Behavior required for this course:

The skills in Yellow are the ones that cause the most trouble with students.

1. You will need a computer (or about 1 hour a day to spend in a facility with a computer)

2. You need to know how to use a computer and be able to perform the following skills:

• HELP DESK WEB SITE (http://www.cuyamaca.edu/helpdesk/)

• If you have a MAC, use Firefox (http://www.mozilla.org/)

• Connect to the internet with a reliable connection (do not take exams on dialup!!!)

• Send and read e-mail. (Make sure you change your e-mail in blackboard to something that you will check every day, it is how I will be contacting you!)

• Navigate Blackboard educational systems.

• Know what each section of the course is (learning units, course documents etc...)

• Adapt your computer to work with the online course format. I cannot help your computer. Mac People, make sure your computer is configured correctly.

• I use a Linux based operating system and can make almost anything work...

• Know how to deal with the following file types from the web.

  •  Video clips from famous neuroscientists.

  •  TV commercials form You Tube.

  •  PDF documents that will bore you to tears.

  •  MP3's of radio programs. These are often very good, and ask for transcripts if you need them.

  •  SWF (flash) files of classroom behavior.

  •  Streaming video from the web. 

  • Compressed Files (zip files)

• Contribute to discussion board and read other posts. Make sure you are not just saying what has been said before.  Use what you know to help others understand what is happening!

• Navigate the web using search engines.

• Know the difference between using sources and plagiarism.

• Figure out how to turn in a document in "Safeassign"  which is a document checker that finds sources for your writing.

• Convert word documents into rich text formats. (.rtf)

• Know how to site your sources, all of your sources including the text!!

• Know that Wikipedia is not a legitimate source of solid information (you can edit it).

• Know when to contact the instructor with content and grading problems.  

• Know when to contact the help desk at 660-4395 for computer, Blackboard or network issues.

3. You will need to me self motivated - I will not be telling to work, you do not work, you do not pass.

A lot of this class is about demonstrating that you have been exposed to the material, and that you have internalized.   The only way to prove that you have learned is performance based assessments.   Take your time.

1. You will have to read the book on your own. (it has 85% of all the answers in it!)

2. You will have to do the work without direct supervision.

3. You will have to resist the temptation to put things off until the last possible minute.

Computers always crash when you need them most.  I am strict with deadlines... get things done before they are due.

1. You will have to finish the first unit before you can start the second. 

2. Your computer must be able to handle the course, or you will have to go to computer than can finish each assignment.

3. Do not take the course with a partner / significant other / boyfriend  / girlfriend / parent / child / spouse / sibling or conjoined twin on the same computer... you are just asking for conflict!!  There is nothing worse that getting through an online course to find out a bad breakup "lost" all of your work.

4. (Dell outlet has great prices on refurbished computers (I am working on a $400 laptop from that site)).

5. One student was able to most of the course work from her I phone.

6. Your will need to set up your e-mail the first day. Select one that you check often.. I will be sending group e-mails out with updates and help.

7. Here are some short clips to help you get started... The videos only seem to work in Explorer... I am not sure why...

• Basic introduction to login.

• How to use the Grade Book (video)

• How to take an online test (video)

• How to post a discussion (video)

• How to get feedback on your assignments (video)

• How to get caught plagiarizing (video)

Assignments and Assessments and Grades

• I have divided the course into "Learning Units"  They are found in the "Learning Units" link in the ugly green box to the left on the main page.   

The Learning Units are broken down into major themes.

• Learning Unit 1: The nature of the mind.  

• Learning Unit 2: The science of psychology.

• Learning Unit 3: Who we are is who we are with.

• Learning Unit 4:  The development of the self.

• Final Learning Unit: Application time

• The learning Units are not the same as the units in the textbook!! Pay attention to this document!

• In each learning unit, you will be required to complete the necessary assignments listed. 

• Each written assignment (short answers, discussion posts and essays) will be assessed with a points value listed on the syllabus.  I will be grading based on a simple rubric

  • Full credit = the information is correct with a source listed

  • 2/3 credit = the information is correct without source listed

  • 1/3 credit = the information is correct at a common sense level (nice answer but not demonstrating course content)

  • No credit = you did not get the question correct.

• Discussion Posts will be graded based on your usage of the course content to discuss the material.  Prove you have taken this course with your answers. 

• If you copy and paste anything from the web into your document, you must make sure that it is sited and identified (with color maybe).  Make sure you let the reader know where the work originated.

• Each unit may have slightly different points values for each task based on the number of tasks per unit.  

• Once you have finished the unit, you can still see the material, but once you have turned it in, you cannot edit it for a better grade. 

