TRI-COUNTY TECHNICAL COLLEGE

1. TRI-COUNTY TECHNICAL COLLEGE PSY 201 General Psychology Professor Jackie Kroening MA, BS Office: 864-646-1430 PSY Office: 864-646-1425 www.lifetour.com jkroenin@tctc.edu

2. COURSE COMPETENCIES • Demonstrate knowledge of current research methodology. • Demonstrate understanding of theories, terms, and concepts. • Evaluate the relative importance of biological, psychological and social factors in human behavior. • Compare and contrast theories, principles and concepts of Psychology

3. Theory - a proposed explanation whose status is still conjectural, in contrast to well-established propositions that are regarded as reporting matters of actual fact. • Psychological Theory - an explanation using an integrated set of principles that organizes observations and predicts behaviors or events. • Principle - A rule or law concerning the functioning of natural phenomena • Concept is a more definite, more unitary, more complete type of notion or idea than is a conception, which is more of an ideational structure with a potential for realization

4. COURSE COMPETENCIES • Explore and examine your own feelings, opinions, values, attitudes, and motivations. • Values – ideals that shape and give significance to our lives. They are reflected through the priorities that we choose, and the decisions we make and actions we take. • Critically evaluate and examine what is read and presented with thoughtful questioning. • Participate actively in class discussion, projects, computer simulations, and demonstrations.

5. COURSE COMPETENCIES • Interact effectively with other members of the class, expressing ideas clearly and treating others with respect. • Identify and use sources of psychological information other than the text. • Write well-organized, grammatically correct, and thoughtful papers.

6. COURSE COMPETENCIES • Evaluate the applicability of theories and research finding to other cultures. • Demonstrate an understanding of ethical issues involved in the study and practice of psychology. • Relate psychological concepts to other disciplines.

7. METHODS OF INSTRUCTION • Designed to make you THINK. • Pure memorization is not the intent. • It is expected that you will read and study the material before each class. • Attend every possible class. • Master much of the material on your own or ask about it in class.

8. COURSE REQUIREMENTS 3 tests (15% each) 45% 1 Final Exam 15% Reflective Journals 20% Group participation 10% Class participation 10% *100%

9. Evaluation Strategies and CriteriaTests (60% of grade) Tests must be taken with the class on the designated date. No make‑up tests will be allowed. If it is necessary for you to miss an exam, the final exam will count as two exams. (Bonus points will not be used) Notify the instructor before missing an exam. It may be possible for you to take it with another class. A. Tests Will Be Composed Of­ Objective multiple choice, true‑false, and/or matching questions designed to test your knowledge, understanding and application of the basic information, terms, concepts, theories, and research data. B. Grading of Tests In the grading of multiple choice and matching items, the student may disagree with the answer designated as correct, though an effort will be made to keep these questions clear and direct. To receive consideration for additional credit for his/her answer, the student must explain in writing his/her reasoning for the answer selected and/or his/her interpretation of the question and answers. These justifications must be written at the beginning of the class after the test is returned.

10. Course WebCT • On the course Blackboard (WebCT) you can do the following: • Check you assignment and exam grades 24/7. • Take example exams per chapter • Submit course journals • Access to course study materials • How to use Blackboard and login is located at: WWW.tctc.edu then click on Distance Learning & WebCT Login tab

11. Evaluation Strategies and CriteriaReflective Journals (Written Assignment) • You are required to keep a reflective journal throughout the semester with critical reflections and reactions to each chapter covered this semester, including discussion areas that may not be covered in the textbook (class lectures), by writing on what impact your learning has on your professional and/or personal life. • A journal is a collection of written reflections on the chapters from your textbook and lecture materials covered in class during the semester. The written reflections should be integrated with observations from related professional journal articles, media articles, combined with scholarly reflective analyses. All sources cited should be appropriately notated using the APA format.The journal must not be a regurgitation of text material.

12. Reflective Journals(Continued) • One journal entry is required for each chapter covered in this course over the semester and submitted every two chapters in one file. Eight (8) entries total are required, including the final journal to give an overview of psychology and reflective summary of the course . For example: Best lecture and why, worst lecture and why, improvements for the course. • Each journal entry should be double spaced with a double space between paragraphs. Journal entries should include no less than one typewritten pageon each chapter.   For any references cited in the journal, you should also include a reference listing at the end of the journal submission. • Journals (every two chapters) are to be submitted through the course Blackboard site. (http://tcwct6.tctc.edu assignment tab) before midnight of the due date specified in your class schedule. No late submissions will be accepted. Please note when you submit a journal, it is strongly recommended that you keep an ongoing copy of each entry on a USB Flash Drive.Make sure that each entry (one file for two chapters) has your name, the Chapter title/number and date of the reading. Attachments are to be in doc, txt, or rtf format.

