Honors Psychology: An Online Course Mountain Lakes High School

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1 Honors Psychology: An Online Course Mountain Lakes High School Honors Psychology is an advanced, online elective course structured to offer high school students an introduction to the basic tenets of modern day psychology. The prerequisite for this course is submission and acceptance of a completed application and contract for Honors Psychology. The AP exam may be attempted by those students given recommendation by the course instructor. Required skills include but are not limited to: advanced knowledge and prior usage of online resources for course content, familiarity with Google Education ( , drive, docs, etc.) and the ability to self-motivate in completing online quizzes, projects and other assignments in a timely fashion. Instruction will be solely online, necessitating a thorough understanding of and access to the internet and the ability to view, access and learn from various media sources. Students will be introduced to the field of psychology as the study of human development, behavior and cognition via online resources and assignments. The main focus of this course will be the research and theories associated with each of the major subfields within psychology. Students will develop an understanding of core concepts and theories in psychology, learn the basic building blocks of psychological research and experimental design, understand the ethical standards governing the work of psychologists, and apply psychological concepts to their own lives. Throughout this course, students will be able to express their understanding of the following course objectives: 1. Outline the progress of the field of psychology from inception through the present time. 2. Delineate the methods used in psychological research. 3. Explain the biological bases of human behavior. 4. Describe the difference between sensation and perception. 5. Expand upon the states of consciousness and the role of the brain. 6. Develop understanding of learned behavior and cognition. 7. Express knowledge of the factors that motivate behavior and influence emotion. 8. List the progress and theory of human development from the prenatal stage through adulthood. 9. Explore the major theories of personality. 10. Describe the methods used to assess intelligence and their reliability and validity. 11. Research abnormal behavior and personality disorders and the various treatment options available. 12. Analyze how individuals relate to each other in social settings. Students will engage in a variety of learning experiences to study the above content at a rapid online pace. It is expected that students will access online lectures, complete textbook readings as well as the reading of supplemental sources and engage in online class discussion. Students will be evaluated based on successful completion of assignments, module quizzes, comprehensive projects and participation. Teacher Resources: Current psychology research and application: st century skills Text Reference: Myers, David G. (2014) Myers Psychology for AP, Second Edition, Worth Publishers: New York, NY Written 2014

2 Module I: Psychology Basics Essential Questions: 1. What is the history of psychology? 2. What are psychology's enduring issues? 3. How do the main components of the scientific method relate to critical thinking? 4. What are positive, negative and illusory correlations? 5. What are the 3 measures of central tendency and reliability? 1. Describe the purpose of psychology, how psychology developed over time and identify psychology s main subfields. 2. Explain the nature/nurture debate and how psychologists use the scientific method, case studies, naturalistic observation and surveys. 3. Demonstrate understanding of how the 3 main components of the scientific attitude relate to critical thinking. 4. Define positive, negative and illusory correlations. 5. Summarize the three measures of central tendency and reliability.

3 Topic/Content Skills Assessment Resources Instructional Method Tech Infusion NJCCCS Organize the descriptions of psychology in history in order. quiz main text, video/podcast, notes video D.2.d 3 Describe a real life scenario in which the nature/nurture debate could be used. Using the scientific method and critical thinking skills, evaluate a case study. Read the sample studies, watch the podcasts and read the notes. Summarize the correlations and identify which one applies. Explain why the study is/is not reliable. blog main text, educreation presentation audial, spatial presentation educreation app presentation D.2.d 4 quiz podcast, powerpoint video, audial 110#sessions quiz, discussion pdf, notes, podcast notes, video, audial 110#sessions D.2.d C D.3.d The method of instruction is individually paced using online resources. Group discussion and blog entries enable students to learn from peers. Ethical Decision Making/Character Education Students will explore the ethical conundrum of psychological studies and publishing unreliable results. Discussion on pressure. The scientific method exercises critical thinking skills. The entire class is online which utilizes technology, online media, online assessment and measures achievement via online quizzes.

