Course Syllabus

Basic Course Requirements:

This class will have 7 modules and 4 short labs, each of which can be accessed from this site.  

Each module will require:

• reading 1-2 textbook chapters
• watching a set of video lectures
• reading a set of short articles
• completing a timed online exam (up to 2 attempts that will be AVERAGED)

Exams will typically be 30-45 minutes.  Time is limited so that one cannot just look up information without having previously read the material.  You will have up to two attempts at each exam.  These scores will be AVERAGED.  This is done to prevent students from merely taking screenshots of each exam, looking up the information, and then getting a perfect score without actually having examined the information.  If you are happy with your grade on the first attempt, you do not need to take the exam a second time.  Questions may vary on the second attempt, as they will be chosen randomly from a larger set of questions. You may use your notes, the book, and the articles.

The labs will require:

• collection of data or finding information
• tabulation of data and creation of charts or graphs
• a written paper to be uploaded to the course site

Instructor Information 

• Professor: Dr. Valerie Sims. (Here is a bit about me)
• Office Location: Psychology 341
• Office Hours: If you need to meet, I can schedule a Zoom session. Please send me a message
• Digital Contact: valerie.sims@ucf.edu (However, webcourses messages are usually answered more quickly)

Teaching Assistants 

• GTA: Genna Telschow       Email: genna.telschow@ucf.edu
• GTA:  Shayna Soares          Email: shayna.soares@ucf.edu
• UTA: Ana Camargo D.       Email: anacamargod@knights.ucf.edu
• UTA:  Carla Delgado          Email:  carladelgado@Knights.ucf.edu
• UTA:  Haley Thomas          Email:  ihrt2000@knights.ucf.edu 
• UTA:  Lilyanna Gross         Email: Lilyannagross@Knights.ucf.edu

Course Information

• Term: Fall  2020
• Course Number & Section: EXP3604  (0W63)
• Course Name: Cognitive Psychology
• Credit Hours: 3
• Course Modality: Online

Enrollment Requirements 

Course Prerequisites (if applicable): PSY 2012 (General Psychology)

Course Description

In this course, my job is to help you learn key factual information about cognitive psychology, as well as the methodologies of this field. This class will require that you think critically about the topics we discuss.  The course is quite challenging, and requires a large commitment from the student. You also have a job in this class.  You are expected to watch the video lectures and any other short videos, and to complete all readings.  Although this class is large, I am happy to entertain your questions and comments.  I realize that many of the readings for this class are difficult.  I do not expect you to be able to explain the readings in depth on the first reading.  Be sure to plan your time so as to be able to finish readings and lectures in a timely manner.

Course Materials and Resources

There are three types of materials for this class:

1) Videos and Video Lectures

Videos will be posted in each module. I have recorded lectures for each module that are very similar to the ones I give in person.  Most students tell me these are the best form of preparation for the exams.   Some of these may take you to sites such as YouTube.

2) Articles

Articles may be downloaded from the library free of cost.  These may be obtained through webcourses and can be found in each module.

3) The textbook

Galotti, K. (2017).  Cognitive Psychology In and Out of the Laboratory (Sixth Edition)

You may use any version of the 6th edition. You do not have to purchase the one below.

This book was chosen because Dr. Kathleen Galotti was my undergraduate professor for Cognitive Psychology and I was inspired to become a psychologist because of her. 

By placing your digital course materials on Webcourses@UCF, the UCF Campus Store and the publisher of your textbooks have discounted your course materials to bring you the lowest price available. To take advantage of this discounted rate, you will need to Opt-In to have the cost of these materials billed to your UCF Student Account under a fee called “Digital Course Materials”. This means you can access the course materials today, and will not have to pay for them until the UCF fee payment deadline on your UCF Student Account. The Opt-In deadline is this Friday of the first week of class at 11:59pm.

UCF Student Account Office will bill you at the discounted price as a “Digital Course Material” fee for this course. This charge will be posted to your account by September 4, 2020 for Fall 2020 First Day course Materials.