13. Reflective Journals(Contuned) What should be in your journal? Try to answer the questions below: • What are your thoughts and feelings about the chapter topic before you start reading it? • As you look back on the chapter and the lecture, what were the most significant points for you to learn professionally or personally (give details)? • In what ways was this chapter and the lecture, different from other chapters? • Did you have any particularly meaningful learning or experience you can relate to during the reading and lecture? • Did I do any professional or personal reflections during the reading and lecture? What were your reactions to it?

14. Reflective Journals(Contuned) • How did you feel about the chapter and lectures as a whole? What were the emotional highs and lows? Why did you feel as you did? Is your inner self trying to tell you anything about these feelings? • Did you find yourself worrying about anything that was in the chapter or lecture? • Last, it is important to be honest when writing journals. 'Write how you really feel and not how you think you should feel. Record what you really think, not what you believe you ought to think' (Klug 2002: 56).

15. Evaluation Strategies and CriteriaClass and Group participation • The evaluation of your participation will be on a 0‑100 point scale based on the following criteria: 100 ‑ Volunteers for demonstrations, shares willingly with class, participates enthusiastically in structured experiences, stimulates class discussion, asks relevant questions. 80 ‑ participates enthusiastically in structured experiences, contributes to class discussion, asks relevant questions. 60 ‑ cooperates in structured experiences, occasionally contributes to class discussion, occasionally asks relevant questions. 40 ‑ reluctantly participates in structured experiences, does not contribute to class discussion, does not ask relevant questions. 0 ‑ uncooperative in structured experiences, distracts from class discussion and other learning activities.

16. Tri-County Technical College Grading Policy • A (100 – 90) - Excellent "A" is used in GPA calculations, earns credit hours, and carries a value of 4 grade points for each credit hour. • B (89 – 80) - Above Average "B" is used in GPA calculations, earns credit hours, and carries a value of 3 grade points for each credit hour. • C (79 – 70) – Average "C" is used in GPA calculations, earns credit hours, and carries a value of 2 grade points for each credit hour. • D (69 – 60) - Below Average "D" is used in GPA calculations, earns credit hours, and carries a value of I grade point for each credit hour. • F (59 – 0) – Failure "F" is used in GPA calculations, earns no credit hours, and carries 0 grade points for each credit hour attempted. (When the student retakes the course, the "F" is negated and the higher grade is used in GPA calculations.)

17. Tri-County Technical College Grading Policy • WF – Withdrawn – Failing “WF” is used in GPA calculations, earns no credit hours, and carries 0 grade points for each credit hour attempted. (When the student retakes the course, the “WF” is negated; and the higher grade is used in GPA calculations.) "WF" may be given from the first day after the tenth week through the last day of class before the final examination period if the student is failing. (The time period for awarding "WF" grades will be prorated for ten‑week summer session terms and for other terms of varying lengths.) • W – Withdrawn - "W" is not used in GPA calculations, earns no credit hours, and generates no grade points.

18. Attendance Policy • Any student who accumulates more absences during the semester than the class meets in a two‑week period is subject to being withdrawn from the class.The number of allowable absences during the summer term or other terms of varying length will be 10% of the total number of class meetings.

19. Attendance Policy • Entering a class late is rude to your instructor and to your classmates. If it is unavoidable, apologize and explain to your instructor after class. • Three tardies will count as one absence, unless the instructor decides to drop the student for habitual lateness.

20. Attendance Policy • A student who arrives late may, at the discretion of the instructor, be marked absent for that class. • A student who arrives late to class three times will be marked absent for one class. For each three late arrivals, another absence will be marked. • A student who continually arrives late to class is subject to being withdrawn from the class. • In extenuating circumstances, a student may request re-admittance to class by meeting with the instructor and explaining the circumstances of the absences. If the instructor agrees to readmit the student, the student will be informed of the requirements which must be met to successfully complete the course

21. Policy On Academic Dishonesty • 1. Academic dishonesty as used here includes using another's work without giving credit to the source and cheating. • 2. Charges of academic dishonesty must be substantiated by evidence. • 3. The instructor has the option of dealing with a first offense in one of two ways: a. giving an "F" or a "0" for that particular assignment. b. demanding that the student redo the assignment. • 4. With second offenses, the instructor may assign a grade of "F" for the course. • 5. The student may appeal the decision to the Faculty‑Student Behavior Committee.