4 Module VI: Abnormal Psychology 1. Biological approaches to disorders describe psychological disorders as diseases with originis in physiology. 2. Approaches toward understanding abnormal psychology include behavioral, social cognitive and trait perspectives. 3. Larger sociocultural contexts place emphasis on social circumstances of individuals such as socioeconomic status, ethnicity, and culture. 4. Diagnoses are useful for medical professionals using the DSM-V 5. Biopsycholsocial approaches view the interactions among biological, psychological and social factors as significant forces in producing both normal and abnormal behavior. 6. Medical health professionals diagnose people with psychological disorders by using the DSM-IV-TR. Topic/Content Skills Assessment Resources Instructional Method graphic art powerpoint, audial notes Tech Infusion html NJCCCS D.3.a Explain how perceptual constancies help us to organize our sensations into perceptions / why a stimulus can evoke a different perception response in different contexts. Read the sample studies of Pavlov and Skinner, watch the videos and read the notes. Give an example of classical and operant conditioning in your video. quiz discussion, blog quiz, video presentation on Skinner/Pavlov main text, youtube podcast, youtube pdf, notes, video audial, spatial presentation video, visual/audial notes, video, audial D.2.d D.5.c D.4.g D.16.a D.3.d

5 The method of instruction is individually paced using online resources. Group discussion and blog entries enable students to learn from peers. Ethical Decision Making/Character Education Video media assessment of understanding the difference between Pavlov and Skinner. Sustainability All technology-based materials. Module III: Cognition, Memory, Motivation, Emotion Essential Questions: 1. What is memory and what are the storage components of the brain? 2. What is cognition? 3. How and why do we remember? 4. What role does emotion play in memory and cognition? 5. Who is Chomsky and why is he important? 1. Describe the classic three-stage processing model of memory and explain how the concept of working memory effects the processing of short-term memory. 2. Compare the benefits of acoustic, and semantic encoding in remembering verbal information and describe some memory-enhancing encoding strategies. 3. Explain why memories can be faulty and define the capacity of long term memory. 4. Evaluate Skinner s and Chomsky s contributions to the nature-nurture debate over how children acquire language and explain why statistical learning and critical periods are important concepts in children s language learning. Topic/Conten t Skills Using the lists provided, complete the working/short term memory activity, reflect observations in blog Assessment Resources Instruction al Method blog main text, educreation audial, interactive educreation Tech Infusion NJCCCS D.2.d, D.3.d

6 Watch online resources on encoding and memory. Complete tasks. Explain an instance when your memory was not quite agreed upon by others. Read text and watch Chomsky video on language. quiz discussion quiz main text, online resources podcast, youtube pdf, notes, video audial, video, visual/audia l notes, video, audial html ml D.2.d D.5.c D.4.g D.16a D.3.d The method of instruction is individually paced using online resources. Group discussion and blog entries enable students to learn from peers. Ethical Decision Making/Character Education Discussion on faulty memories and ethics of using witnesses in law enforcement. Blogging and online discussion. Sustainability All technology-based materials. No paper. Module IV: Developmental Psychology Essential Questions: 1. How does prenatal development progress? 2. What are the stages of development from infancy to adulthood according to Piaget and Vygotsky? 3. How do parenting differences affect the development of children? 4. What are the main theoretical differences of Piaget, Kohlberg and later researchers on moral development?

