See Canvas for All Due Dates When School Begins
Ways to Succeed in this Class:
One of the problems that can be inherent to on-line classes is getting behind on the material since face-to-face contact in a classroom is not present. To do well in this class, procrastination needs to be avoided. Therefore, each week, you should:
1) Read the weekly lecture summary tied to the appropriate power-point
2) Go over the appropriate power point for the week
3) Take the review quiz at the end of the week for nine points
4) Participate in the discussion(s) and comment on fellow students’ thoughts for that week (2 pts each)
5) Look at the appropriate study guide and make sure you understand the material and can answer the questions for the current week
6) Review the Objectives for that week making sure that you understand them
7) Read the corresponding textbook chapter as necessary
8) (Optional) You may look at old lecture tapings under Media Gallery (1) if extra help is needed; please note that information may be out of order, dated (Covid protocols, incorrect due dates) or not relevant
(1) When viewing video lectures in Media Gallery, please Sort By: Creation Day – Ascending (instead of the default of Descending to be in the correct order)
Please note that you can always work ahead in this class and take quizzes, tests and complete assignments earlier than scheduled (e.g. you could take this class in the first 7 weeks if you desired, however, you cannot take it in the last 7 weeks)
Discussions: Every week one to three discussion topics (a total of 20 topics) will be included with the material (A total of 40 points will be offered). The discussion topics are there to help you engage with the material as well as with each other. Please do at least one entry for each topic (1 point). In addition, comment on at least one other student’s discussion submission (1 point). Discussions close at the end of the week (usually on Saturday) and no points can be given afterwards. You cannot participate in discussions for past weeks. I may give extra credit for engaging others in productive discussions or especially detailed answers. You can do discussions ahead of time.
Weekly Quizzes: This course will have 13 weekly quizzes that will be worth 9 pts each for a total of 117 points. The quizzes will consist of three multiple-choice questions from the current week’s material. You can take the quiz on any day during the current week’s material or future material. However, quizzes taken after the due date will not count. Each question will be worth 3 points. The quizzes are open book and open notes with no time limit. All questions are presented at one time. They are there to help you prepare for the exams in a timely fashion. However, you can only take them once.
Examinations: This course will consist of three examinations (including the Final examination). The tests will all be of the same format and will come from supplemental material, video clips, power points and material covered in the text. A study guide is available on Canvas to help focus your study in preparation for the exam (but it does not cover all questions). An exam will consist of 50 multiple-choice questions (100 points). As you can see from the schedule, the final examination will not be comprehensive (on purpose anyway, sometimes material tends to build on itself). The three exams will be found online under Quizzes. No notes, power points, supplementary material, computer activity, video clips, books or outside help is allowed. You will have 44 minutes to take each exam. You cannot exit the exam once you begin and there is only one attempt. EXAMS CANNOT BE MADE UP after the due date, but they can be taken early.
Reflection Papers: An important aspect of any psychological concept or principle is how it relates to your own life. You will have the opportunity to do two double-spaced (maximum font 12pt) two-page reflection papers. The first paper is due and the second paper is due Specifically, take a particular idea, concept, or principle that you recently learned from cognitive psychology and explain the applicability of it to your own life. Give at least three specific examples from your life. Each paper will be worth 15 points for a total of 30 points. I will be grading on depth of thought, critical thinking, three specific examples and originality. It does not hurt to ask me beforehand if an idea or principle would be appropriate.
Intercultural Knowledge and Competence Assignment (Perspective Taking): A rough draft will be due on (10 points) and the final draft will be due worth 100 pts (110 points total). I will provide some general feedback on the rough draft to help improve the final product. Submit the presentation using Canvas. I want a four-page paper (the fourth page is devoted only to references). Submit the document using Canvas. It would be wise to give me your subject before you start so I can help guide you as to whether it is appropriate or not. If you are using an Apple product, please use save as to save as a .doc, .docx, or .pdf. My computer cannot read .pages files. Make sure to have a minimum of six sources and the final product should be in APA style.
Basically, (1) choose a controversial current event (2) react and give personal perspective on that event (3) state or research the perceived perspective of another ethnicity, gender, and/or political persuasion and then (4) give a reconciliation of the two perspectives.
Please integrate cognitive psychological aspects such as implicit biases, availability heuristics, or representative heuristics into your paper (see Chapter 12 for good definitions and examples). This assignment can be done with one or two fellow students if desired. I will offer extra credit if you utilize this option. In collaborating with others, it helps to have different points of view represented (although an alternative point of view can be researched).
For a collaboration, each student should choose a part. If two students are involved, one student should do the initial opinion, the second student should do the alternative perspective, and both students should contribute to the reconciliation. If three students are involved, one student should do the initial opinion, the second student should do the alternative perspective, and the third student should reconcile the previous two perspectives. All members of the group should submit the same assignment with all student names on the first page. However, please designate which part of the assignment you contributed to and a rating of effort made by fellow contributors (excellent, good, average, below average, absent) in the comments section when submitting.