• Use the Grade Book link to see your progress after each assignment.

  • Your grade is based on the percentage to total points (the entry quiz is a free 10 points)

  • 90% of the points (900) you will receive an A

  • 80 % of the points (800) you will receive a B

  • 70% of the points (700) you will receive a C

  • 60% of the points (600) you will receive a D

  • Below 60% you will receive a failing grade for the semester

• Make sure you are finished with your assignments when you turn them in.

• I will be grading assignments almost every day. Some days might be early morning other times later at night.

• I go to bed at 10:00 pm so any work submitted after 9:00 pm will not be checked until the next morning.  PLEASE NOTE THIS IF YOU ARE PROCRASTINATING!!!  If you e-mail me that late, I will not respond.

• If assignments are turned in prior to deadlines and done well, then you will get full credit. 

• I will not be on the computer 24 hours a day.  I will be biking, fishing, and putting sunscreen on small children. I will be online every day, but might not respond to questions right away. I will do my best, but if I am outside wifi range, I will answer as soon as I get back.

• There are many activities in the course that are not required and do not add to your grade. 

  • You will not get any points for completing anything beyond the Learning Unit assignments.

  • Extra actives will increase you understanding of the material, and help determine if you are ready for assessments.

  • There will be some actives for extra credit that show up during the class... check you e-mail!

• In the Chat area of the communication link, feel free to ask questions to whoever is online. Beware of bad answers! I am not grading these, and will be experimenting with twitter during the course.

PLEASE NOTE:  You must complete the Units in the sequence provided.  When a new learning unit  becomes available, you still must finish the previous unit before the deadlines!!!!   If you are going to be gone (away from your computer) for any length of time, make sure you plan ahead and have enough time to complete the unit before it is removed from the server. If you get behind.. making up time becomes very difficult.

You can work at your own pace, but the work must be completed by the dates on the syllabus!  Once the learning unit ends.. there is no going back to make up points.  Stay Diligent!

Summer Session Dates:

Here is a list of things to do for points in the course.

There will be opportunities other points during the Class, but you have to check your e-mail often to make sure you are available to take those assessments.

Grades and Learning Outcomes:

I feel that the online students should be expected to be held to the same standards as my campus based classes.

At the end of the semester, you should be able to:

•  Compare and contrast the philosophy of different schools of psychology and their interpretation of behavior. 

•  Apply scientific methods to the exploration of human behavior. 

•  Describe basic the functions of the central nervous systems and their relationship to behavior. 

•  Explain and contrast various psychological phenomena related to sensation and perception

•  Classify states of consciousness, including sleep, hypnosis and drug effects. 

•  Produce examples and strategies that improve the function of memory.  

•  Label and describe operant conditioning, observational learning, and classical conditioning leading to behavioral change. 

•  Discuss limitations and contrast the different theories of intelligence. 

•  Compare and contrast theories of emotions and an individuals behavior and reaction to stress 

•  Explore and define characteristics of the developmental stages from birth to adult behaviors.  

•  Discuss and elaborate on the theories of the development and the consistency of personality. 

•  Classify different mental disorders and identify possible treatments in reference to the DSM.

•  Produce explanations and predictions of social behavior using various psychological theories.

Behavior not allowed during class...

Here are some things that can develop during an online class, which could warrant a 0 on the assignment, or even removal from the course or expulsion from the college (pending academic review).

• Someone else taking the class for you... buy your education elsewhere!

• Plagiarizing from any source (including other students).

• Copying and Pasting anything from the web into your document that is not sited. 

• Trying to coerce your instructor into giving you a higher grade with personal threats.

• Use racial slurs, derogatory language, profanity, or abusive language on posts or assignments.

• General harassment, or singling out of any one individual in the course as a focus of your attention (please do not use this course to try and "pick up ___(fill in sexual preference)"

• Having two exams turned in from the same computer (IP Address) 5 minutes apart from each other with the same answers. 

• Not doing any work, and then contacting the instructor AFTER the deadline saying your computer was not functional.

• Posting of your personal businesses opportunities, overseas family who need an American bank account to transfer money into, chain letters, or any other web junk that interferes with the course content.

• NO TEXT SPEECH!  pls dnt wrk L8. LOL OMG Use real words... and college level language :)

• Please do not attempt to convert any member of the class to your religious affiliation.  Let them contact you if they are interested.

• Do not post naked photos, or links to offensive material,  of yourself (or others) in the discussion board or other areas of course content.

Cuyamaca College
900 Rancho San Diego Parkway El Cajon, California 92019 619-660-4000

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