User Name and Password:  

You must use a user name and password after the first week of class. Without these words you will not be able to access the course materials. You will receive your user name and password from your instructor after you have completed the syllabus.

In the box below please explain your understanding of user names and passwords, including how you expect to receive your user name and password for this class:

Contact Information

Psych 1 (online course) Introduction to Psychology

CRN #20528 3 units

Instructor: John E. Smethers, PhD

Term Dates: 27 Sept - 24 Nov 2004

Email - jsmethers@bcconline.com

Web site - http://www.ScumbagSewerRats.com

In the box below type, I know how to contact my instructor.

Consideration of the development of psychology, sensation and perception, learning and memory, motivation and emotion, states of consciousness, stress, health and adjustment, abnormal behavior and psychotherapy, sex roles and sexual behavior. UC/CSU (CAN PSY2)

To have knowledge of the basic foundation of the principles of psychology.

Myers, David G. Exploring Psychology. New York: Worth Publishers. Sixth Edition.

Straub, Richard O. (2004). Study guide to accompany Exploring Psychology by David G. Myers. (6^th ed). New York: Worth Publishers. (Optional)

This study guide is highly recommended and a very beneficial tool for this course if you want more than an average grade.

In the box below type, I have my textbook for PSY 1 or I will have it by the end of the first week of class.

Reading- textbook material, Lessons, and instructor posts must be read. Psychology introduces a new vocabulary; therefore, without reading and digesting the material, your introduction to psychology will not prepare you for advanced course work or application in the real world, and will not have been a learning experience.

Discussion Assignments - These are critical thinking exercises. Grading will be determined by your ability in problem solving and decision making--just reiterating facts from books, Internet sites, or any other type of literature, without a critical analysis, will be considered lacking. A general definition of critical thinking is "the ability to properly construct and evaluate arguments." However, here are some alternative definitions to choose from before you start to write: The ability to judge the plausibility of specific assertions, to weigh evidence, to assess the logical soundness of inferences, to construct counter arguments and alternative hypotheses. Any material quoted from published material must credit the author in APA format. Here is an example: According to Myers (2004) "Unlike other neo-Freudians, Carl Jung--Freud’s disciple-turned-dissenter--placed less emphasis on social factors and agreed with Freud that the unconscious exerts a powerful influence (p. 583). Late assignments will not be accepted. Remember that you must first respond to the questions and then post a reply to another student’s posting. Points will be deducted for not posting replies. (170 pts. at 10 pts per assignment)

Quizzes

There will be a quiz each week. The material on the quiz will cover the chapter for that week. The quizzes are open book. Quizzes will be multiple choice. Late quizzes will not be accepted. All quiz, midterm and final questions are worth 1 point. (17 quizzes, 255 pts)

Final Exam

The online final will also consist of multiple choice. The final will not be open book. This is where the use of the study guide will be of great value to you. The study guide can actually be fun because there is no pressure to turn it in, and it will give you various ways to digest the material so you will be better prepared for the final. Also, everything that is in bold print in the Lessons are areas that will be on the final, so study those areas in preparation. (100 pts)

In the box below type: I understand that I must complete all weekly writing assignments, quizzes, and final by the due dates.

Extra Credit (optional)

Discover the archetypes dominant in your life--a self test (20 pts)

Grading Policy

Academic integrity is fundamental to create a positive learning environment at this institution. Violations of academic integrity include: cheating on an examination, test, or quiz; plagiarism on any paper, post, report or discussion; falsifying data, research, report, post, or discussion; presentation of forged documents; and misrepresentation of information in written form. Such violations are dealt with severely by the instructor and the administration. Please take pride in your writing. It is a presentation of yourself to the outside world. You will be rewarded for your outstanding writing skills, and you will be penalized for errors in grammar, punctuation and spelling. When using ideas or words from another source, be sure to credit that source.

A syllabus is not a contract between instructor and student, but rather a guide to course procedure, requirements, grading objectives, and class topics and reading schedule. The instructor reserves the right to amend the syllabus when circumstances dictate or unusual opportunities for student learning arise. Students will be notified.

By enrolling in this course you agree to remain up to date on required readings, participate in online discussions and complete weekly discussion assignments, quizzes, and exams on time.

Students are expected to "attend" class on a regular basis. Attendance through an online course is noted through discussion assignments and becomes part of the permanent record. If you miss a discussion assignment, you will be marked absent for that week. Discussion assignment cannot be made up and are not accepted late. You must post during the week they are assigned.

