Contact information: Ms. Ames, ann_ames@beavton.k12.or.us, 503-259-5050 The course is divided
into four parts of study: Part One: Perspectives The following approaches to psychology will be studied: · The biological perspective · The learning perspective · The cognitive perspective Part Two: Option Area The following option area will be investigated. Students who are testing will choose this test option on the exam in May. · Psychodynamic Part Three: Research Methods Research methodology is a significant part of the course. It includes the following areas of study: · Research methods and approaches · Ethics · Quantitative research methods (statistics). Part Four: Simple Experiment Replication (this is the IB Internal Assessment for this course) · You will be conducting an experiment to demonstrate application of your research methods skills. The experiment will be a replication of a pre-approved simple experiment. These will be completed in the early weeks of third quarter. ***************************************************************************************************************************************
Ms. Ames’ Edict IB Psychology 2009-2010 Important information to help you succeed in this class
Class Participation
Be ready to discuss readings, videos, activities and experiments with a healthy dose of curiosity. You are expected to contribute to class discussions, using strategies that support open and respectful dialogue. When disagreements occur, your opinion should be offered in an intelligent, logical, and civil manner.
Class Preparation
You are expected to attend class each day with your Psychology textbook, completed homework, and other general supplies. Life happens and you might have a day when you are not as prepared as you would like to be. That’s human. However, please see me before the start of school to plead your case, not during the first five minutes of your class period! Just remember, your lack of preparation is a loss to our learning community, not just you. It is best to arrive prepared.
Attendance
You are expected to be in class each day, unless you have a legitimate and acceptable excuse for being absent. Schedule your medical, orthodontia and dental appointments outside of the school day. Absences of any type represent “missed learning opportunities.” This includes extended vacations and college visitations. Class discussions, simulations, and roleplays cannot be replicated so try and attend every day! Stellar attendance is usually possible by good habits of sleep and a healthy diet to avoid illness. A tardy is converted to an unexcused absence if you arrive late by 15 minutes or more (see SHS Attendance Policy).
Assignments
You can expect to have reading and writing assignments following each class sessions. These are extensions of the lessons completed in class. All “out of class” assignments are to be typed or written in ink. Use one-inch margins, basic font, and double-space. Computers are available in our library throughout the school day. Late assignments receive two unfortunate consequences: 1) a missed learning opportunity for you because you are not able to contribute or participate due to lack of preparation; and 2) a reduction to your grade for the assignment. Students with an excused absence the day an assignment is due are to turn in the work on the first day of return.
Grades
Grades can be a significant focus for students and parents. They are inevitable. You will receive a letter grade for each quarter and your semester grade will be determined using the following formula: First quarter = 40%. Second quarter = 40%. Final exam = 20%. Missing assignments, projects and tests are not acceptable. Tests/Assessments
All tests and quizzes will be designed to assess your learning. They also provide me with valuable feedback to inform my teaching. You will be given advance notice for unit tests. Students absent on test days will take make ups at my discretion. Plan on a phone call to a parent if you are absent on a test day. Makeup tests will not be provided to students with unexcused absences on testing days. Homework quizzes will be given at my discretion, often times on a variable interval schedule. We will learn about variable interval schedules when studying the concept known as operant conditioning. Feel free to investigate its meaning now.
Extra Credit
Students who complete all their assignments as assigned and pass the assessments will not need extra credit work. There is no need to ask. However, I do offer extended credit opportunities for students who have a desire to extend their learning in a particular area of interest.
Academic Honesty
Academic honesty is a set of values that promotes your personal integrity and good practice in learning (IB 2006). Your integrity and honesty are valuable assets. Don’t compromise them. Character and integrity will take you further in life than “extraordinary intelligence.” All your assignments, tests, projects and papers need to be your work, not someone else’s.
Plagiarism is another term for intellectual theft. An act of plagiarism seriously compromises your integrity. The unauthorized, uncited, use of work written by another, be it student or published author, will be regarded as cheating and handled accordingly.
Behavior Expectations
Treat others in the class with dignity and respect. I will assume you know how to behave in a civilized manner. Repeat disrupters will be removed from class due to their role in disrupting the learning environment. We are a learning community, we must act that way. All food and beverages need to be consumed elsewhere unless we are having some sort function (experiment, celebration, etc.). Water is OK. Desks are to be kept free of doodling. If caught, you will be assigned an afterschool duty of desk scrubbing. Bathroom and water fountain trips should take place before and after class when possible. Cell phones, pagers, Ipods and other personal electronic devices should not be seen or heard in my class, unless being utilized for a class activity. Contact information: 503-259-5050 Main office Voicemail #5106
Office hours: Periods 4 & 7, before and after school, Room A-9
General course information: http://sites.google.com/site/shsamespsychology/
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