Psychology
(A and R)
Mr.
Owings 2006-2007
Welcome to the study of psychology! I promise you it will be a year of learning full of hard work, discovery and fun! Even though this is probably your first formal psychology class, you have been studying human behavior your entire life.
On Mr. Owings:
Biography: This will be my 9th year teaching
psychology at West. I graduated from the
Philosophy: It is my belief that I have the best teaching assignment in any school. I believe that all students want to learn the theories of psychology to improve on solid work ethics, get a better understanding family dynamics, to gain insight to individual behavior of theirs or others; and, to enhance personal relationships. Students do best when they are interested in learning for themselves and for no other reason than to satisfy their curiosity. To do this a student can participate in their education through classroom discussions and activities, and a dedication in managing their own learning. I will do all I can to facilitate your learning and I am always available for additional help.
(A) Psychology -What makes this subject different is its approach to the study of human behavior; and, its unique look at people in the “present tense”. You will discuss and discover what makes psychology relevant to today’s human issues and applications for such knowledge.
(R) Psychology
and Sociology will allow students to be introduced to the primary social
sciences in today’s world. This basic understanding
will answer and create questions of human behavior in groups as well as
individually.
I. Goals for the Course
It is my aim to emphasize development of critical thinking skills and to prepare you to be a cautious and analytical consumer and citizen of information that is proclaimed to be scientific or to be based on research and natural observation. Additionally to achieve the following:
A. To present the content of a traditional psychology course in a different way
B. To encourage creative thinking and creative solutions
C.
To challenge each student to ask questions and to think
independently
D. D To help you understand yourself and the people around you better
E. To understand the methodological aspects of the discipline of psychology as well as the bio-psychological, cognitive, developmental, and socio-cultural processes of behavior.
F. To improve in the ability to reason scientifically about behavior.
G. To improve in the ability to interact effectively with others.
H. To reflect the values of the discipline of psychology.
http://www.apa.org/ed/hscontents.html
II.
Course Requirements
A. Tests.
Each unit is comprised of approximately four chapters, for each chapter there will be a test. My tests have a mixed format. Each test may contain multiple choice, matching, completion, and/or essay items. Tests will be announced at least one week prior to their occurrence. Most of the test will be in the IF-AT Scantron format.
The IF-AT is a new
type of multiple-choice procedure that provides immediate informational
feedback to students for each question and permits the
allocation of partial credit when used in classroom assessment exercises.
The IF-AT is based on solid psychological principles:
·
Immediate
feedback is beneficial for learning
· The best test and/or study guide also teaches
· The last response is the one learned
The IF-AT uses a multiple-choice answer sheet with a thin opaque film
covering the answer options. Instead of using a pencil to fill in a circle,
students
scratch off their answers as if they were scratching a lottery ticket. The
student scratches off the coating of the rectangle corresponding with the
first-choice answer. If the answer is correct, a star or other symbol appears
somewhere within the rectangle.
The
student’s learning is immediately re-enforced, and the student receives full credit
for the answer. If incorrect, the student must re-read the question and
remaining answer options and scratch off a second or even third choice until
the correct answer is identified. Students will earn partial credit
for multiple attempts and learn the correct response for each question while
taking the test.
B. Quizzes.
Announced and unannounced quizzes will be given throughout the course.
C. Projects.
Include oral presentations, debates, group projects,
research papers, and experiments. Research
projects will be completed and presented to the class during the last two weeks
of each quarter. Individuals may team
up, however, the larger the team the “mightier” the work must be. (Blowing my
socks off or singeing my mustache will be a must.) These will be assigned a point value based on the amount of work involved
of the project. Criterion for these will
be content, creativity, organization, clarity, and neatness. ALL projects and handouts for other students
must be TYPED! Anything you turn in to me as part of your presentation,
must be typed! Projects may be done in
groups (2-3 people).
D. Class-work.
Various class-work assignments will be given which may include personal opinion papers, unit vocabulary, problem solving, scenario responses, and group work.
E. Homework and Activities.
Various assignments will be given which may include personal opinion papers, critical thinking, unit vocabulary, problem solving, scenario responses, and group work.
F.
Journals.
Each student will be required to keep a personal journal. Writing topics will be assigned. Time will be set aside each week for journal entries.
G. Class Participation.
Class participation is one very important component of the course grade. Your role as a student in our classroom is to be an active, involved, and contributing force. This is your opportunity to make up for any poor performance on any given test. Please note that disruptive behavior will not be tolerated and will have a negative impact on your grade.
H. Classroom
rules:
To accomplish
these goals I will demand that everyone:
1. Adhere
to the conduct guidelines dictated by the school and district outlined in the
Student Handbook. (especially those relating to electronics, dress and
character)
2. Be
on time.
3. Be
prepared. To be prepared you must have a
pen or a pencil and a notebook (preferably a three ring binder with paper and a
folder). In addition, if there is a
start-up activity, you must begin working on it immediately.
4. Uphold
academic integrity. Any form of
cheating, especially plagiarism, will not be tolerated. Which result in a 0% on
the assignment.
5. Be
positive toward you and others.
6. Be
a problem-solver. Don’t ask “why?”; but, “Why
not?” Don’t say “I can’t.” Instead
consider always “how can I” best solve this problem.
7. Be
on PARR:
Positive
Attentive
Respectful
Responsible
If you choose to break a rule:
First
Time: Warning
Second
Time: One-On-One (after class or quickly after school)
Multiple times may result in one or more of
the following:
-
After-school detention (
-
One-on-One after school and call home
- White card
Rewards
Praise (personal and collective;
daily)
Other various perks will be your
own self-satisfaction for proud accomplishments
I.My expectations for you:
1. Keep
up with your assignments. These will
include various reading and writing assignments as well as outside
investigation.
2. Participate
in class discussions and activities.
3. Think
critically. I want you to understand
why, not just who, what, where, and when.
4. Work
to the utmost of your ability.
5. Ask
for help when needed. Always feel free
to talk to me after class, and we'll set up a time to meet before or after
school.
J. Grading Policy:
Quarterly grades
will be earned based on a total point system.
At any time in the marking period you will be able to determine what
your current grade is by dividing the total number of points you have earned by
the total available. You will have the
opportunity to earn points through a variety of assessments including:
Quizzes
Tests
Papers
Projects
In-class
activities (e.g. debates, simulations)
Homework
Class
Preparation and Participation
Provided the student has demonstrated
effort deemed reasonable by the teacher, students will be given the opportunity
for reassessment.
K. Portfolio
Each student will maintain a
portfolio containing all returned assignments and written assessments. This will include a balance sheet which will
be a quick reference for all grades not in the portfolio. This will be kept on
file in the classroom and returned to students at the end of the year.
L.Lateness Policy:
To receive full credit for an assignment,
it must be completed and handed in on time:
•All late homework assignments
will be worth a maximum of a 75%.
•Papers and projects will receive
a 10% deduction for every day late.
After the fourth day late, all late papers and projects will receive an
automatic 50% deduction.
•Late work will not be accepted
after its corresponding interim period.
•You will receive one
"grace" lateness each marking period which allows you to hand in a
homework assignment or a major paper or project one day late without penalty.
M.Parent-Teacher Communication
Parents/Guardians,
please sign below to indicate that you have read over this form. If you have any questions about my policies
or the progress of your son or daughter, feel free to contact me via email or
voicemail. So that I may contact you, please include your email address
below. Thank you for your time and
interest.
Student's PrintName ______________________________
Student's Signature ______________________________
Parent/Guardian Name______________________________
Parent/Guardian Signature ______________________________
Student's Email______________________________
Parent/Guardian Email ______________________________