It is recommended that you Opt-In as these materials are required to complete the course. You can choose to Opt-In on the first day of class, right within UCF Webcourses. Be sure to Opt-In before the deadline of Friday, August 28, 2020 at 11:59pm for Fall 2020 courses to have access to your course materials at the discounted price. If you do not Opt-In or miss the deadline, you will have to purchase your materials at the UCF Campus Store or other vendor at a significantly higher rate.

If you are still deciding, you can Opt-In or Opt-out as many times as you like during the Add/Drop period, but once the deadline passes, the Opt-In screen is removed and the pricing changes. We cannot add you back into the program once the deadline closes. After the Opt-In deadline passes, all sales are final. Refunds are not available on First Day course materials. The charge will be placed on your account during the second week of class, so even if you Opt-In today, you will not see the charge until after the Add/Drop period.

As part of the First Day program, the publisher content will be available for everyone during the first week of class. If you do not take any action to Opt-In or you choose to Opt-Out, your access will be cut off by the second week of class. Please do not think you have Opt-In if you access the publisher content first during this period without clicking on “Course Materials” and selecting to Opt-In. Please make sure you Opt-In by this Friday at 11:59pm.

Most financial aid sources will cover First Day Digital Course Materials, but please check with your provider to ensure these fees will be covered by your financial aid before Opt-ing In. If you are unsure, please Opt-Out and obtain your course materials from the UCF Campus Store. If you Opt-In and your financial aid does not cover Digital Course Materials, you will be responsible for paying your UCF Student Account.

If you are paying for tuition/books with a VA/VR/DBS or other voucher, you will need to obtain your course materials from the UCF Campus Store.

Please keep in mind, that while the two programs sound similar, the First Day program is separate from the Textbook Purchase Program. Textbook Purchase Program funds do not cover the First Day Inclusive Access program and will be a separate fee.

If you are a self-pay student, you will pay for this fee on your UCF Student Account how you would normally pay for tuition and fees.

Compatible web browsers: Google Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer. Safari is NOT compatible.

Student Tutorial Video · Student Experience Video: https://youtu.be/bNhSdKueifU

Customer Care Contact Information

Customer Care is available to help students with questions about accessing their course material, using their eTextbook, or opting-out or in to the First Day program. Be sure to share the below information with your students.

Customer Care hours of operation are 11pm Sunday – 12am Saturday (Central Time).

Phone assistance is available Monday – Friday, 8am to 8pm (Central Time) · Link to Customer Care website and FAQs: https://tinyurl.com/firstdayfaq · Open a ticket Online for the Customer Care team: https://tinyurl.com/customercarerequest · Email the Customer Care team: bookstorecustomercare@bncollege.com

· Call the Customer Care team: 1-844-9-EBOOKS (1-844-932-6657)

Questions? Bookstore Contact is:

· Melissa Yopack, Assistant General Manager

· melissa.yopack@ucf.edu

Student Learning Outcomes

• Students will know factual information about classic theories in cognitive psychology.
• Students will know factual information about important studies in cognitive psychology.
• Students will be able to apply knowledge of cognitive psychology to applied questions.
• Students will be able to read short journal articles in cognitive psychology and explain them in their own words.
• Students will be able to design simple studies in cognitive psychology.
• Students will be able to critically evaluate popular press articles about topics in cognitive psychology. 
• Students will know how to collect and examine data from two classic cognitive psychology experiments:  the Stroop Effect and Mental Rotation 

Course Activities (Exams and Essays)

In order to do well in this course, you should do the following things:

• Watch every lecture.
• Watch every video.
• Read the Articles:  Normally, there will be an exam question on each article.
• Read the textbook.  This will help you to have a global understanding of how the course works and how the materials fit together.
• Ask Questions:  I love to talk about cognitive psychology.
• Do well on all exams.
• Do well on all written assignments

Everything in a Module is Fair Game for the Exams.  This includes lectures, textbook chapters, journal articles, popular press articles, videos, and demonstrations.