I will grade the paper as follows:
Two Perspectives Effectively Articulated: (10 pts) Fluent students give two valid perspectives on the controversial current event.
Cultural Self-Awareness: (10 pts) Fluent students will articulate insights into own cultural rules and biases.
Understanding of Cognitive Principles (40 pts) Fluent students will demonstrate how cognitive principles (such as the representative heuristic, availability heuristic, confirmation bias, implicit bias, explicit bias etc.) make up their own and others thinking.
Reconciliation Section (20 pts) Fluent students will articulate a complex understanding of cultural differences and will be able to skillfully negotiate a shared psychological understanding based on those differences.
Empathy (5 pts) Fluent students will interpret intercultural experiences from the perspectives and more than one worldview and demonstrate the ability to act in a supportive manner that recognizes the feelings of another cultural group.
Openness (5 pts) Fluent students will suspend judgements in evaluating her/his interactions with culturally different perspectives.
Organization/Grammar/Spelling (10 pts) Fluent students organize the paper well, have proper grammar and spelling.
Extra Credit (1-3 pts) Students do the paper as a member of a group.
Presentation: Please prepare one presentation (this is a separate assignment from the perspective paper) using power point (.ppt or .pptx) or other presentation software on a relevant topic in cognitive psychology (100 pts). One of the most effective ways to learn something is to prepare a meaningful presentation. The presentation will be on an individual basis. Choose a topic that is relevant to cognitive psychology. Be very specific about your subject. For example, retrograde amnesia, prosopagnosia, or representative heuristics are possible subjects. Please be creative, do not hesitate to use personal experience as well. The minimum number of slides should be 20. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask me beforehand. Please turn the presentation on or before Submit the presentation using Canvas. Please make your last slide a works cited, references or bibliography slide detailing where your information is coming from (not as concerned about images). Please format your references in APA style. If you are using an Apple product, please use save as to save as a .ppt, .pptx, or .pdf. My computer cannot read .key files.
I will grade the presentation as follows:
Organization (20 pts) Exhibits a structure that is clear and consistently observable, skillfully encoded and uses proper conventions. Grammar and spelling are accurate.
Research (psychological studies - 30 pts) Results of studies and/or case studies show thorough understanding of cognitive psychological content.
Supported statements (10 pts) Demonstrates proper and skillful use of a variety of high-quality sources.
Good use of illustrations, pictures, and/or video clips (20 pts) The product is clear, effective and compelling, with no distracting errors.
Creativity (20 pts) Clearly expresses a unique idea and/or perspective. Personal experience is present.
Grading: The performance standards that I will use.
A = 94-100%
A- = 90-93%
B+= 87-89%
B = 83-86%
B- = 80-82%
C+= 77-79%
C = 73-76%
C- = 70-72%
D+= 67-69%
D = 63-66%
D- = 60-62%
F = below 60%
Note: A UW will be given if two or more tests are missing, a presentation and cultural perspective paper is missing, or one exam in combination with the presentation project and/or cultural perspective paper is missing.
Point Totals:
Commenced Attendance 3 points
Reflection Papers 30 points
First Exam 100 points
Second Exam: 100 points
Cultural Perspective Paper 110 points
Presentation 100 points
Final Exam: 100 points
Quizzes (every week – due Saturday) 117 points
Discussion participation (every week – due Sat) 40 points
Total points possible 700 points
Notice: I will strive to grade all work in a timely manner (three weeks maximum).
Artificial Intelligence: AI can be a useful tool. It is especially useful for generating ideas on a topic or citing specific information. However, I do not want you to use AI to generate content solely for the purpose of completing assignments without any effort put forth on your part. AI does have weaknesses such as making up references, being inaccurate, wording content at graduate college Ivy-League level etc. AI is especially bad at trying to relate personal experiences such as asked for in reflection papers. The Southern Utah University Psychology Department values our students irrespective of race, age, gender, sexual orientation, culture, religion, nationality, capabilities, or disabilities. Our faculty and staff are committed to the intellectual, physical, and emotional health of all members of the campus community. Should anyone experience problems or issues with depression, anxiety, grief, discrimination, alienation or marginalization, helplessness or hopelessness, or thoughts of suicide, we implore you to seek us out. Our commitment is to listen, and help you find the resources you need.
https://www.suu.edu/caps/pdf/crisis-resources.pdf
SUU Land Acknowledgement: SUU wishes to acknowledge and honor the Indigenous communities of this region as original possessors, stewards, and inhabitants of this Too’veep (land), and recognize that the University is situated on the traditional homelands of the Nung’wu (Southern Paiute People). We recognize that these lands have deeply rooted spiritual, cultural, and historical significance to the Southern Paiutes. We offer gratitude for the land itself, for the collaborative and resilient nature of the Southern Paiute people, and for the continuous opportunity to study, learn, work, and build community on their homelands here today. Consistent with the University's ongoing commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion, SUU works towards building meaningful relationships with Native Nations and Indigenous communities through academic pursuits, partnerships, historical recognitions, community service, and student success efforts.