIS INSTRUCTOR LEARNS THAT YOU ARE COLLABORATING ON EXAMS, YOU WILL FAIL THE COURSE!  Plagiarism on written work will NOT be tolerated.  PLAGIARISM IS USING SOMEONE ELSES MATERIAL AS IF IT WERE WRITTEN OR ORIGINATED BY YOU.If you plagiarize, you can fail the assignment and receive a 0.  Plagiarism means copying off of the internet, quoting directly without giving credit to the source, or using parts of another persons work as your own. Copying and pasting material off the internet is strictly forbidden!   YOU MUST CITE ALL SOURCES AND HAVE A REFERENCE SECTION WITH APA STYLE CITATIONS FOR YOUR PAPER! PLEASE DO NOT ENGAGE IN THIS BEHAVIOR.  We have access to a plagiarism checker program and any paper that this instructor sees is plagiarized in part or in full, will be getting a 0 on the paper, and a letter of reprimand will be filed in your academic record.  IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS AS TO WHETHER SOMETHING IS CONSIDERED PLAGIARISM, PLEASE ASK YOUR INSTRUCTOR BEFORE YOU ENGAGE IN QUESTIONABLE BEHAVIOR!  AGAIN, I CONSIDER THIS A VERY SERIOUS OFFENSE AND WILL NOT TOLERATE IT!!!

Students are expected to engage in appropriate "netiquette" in the ONLINE PORTIONS of this class AT ALL TIMES.  Inappropriate online behaviors, such as swearing, discussion of inappropriate issues NOT related to the courseroom material, or any type of intolerance or rudeness to other learners will not be tolerated and may result in having to drop this course, failing the class, or dismissal from Amarillo College. Treat others as you like to be treated and everything should be fine!

Now, having said that, please remember that this is an COLLEGE LEVEL COURSE, and we will be discussing controversial issues in an ADULT MANNER!  You are expected to act like an adult in these discussions and realize that others may think and feel differently than you on a host of issues related to sociology!  Diversity is a GREAT THING and to be APPRECIATED in this instructors opinion.  If you find something offensive that is said by another student OR your instructor, please don't hesitate to contact me and discuss this with me.  However, it's important to remember that this course is not designed to CONFIRM YOUR OWN POLITICAL or RELIGIOUS BELIEFS, but rather to get you to think about sociology, society, and people in a bigger way than you may have already been exposed to. IN THAT, YOU MAY FIND YOURSELF UNCOMFORTABLE AT TIMES, AS YOU ARE BEING REQUIRED TO STRETCH OUTSIDE OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE! This is a part of what it means to get an education!  Obviously, learning to see the world in a different light is the goal of this course!   You are encouraged to debate others, and your instructor, in a polite BUT WELL INFORMED manner!  If you want to debate a point made, all this instructor asks, is that you bring your sources and do a good job of backing up your ideas.  In academics, we like well informed opinions!  This is KEY to analytical and creative thinking and is the hallmark of what it means to have academic freedom!  If you are not comfortable expressing your opinions in front of the class, you may obtain 10 extra credit points by WRITING a rebuttal paper.  If your instructor feels that you have backed up your point of view with sources that are informed and expert on the topic, your instructor will READ your paper to the class (with your permission of course!).  Let's enjoy the spirit of debate (and we will actually have a REAL DEBATE over the DEATH PENALTY in class...your instructor ONLY plays the time keeper and steering the discussion so that everyone is heard).  I look forward to a REAL educational experience with you all! 

If you have a complaint about this course, please contact me first.  If you are uncomfortable doing that, you may contact my supervisor, Mr. Jerry Moller at DURR 212A, 371-5297

If you have a concern that something you want to say or write that you think might offend others in the classroom or in the online course-room, run it by me first. Simply contact me via the AC ONLINE class email. As well, if you are aware of any student being mistreated or harassed in this course (including yourself), please bring it to my immediate attention.  We have zero tolerance for any student being mistreated here at Amarillo College. This will be a SAFE place for the expression of ideas and exchanges! Remember, you are an adult and differences in opinions, beliefs and ideas are a critical part of adult education!  You are expected to be an adult in this class!  Thank you for making our class a safe place to discuss ideas and to learn!   ~ Dr. Harding

Grading Criteria

GRADING CRITERIA:

YOU CAN SEE YOUR GRADES FOR THIS COURSE AT ALL TIMES BY GOING TO THE COURSE HOMEPAGE, AND NEXT TO THE SYLLABUS LINK, BELOW THE ANNOUNCEMENTS, YOU WILL SEE A SECTION THAT SAYS "ABOUT THIS COURSE: CLICK HERE TO SEE YOUR GRADES".  iF YOU THINK THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH YOUR GRADE, PLEASE LET ME KNOW IMMEDIATELY, SO WE CAN GET IT CORRECTED RIGHT AWAY! THANKS!

Your final grade for this course will be based on the standard grading percentages:

• 89.45 - 100 = A
• 79.45 - 89.44 = B
• 69.45 - 79.44 = C
• 49.45 - 69.44 = D
• Below 49.5 - F

Your final grade is based on the following items:

EXAMS: We have four units and four exams.  Exam 1, 2 and 3 are worth 100 points each and YOU MAY DROP YOUR LOWEST EXAM from EXAMS 1, 2 or 3.  Your last exam, EXAM 4 is also worth 100 points BUT YOU ARE REQUIRED TO TAKE IT.   You will have a couple of REVIEW questions over the MAIN and MOST important questions in the class.  MOST OF THE QUESTIONS on EXAM 4 are from the UNIT 4 material.  NOTE:  YOU SHOULD PLAN on TAKING ALL FOUR OF YOUR EXAMS in order to maximize your grade.   EXAMS ARE OPEN FOR ONE FULL WEEK, SO I USUALLY DO NOT ALLOW PEOPLE TO MAKE UP A MISSED EXAM, EXCEPT IN THE MOST UNUSUAL OF CIRCUMSTANCES!  See me if this is the case. YOU MAY NOT DROP YOUR LAST EXAM (EXAM 4),but if you miss either exam 1, 2 or 3 that zero for that missed exam will be your dropped score. Your total number of exam points = 300 pts and counts as about 70% of your total grade).

INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND UNIT DISCUSSIONS:  To begin the class, you will be asked to introduce yourself in the DISCUSSION area and respond to one other student's introduction. That's worth 5 points.  For each of the four units, you will have a UNIT DISCUSSION.  At times, you will need to watch a film first in order to participate in the discussion (as with Unit 1..,.you will need to watch the SECRETS OF THE WILD CHILD film first!).  As well, the discussions are connected to the textbook readings.  Along with the introduction, the four UNIT DISCUSSIONS are worth 15 points each (60 points + 5 points for the introduction) for a total of 65 points  =  worth about 15% of your final grade.

SYLLABUS QUIZ: You will be asked to read through your online syllabus and to print it off. After you do that, you will need to take the 10 point ONLINE SYLLABUS QUIZ.  You are not considered as registered in this class until you have read the syllabus and taken that quiz. The syllabus quiz is worth 10 points or about 2% of your final grade.

LABS and QUIZZES: We will have 3 LABS for you to complete this semester.  The first two of these labs, including the SCIENCE LAB in UNIT 1 and the LEARNING LAB in UNIT 2 will be followed by a QUIZ that you will take for 10 points credit.  The third LAB should be considered your FINAL PROJECT and it looks at your PERSONALITY type, your motivations and passions in life, along with your style of stress management to determine some CAREER PATHS FOR YOU.  THE PERSONALITY AND CAREER LAB will be turned in to the ONLINE DROP BOX and will be graded for a total of 30 points. The three labs are worth a total of 50 points, about 12% of your total grade.

EXTRA CREDIT: Finally, you will have the following EXTRA CREDIT OPPORTUNITY:SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY COURSE PROJEcT = will be up to 30 possible points.   Total = 30 possible extra credit points! You are not required to participate in the extra credit opportunity! It's up to you.

THE TOTAL NUMBER OF POINTS FOR THIS CLASS INCLUDE:

3 Exams (Exams 1, 2 and 3)  100 points each with dropping the lowest score = Total: 200 points

1 Exam (Exam 4 REQUIRED)  = 100 points Total

3 In class Labs and Quizzes: (Science, Learning, (10 points each) Personality & Your Career (30 points) = 50 points Total

Syllabus Quiz = 10 points

Introduction and Discussion: 5 points for introduction and 60 points for four unit discussions, 15 points each = 65 points.

And a possibility of 30 Extra Credit points We will also have a possibility for you to earn 30 EXTRA CREDIT POINTS by participating in a COMMUNITY GOOD PROJECT

TOTAL 425 points possible in total (+ up to 30 extra credit points)

Attendance

STUDENT ATTENDANCE:

"90% of Success is SHOWING UP":  While it may be tempting to ONLY CHECK INTO YOUR ONLINE CLASSES ONCE A WEEK, know that the #1 factor linked with good grades and SUCCESS IN ONLINE LEARNING is FREQUENT class attendance (Yes...it's just the same as the #1 factor in ON CAMPUS COURSES...BEING INVOLVED AND ENGAGED HELPS YOU SUCCEED!). If you haven't taken an online class, be sure you use the STUDENT TOOLS and HELP WITH BLACKBOARD tutorials, and you can call the AC HELPDESK at 371-5000, as well as get help in the LIBRARY on WASHINGTON STREET in the TLTC on the 1st floor and with the staff on the 4th floor!  We want you to do great in your online class, so please LET US HELP YOU! If we don't know your difficulties, we cannot be of service!  Also, call me if you want some help!  The best way to get me is on my cellphone....see my contact hours below!   ~THANKS! DR. HARDING

Calendar

Additional Information

HOW TO VIEW COMMENTS AND RUBRICS FOR YOUR PAPER AND DISCUSSIONS:

  In order to see your instructor's comments on your work (such as your discussions and your paper), GO TO "MY GRADES" tab in the menu to the left of your BLACKBOARD CLASSROOM SCREEN.  Find the item you want to look at in the LIST (they are not necessarily in order...sorry!).  Click on that and you will see a place that says RUBRIC and COMMENTS.  Click on comments to see anything your instructor has said, and click on RUBRIC to view the rubric grading system and how your instructor graded you.  PLEASE...this instructor SPENDS A LOT OF TIME to give you CONSTRUCTIVE FEEDBACK...USE IT and make corrections accordingly! If you keep making the same error time and again, YOUR GRADES WILL CONTINUE TO GO DOWN!  I expect you to USE THE FEEDBACK I GIVE YOU TO BECOME A BETTER STUDENT and to IMPROVE IN YOUR SCHOOL WORK!

Note: Any work that is turned in to this instructor MUST BE STAPLED!  I do not accept unstapled pages nor do I accept work that is paper-clipped or corners folded over. IT MUST BE STAPLED TOGETHER (for example, your study guides must be stapled!).  DO NOT TURN IN WORK THAT IS UNSTAPLED.  I SUGGEST YOU INVEST IN A TINY TOT STAPLER IN ORDER TO MEET THIS REQUIREMENT!