Exam Format: 

Exams will be primarily multiple choice, but may contain matching, fill-in, or short answer/short essay questions.  The questions ask you not just to memorize information, but be able to apply the information to a new situation.  For instance, you may be required to pretend that you are giving advice or participating in a court case as an expert witness.  Exam questions may ask about material from lecture or the readings.  I expect that you can read the assigned chapters and articles. Therefore, I will not merely repeat them in video lectures. The information contained only in the readings is “fair game” for exams.  If you have any questions regarding the readings, feel free to ask them in class, to come by my office, send me an email, or to send me a note in campus mail. There will be an exam for each module.

Lab Papers:   Labs received after 11:59 PM on the due date will receive a 10-percentage point penalty for every 24 hours late. In your paper, be very careful when referencing the ideas of another person.  You must use proper academic citations.  If you do not know how to cite properly, please see me.  I will use turnitin as well as other sources to check for plagiarism.

Attendance/Participation

Active participation is the best predictor of success. I do not take attendance nor do I require discussion posts as I prefer to not assign busy work and to treat you as adults.  

At some point, there may be an extra credit quiz. 

Make-up Exams and Assignments

Per university policy, you are allowed to submit make-up work (or an equivalent, alternate assignment) for university-sponsored events, religious observances, or legal obligations (such as jury duty). If this participation conflicts with your course assignments, I will offer a reasonable opportunity for you to complete missed assignments and/or exams. The make-up assignment and grading scale will be equivalent to the missed assignment and its grading scale. Please contact me ahead of time to notify me of upcoming needs. If you are sick and can document this claim, you may also qualify for make-up work.  However, this documentation must be presented in writing (or a photo of the writing).  You must request make-up work within two weeks of the missed assignment's due date.  Otherwise, you will receive a zero for the assignment.  You may not request make-up work after the course has ended.  

Assessment and Grading Procedures

Policy Statements

Academic Integrity

Students are responsible for knowing the rules regarding academic dishonesty much like citizens of Florida are responsible for knowing the laws regarding the operation of a motor vehicle in the state.  A person cannot simply claim ignorance.  As stated in the UCF Undergraduate Catalog, “in cases of cheating or plagiarism, the instructor may take appropriate academic action ranging from loss of credit for a specific assignment, examination, or project to removal from the course with a grade of ‘F’.  Additionally, the instructor may request disciplinary action through the Dean of Students Office as outlined in The Golden Rule.”  A student who has assisted another in cheating or plagiarism can be penalized in the identical manner.  According to the UCF Undergraduate Catalog, plagiarism occurs when “another’s work is deliberately used or appropriated without any indication of the source, thereby attempting to convey the impression that such work is the student’s own.  Any student failing to properly credit ideas or materials taken from another has plagiarized.”  I reserve the right to use Turnitin or other on-line sources to check papers for plagiarism.  If you have any questions about specific matters of academic dishonesty as they apply to this particular class, you should ask me.

Students should familiarize themselves with UCF’s Rules of Conduct. According to Section 1, "Academic Misconduct," students are prohibited from engaging in:

• Unauthorized assistance: Using or attempting to use unauthorized materials, information or study aids in any academic exercise unless specifically authorized by the instructor of record. The unauthorized possession of examination or course-related material also constitutes cheating.
• Communication to another through written, visual, electronic, or oral means: The presentation of material which has not been studied or learned, but rather was obtained through someone else’s efforts and used as part of an examination, course assignment, or project.
• Commercial Use of Academic Material: Selling of course material to another person, student, and/or uploading course material to a third-party vendor without authorization or without the express written permission of the university and the instructor. Course materials include but are not limited to class notes, Instructor’s PowerPoints, course syllabi, tests, quizzes, labs, instruction sheets, homework, study guides, handouts, etc.
• Falsifying or misrepresenting the student’s own academic work.
• Plagiarism: Using or appropriating another’s work without any indication of the source, thereby attempting to convey the impression that such work is the student’s own.
• Multiple Submissions: Submitting the same academic work for credit more than once without the express written permission from the instructor.
• Helping another violate academic behavior standards.

