Katherine Dowdell, M.S.

 

Chair, Psychology Dept. West Campus

Des Moines Area Community College

5959 Grand Avenue

West Des Moines, IA 50266

515-633-2421

Email:  kdowdell@dmacc.edu

 

Office: West Campus Room 217 E

 

Office Hours:  : 

  • Mon/Wed 9:30-10am
  • Tues 8:30-9:30am
  • Thurs 11:15am-12:45pm
  • Friday 9:40-10:40am; 12:30-1:00pm

 

 

HOME

 

 

Introduction to Psychology: Spring 2008

 

Section WE (CRN 23350)     TR 9:40am-11:05am              West Campus Room 219E

 

Syllabus PSY-111Spring 2008

 

Final Grades:  As of April 30, 2008. Use the last four digits of your DMACC ID number to check your course progress.  Please notify me immediately of any errors or omissions.

 

Wiley Plus:  This course requires Wiley Plus access!  There are two ways to obtain access to Wiley Plus:

1.       Purchase a new textbook from the campus bookstore and save the card with the access code to register online using the URL for your class section. 

2.       If you did not purchase a textbook, you may purchase an access code online directly from Wiley, NOT the campus bookstore!  Go to www.wiley.com/college/buywileyplus

 

            Read the following for instructions on WP:  “Welcome to Wiley Plus” handout

 

 Please use the following URL to access Wiley Plus:

Section WE (9:40am): http://edugen.wiley.com/edugen/class/cls49566/

 

If you have any difficulty in Wiley Plus, please use the “Live Chat” function available through www.wileyplus.com technical support.

 

The WileyPlus website will be used to:

  • complete chapter quizzes and view quiz scores in your grade book
  • print lecture notes and chapter assignments
  • use practice and review resources including animations, simulations, tutorials and self-assessments with immediate feedback
  • access your entire textbook online

 

Class Schedule:

 

Tuesday

 

Thursday

 

Quiz to be completed by Sunday 11pm

 

 

 

 

 

 

1/8

Introduction

1/10

Chapter 1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1/15

Chapter 1

1/17

Chapter 2

 

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

1/22

Chapter 2

1/24

Chapter 3; Critical Thinking Ch 3 due

 

2 and 3

 

 

 

 

 

 

1/29

Chapter 4

1/31

Chapter 4

 

4

 

 

 

 

 

 

2/5

EXAM 1

2/7

No Class

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2/12

Chapter 5; Critical Thinking Ch 5 due

2/14

Chapter 6

 

5

 

 

 

 

 

 

2/19

Chapter 6

2/21

Chapter 7; Critical Thinking Ch 7 due

 

6

 

 

 

 

 

 

2/26

Chapter 7

2/28

Chapter 8

 

7

 

 

 

 

 

 

3/4

Chapter 8

3/6

EXAM 2

 

8

 

 

 

 

 

 

3/11

Chapter 9

3/13

Chapter 9/10; Critical Thinking Ch 9/10 due

 

9

 

 

 

 

 

 

3/18

Spring Break

3/20

Spring Break

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3/25

Chapter 10

3/27

Chapter 11; Critical Thinking Ch 11 due

 

10

 

 

 

 

 

 

4/1

Chapter 11 and 12

4/3

Chapter 12; Critical Thinking Ch 12 due

*due date for this paper changed to Tuesday, April 8

 

11 & 12

 

 

 

 

 

 

4/8

EXAM 3

4/10

Chapter 13

 

13

 

 

 

 

 

 

4/15

Chapter 14; Critical Thinking Ch 14 due

4/17

Chapter 15

 

14 and 15

 

 

 

 

 

 

4/22

Chapter 16

4/24

Chapter 16

 

16

 

 

 

 

 

 

4/29

EXAM 4 @ 9 am

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lecture Notes are available in PDF on the WileyPlus web site or in Power Point here.  If you print from the ppts below, be sure to choose “handouts” from the “Print what?” drop-down menu (otherwise you will end up with one slide per page!).

 

Chapter 1: Introduction and Research Methods

Chapter 2: Neuroscience and Biological Foundations

Chapter 3: Stress and Health Psychology

Chapter 4: Sensation and Perception

Chapter 5: Consciousness

Chapter 6: Learning

Chapter 7: Memory

Chapter 8: Thinking, Language and Intelligence

Chapter 9: Lifespan Development I

Chapter 10: Lifespan Development II

Chapter 11: Gender and Human Sexuality

Chapter 12: Motivation and Emotion

Chapter 13: Personality

Chapter 14: Psychological Disorders

Chapter 15: Psychotherapy

Chapter 16: Social Psychology

 


 

Course Evaluation:

            Your grade will be based on points earned in the following ways:  critical thinking assignments,

active learning exercises, quizzes and exams.

 

Critical Thinking Assignments:

            There will be a 10 point assignment for 7 of the chapters (see class schedule).  Assignments will be due in class at the beginning of the assigned period and may be discussed in small groups. 

 

             Late papers (in person or email) will be accepted for up to half credit IF submitted within 1 week of the original due date. 

 

            There are many different components to critical thinking.  For guidance, read the section on Critical Thinking in the prologue of the text (pages xxx-xxxiv).

 

Your assignments should

·        be typed, single-spaced, one-page in length

·         include a heading with your name, the chapter number and due date.

·        Thoughtful, thorough answers to the question(s) posed.

 

EXAMPLE of Critical Thinking Assignment:  Click here for an example of a paper that earned full credit.

 

Active Learning Exercises:

            There will be a 2.5 point active learning exercise per chapter designed to illustrate and apply important concepts.  You must be present and participate in class in order to earn these points. No make-up opportunities are available for ALEs.

 

Quizzes:

There will be 16 chapter quizzes with 10 multiple choice questions each.  Quizzes will be completed online in WileyPlus.  Quizzes are worth up to 5 points each (˝ point per question). Please note:  your quiz scores will appear out of a total possible of 10 in the WileyPlus grade book.  To get your actual score, take the number you got correct in WileyPlus and divide it by 2.

 

There are no make-up opportunities for online quizzes. You can prevent “computer problems” from interfering with meeting deadlines by 1) submitting your quizzes well before the Sunday night deadline; and 2) making sure the computer you chose to use is technically capable of performing what is required.  It is your responsibility to meet the deadlines.

 

WileyPlus Instructions:  Go to your WileyPlus course section URL and log in.  Find the quiz for the current chapter under the “Assignments” tab.

 


Exams:

There will be 4 unit exams that will be taken in class.  Exams will be worth up to 50 points and consist of multiple choice and short answer essay questions. 

 

Opportunities to make up unit exams will be granted only if you call me before class time and documentation (i.e. doctor’s note, subpoena).  Make-up exams must be completed within 1 week. Exceptions to the make-up policies will be made at the discretion of the instructor and will require documentation.  Undocumented absences will result in a loss of half the points earned on a make-up exam.

 

Extra Credit: 

You may earn up to 15 points of extra credit.  There is an extra credit quiz worth up to 5 points on Wiley Plus.  You may also complete Critical Thinking 1 or Critical Thinking 2 for up to 10 points.