Students are expected to have read all material prior to the due-date to incorporate the material into assignments and discussions. It will be through active participation that course information is learned and retained.

If student misses assignments/discussions for two weeks in a row, or misses three total assignments/discussions, he or she can be dropped by the instructor. Note, however, that it is the student’s responsibility to drop a class--not the instructor’s. If the student does not drop, but remains on the class roll, a grade of F will result. (If you need to drop, please check at the Barstow College office for the drop deadline.)

In the box below type: "I have read and understand the attendance and participation policy and I agree to abide by it. I understand that late discussion assignments, quizzes, and exams will not receive credit."

All students are required to take the proctored exams at an adequately supervised location. Exams will be given on campus as scheduled. Students should plan to take the final exam on the main campus during the scheduled times. These exams are taken either in the Barstow College Computer Lab on the main campus, or at the Barstow College office at Fort Irwin (call to schedule an appointment).

If you are unable to take the exams at either of these locations, you may take the exam at a location near you, using a proctor approved by your instructor. You must inform the instructor at least two weeks prior to each exam date that you intend to take the exam at another location so that your instructor has time to approve a suitable proctor and location. Friends, family members, and neighbors are not suitable proctors. Fill out the proctor form to request a proctor.

In the box below type: "I will take the final exam at the (Barstow College Library or Ft. Irwin office) or I will send proctor information at least two weeks prior to each exam. If the exam is online, I will abide by the scheduled dates. I understand that I cannot make up a missed exam."

In the box below type, I understand the course schedule and agree to finish all assignments by the due dates posted on the front page of the course.

ON-LINE INSTRUCTIONS:

YOU MUST FILL OUT THIS SYLLABUS IF YOU INTEND TO TAKE THE COURSE!

It is your responsibility to make sure the instructor has all the contact information stated at the top of this syllabus by the start of classes!It is your responsibility to email the instructor if you have any problems or do not understand this syllabus.

It is your responsibility to confirm your enrollment either via the Internet at https://ias.barstow.cc.ca.us/  or by calling (760) 252-2411 ext 7236 if you are having problems accessing the course material. After you have confirmed your enrollment go to http://www.bcconline.com/orient/  and read the password link. Following this procedure will ensure you are helped in the fastest manner possible.

By enrolling for this class, the assumption is that you possess the necessary skills to read at the college level, to enter and perform research on the Internet, to use proper email etiquette and to post to the discussions.

When emailing your instructor:

Include your full name. Send all email with the name of the course in the subject line and assignment number. or the words: problem, question or comment. Sign all email with your name as registered at school, or else you will not receive a reply and your assignment will not be graded. You must explain the problem in the subject line, i.e., Psych 1, Research 1-- no research available, etc.. Email without an appropriate subject line will be deleted and will not be read. With the current high incidence of viruses and unsolicited email I automatically delete all email without appropriate subject lines.

Email assignments will have a one week turnaround time, and you should not expect an answer to a successfully submitted and completed assignment before the end of the one week turnaround time-period. Receiving graded assignments or answers to your questions before the above stated timelines have passed does not guarantee that you will receive replies that quickly in the future.

Online classes are NOT conducted via instantaneous transmission. Just as I am giving you a SEVEN day period to complete your work, I am to be given SEVEN days to reply to your assignments. In addition, the above stated timelines apply to ALL students and ALL responses to your questions and concerns.

I appreciate your understanding of the above stated timelines and will respond to all questions and concerns about this class within the timeframes stated above.

A posting place at the top of the discussion page indicates the instructor’s message board to you. Be sure to check this each week so that you don’t miss messages and clarifications; remember that sometimes no instructor posting will have been made, but not very often with me. Students are not to post in the instructor's posting area. Should you have a concern with your class please email me your question. It is not appropriate for students to post their concerns in the instructor's posting area. Students who post in the instructor's posting area will receive a warning and their posting will be deleted unanswered. Students who ignore the warning and post again to the instructor's posting area will be dropped from the class.

At the conclusion of the class students may find out their grades by calling (760) 252-6868 (local or out of state) and (877) 336-6868 (toll free within California). You may also find out your grade by going on the Internet at: https://ias.barstow.cc.ca.us. I do not post student grades and will not respond to inquiries about grades at the conclusion of the course.

In the box below type, I understand and agree to abide by the online instructions written above.