7 1. Describe the development of humans from birth to adulthood. 2. Explain the main tenets of Piaget and Vygotsky in relation to developmental stages. 3. Discuss the differences in attachment and development of children with regard to temperament, abuse, gender differences and learning experiences. 4. Delineate the moral development theories of Piaget, Kohlberg, Erikson and later theorists. Topic/Content Skills Watch the videos on infancy and human development. Read the source materials. Discuss. Assessm ent Discussi on Resources text, video Instructio nal Method video, visual/audi al Tech Infusion SXM8f0gU&list=PLjK7S4emX1J77nz_bRuvIIeLQDQVs6VAD&index=8 NJCCCS D. 3.a D. 5.c D. 4.g D. 16a Read four case studies on varying levels of attachment/develop ment. Watch interview on trauma and effect on child development. Read text on Kohlberg, Erikson. Take survey/poll a friend. Explain results according to moral development theory. quiz Survey and poll online with blog post. pdf, text, podcast/vi deo pdf, notes, video supplemen t audial, spatial notes, video, audial bruviielqdqvs6vad D. 2.d D. 3.d The method of instruction is individually paced using online resources. Survey and poll post encourage pair learning. Ethical Decision Making/Character Education Moral development theory requires that the student indicate his/her own personal ethical stance and back up that stance with theory.

8 Online survey/polls. Sustainability All technology-based materials. Module V: Personality Essential Questions: 1. How was Freud s Theory of Psychodynamics essential to modern psychology s understanding of personality? 2. According to Freud, what do the seven defense mechanisms of the human ego do to defend the mind against anxiety? 3. What is psychodynamic theory? 4. How have humanistic psychologists viewed and studied personality? 5. What is trait theory and how is it useful? 6. Who was Albert Bandura and how did his theory change the view of personality? 1. Explain how Freud s treatment of psychological disorders led to his view of the unconscious mind and identify his stages of development. 2. List the seven defense mechanisms and give an example of each. 3. Expand on how the conscious and unconscious minds interact according to psychodynamic theory. 4. Describe Maslow s Self-Actualizing Person theory and Rogers Person-Centered Perspective theory. 5. Identify the traits that provide the most useful information about personality variation. 6. Explain Bandura s social-cognitive approach to individual personality. Topic/Content Skills Dream analysis on standard Freudian themes. Maslow and Rogers, represent differences using draw software Bandura s socialcognitive approach Assessment Resources Instructional Method blog Article, video, video visual/audial Quiz and graphic representation Text, video audial, spatial Quiz video Visual, audial, spatial Tech Infusion NJCCCS D.3.a D.5.c D.4.g D.16a D.2.d D.3.d Graphic representation of knowledge base.

9 Use of graphic drawing software and blog-based assessments. Sustainability All technology-based materials. Module VI: Abnormal Behavior and Treatment Essential Questions: 1. How do psychologists define normality and disorder? What is the DSM-V? 2. What is the difference between the medical model and the biopsychosocial approach to psychological disorders? 3. What are the different anxiety disorders? 4. How do major depressive disorder and bipolar disorder differ? 5. What are the components of schizophrenia? 6. How do treatments differ and what is the most effective approach for each disorder? 1. Explain the use of the DSM-V and the different models used to assess and diagnose abnormal behavior. 2. Differentiate between the physical and biophysical methods of diagnosis. 3. Describe the symptoms of anxiety, depression, obsessive-compulsion and affective disorders. 4. Distinguish between major depressive and bipolar disorders and identify the symptoms of dissociative and personality disorders. 5. Describe the difference between the schizophrenic disorders and hallucinations/delusions. 6. Expand on the different treatment options currently available and those most commonly used. Topic/Content Skills Overview of diagnoses Depression, bipolar disorder, personality disorders, dissociative disorder Schizophrenia, psychosis Assessment Resources Instructional Method quiz text, video video, visual/audial Watch and react to each on discussion forum pdf, text, podcast/video audial, spatial Quiz/poll Text, video Tech Infusion NJCCCS D.3.a D.5.c D.4.g D.16.a D.2.d D.3.a D.3.c

10 Pathology of the famous true crime Cumulative project on pathology of famous true crime element. Diagnoses, possible treatments, reactive criticism, ethical consideration pdf, notes, video supplements, guided research online notes, video, audial D.3.d The method of instruction is individually paced using online resources. Survey and poll post encourage pair learning. Ethical Decision Making/Character Education Moral development theory requires that the student indicate ethical stance and back up theory. Research online, Sustainability All technology-based materials.