For more information about Academic Integrity, students may consult The Center for Academic Integrity.

For more information about plagiarism and misuse of sources, see “Defining and Avoiding Plagiarism: The WPA Statement on Best Practices”.

Responses to Academic Dishonesty, Plagiarism, or Cheating

Students should also familiarize themselves with the procedures for academic misconduct in UCF’s student handbook, The Golden Rule. UCF faculty members have a responsibility for students’ education and the value of a UCF degree, and so seek to prevent unethical behavior and when necessary respond to academic misconduct. Penalties can include a failing grade in an assignment or in the course, suspension or expulsion from the university, and/or a "Z Designation" on a student’s official transcript indicating academic dishonesty, where the final grade for this course will be preceded by the letter Z. For more information about the Z Designation, see http://goldenrule.sdes.ucf.edu/zgrade. 

Course Accessibility Statement

The University of Central Florida is committed to providing access and inclusion for all persons with disabilities. Students with disabilities who need disability-related access in this course should contact the professor as soon as possible. Students should also connect with Student Accessibility Services (Ferrell Commons 185, sas@ucf.edu, phone (407) 823-2371). Through Student Accessibility Services, a Course Accessibility Letter may be created and sent to professors, which informs faculty of potential access and accommodations that might be reasonable.Determining reasonable access and accommodations requires consideration of the course design, course learning objectives and the individual academic and course barriers experienced by the student.

Campus Safety Statement

Emergencies on campus are rare, but if one should arise in our class, everyone needs to work together. Students should be aware of the surroundings and familiar with some basic safety and security concepts.

• In case of an emergency, dial 911 for assistance.
• Every UCF classroom contains an emergency procedure guide posted on a wall near the door. Please make a note of the guide’s physical location and consider reviewing the online version at http://emergency.ucf.edu/emergency_guide.html. 
• Students should know the evacuation routes from each of their classrooms and have a plan for finding safety in case of an emergency.
• If there is a medical emergency during class, we may need to access a first aid kit or AED (Automated External Defibrillator). To learn where those items are located in this building, see http://www.ehs.ucf.edu/workplacesafety.html (click on link from menu on left). 
• To stay informed about emergency situations, sign up to receive UCF text alerts by going to my.ucf.edu and logging in. Click on "Student Self Service" located on the left side of the screen in the tool bar, scroll down to the blue "Personal Information" heading on your Student Center screen, click on "UCF Alert," fill out the information, including your e-mail address, cell phone number, and cell phone provider, click "Apply" to save the changes, and then click "OK."
• Students with special needs related to emergency situations should speak with their instructors outside of class.
• To learn about how to manage an active-shooter situation on campus or elsewhere, consider viewing this video. You CAN Survive an Active Shooter

Deployed Active Duty Military Students

If you are a deployed active duty military student and feel that you may need a special accommodation due to that unique status, please contact your instructor to discuss your circumstances.

Copyright

This course may contain copyright protected materials such as audio or video clips, images, text materials, etc. These items are being used with regard to the Fair Use doctrine in order to enhance the learning environment. Please do not copy, duplicate, download or distribute these items. The use of these materials is strictly reserved for this online classroom environment and your use only. All copyright materials are credited to the copyright holder.

Third-Party Software and FERPA

During this course you might have the opportunity to use public online services and/or software applications sometimes called third-party software such as a blog or wiki. While some of these could be required assignments, you need not make any personally identifying information on a public site. Do not post or provide any private information about yourself or your classmates. Where appropriate you may use a pseudonym or nickname. Some written assignments posted publicly may require personal reflection/comments, but the assignments will not require you to disclose any personally identity-sensitive information. If you have any concerns about this, please contact your instructor.