PSYC 1 - General Psychology
Instructor: Steven Bundy
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Course Description
Basic psychological concepts underlying human and animal behavior in such areas as learning, motivation, perception, personality and social behavior. Strongly recommended: eligibility for English 1A.
To take this class, you must have daily access to a computer with an Internet connection, an email account, and experience using a web browser. You will also need to update your email address in CLASS-Web when you register.
Check the college catalog for CSU/UC transferability and to see if this course meets AA/AS degree requirements.
This class begins June 16 and ends July 24.
On-Campus Meetings
There are no required on-campus meetings for this class. You can attend an OPTIONAL, on-campus orientation to Online Learning on either June 11 from 7-8:30 p.m. in Room 2420, June 12 from 1-2:30 p.m. in Room 2420, or June 18 from 7-8:30 p.m. in Room 2412. Learn more about these orientations, which are NOT course-specific.
How This Class Operates
This is not a self-paced class; there are due dates throughout the semester that you are expected to meet, just like in a traditional, face-to-face class.
The basic objective of the course is to introduce students to the field of psychology. By the end of the semester students will have an understanding of general psychology issues and be able to comfortably utilize psychological terms and have a strong foundation on which to base further education in the discipline of psychology. Students will also have a complete understanding of what it is like to take a distance education course and will be able to inform other students of the benefits and challenges involved in web-based distance education courses.
New web-based technologies will be utilized to create an alternative instructional delivery environment that will allow students to explore and take advantage of the most advanced informational resources available in various areas of psychology and to participate in a collaborative learning approach which will enhance communication among all students enrolled in the course.
By utilizing new instructional technologies this general psychology distance education course will enhance each student's ability to:
- Obtain all critical information concerning a specific topic;
- Effectively develop critical thinking and logical reasoning skills;
- Improve problem solving skills;
- Meet the constantly evolving technological challenges of the future.
Textbook information
Required Textbook: Psychology: Themes and Variations (Briefer Version), 6th Edition-Paperbound
Author: Wayne Weiten
Publisher: Wadsworth/ThomsonLearning
Textbook for this course must be purchased through the Las Positas College Bookstore. Textbook is sold as a "bundled" package (shrink-wrapped) which includes the required Psyk.Trek CD-ROM. The required Psyk.Trek CD-ROM cannot be purchased separately. Bundled textbook package also includes an InfoTrac Online Library.
Passcode. You will need this special passcode to access online library research articles required for completion of certain course assignments.
Class Activities
- Three Course Exams
- Series of Course Module Quizzes
- Series of Course Module Assignments
- Series of Online Class Discussions
- Collaborative Course Project Assignment
- Blackboard Course Management Introduction Exercises
Class Project
Individual student Term projects will not be required for this course; however, students will work together in designated groups of 4-5 students to complete a collaborative learning course project such as a research paper, PowerPoint presentation or student web pages. More detailed information and specific instructions concerning completion of the small group collaborative learning project will be made available to students during the first few weeks of the course.
How Students are Graded
Course grades are based on:
- Three Course Exams
100 points each -- 300 points total - Series of Course Module Quizzes
10 points each -- 120 points total - Series of Course Module Assignments
5 points each -- 120 points total - Series of Online Class Discussions
5 points each--60 points total - Collaborative Course Project Assignment:
25 points - Blackboard Course Management Introduction Exercises:
25 points
Note: There will be no extra credit assignments allowed for additional course points.
Total points possible for the course equals 650.
Divide the total points earned by the total points possible to determine overall percentage of course points.
Grades are based on standard listed below:
90-100% = A
80-89% = B
65-79% = C
50-64% = D
Below 50% = F
Succeeding in an Online Course
Students who succeed in online courses tend to be independent, self-motivated learners with good computer skills. If you are a procrastinator who relies heavily on the instructor for motivation, can't use a computer too well, have taken less than 21 units of college credit in your lifetime, and/or have a grade-point-average under 2.0, you should probably consider enrolling in a face-to-face course instead.
Also, don't enroll in this class if you believe the myth that learning online requires less effort than learning face-to-face. This course covers the same content and has similar activities as the face-to-face version of the course; only the method of delivery changes.
LPC offers a tutorial called "Succeeding in an online course" that will not only tell you if you are a good fit for online learning, but it also offers many strategies -- among other pertinent information -- that will help you succeed online. Please complete the tutorial.
Blackboard
This course will use the Blackboard course management system as its virtual classroom. To learn how to log in to Blackboard, go to the Blackboard Login Procedures page. Once you enroll, you will not be able to log in until the first day of class.