Limestone College

Gaffney, South Carolina 29340

Course Title: COGNITIVE PSYCHOLOGY

Course Number: Psychology 311

Credit Hours: 3

Course Syllabus

Course Description: This course covers the three major areas of cognitive psychological theory and research: information-processing stages, representation and organization of knowledge, and complex cognitive skills.

Instructor: Melodie Helms-Desilet, M.Ed.

Textbooks:

Reed, S.K. (2000). Cognition: Theory and Applications. 5th ed. Thomson Learning, Inc. Buyer, L.S. (2000).

Study Guide for Reed’s Cognition: Theory and Applications, 5th ed. Thomson Learning, Inc.

I. MAJOR COURSE TOPICS: This course will survey the three major theoretical and research areas in cognitive psychology. Part I (Information-Processing Stages) consists of an introductory chapter followed by chapters on pattern recognition, attention, short-term working memory, and long-term memory. The chapters describe what occurs during the different information-processing stages and how the stages interact. Part II contains chapters on memory codes, visual images, categorization, and semantic organization. The first two chapters in this part describe qualitatively different memory codes, and the next two chapters discuss the organization of knowledge in long-term memory. Part III contains chapters on language, comprehension and memory for text, problem solving expertise and creativity, and decision making. The discussion of these complex skills is related to ideas presented earlier in the book.

II. INSTRUCTIONAL OBJECTIVES AND COURSE REQUIREMENTS: Methodologies and requirements for achieving the course objectives will include:

A. Acquisition of information from reading the textbooks and other related materials listed in the posted lessons.

B. Demonstration of knowledge, understanding, and application of course content through completion of lesson assignments, including chapter exercises, quizzes, and demonstrations, discussion postings, and formal testing and evaluation procedures.

C. Completion of three mini-research papers (approximately 3 pages each) on issues related to textbook material.

III. GRADING SYSTEM:

A. Chapter Exercises, Quizzes, and Discussion Postings 25%

B. Chapter Demonstration Reports and Mini-Research Papers 25%

C. Formal Evaluations 50% - Midterm Examination —25% Final Examination —25%

D. Grading Scale: A: 90— 100; B: 80- 89; C: 70- 79; D: 60- 69; F: below 60

IV. COURSE CONTENT OUTLINE: The course is divided into ten distinct lessons with a lesson outline containing chapter outlines, supplementary materials, and assignments posted for each lesson. The midterm will be e-mailed to all proctors of records at the end of the fourth week, and the final will be e-mailed at the end of the seventh week.

V. ATTENDANCE POLICY:

Initial Communications & Drop/Add: An email is required from each student to the professor by the end of the Drop/Add period (normally one week after the course starts). At that time the professor will notify the Virtual Campus office of students who have failed to send this email and the Virtual Campus office will drop the students.

Attendance Policy: Students are expected to communicate with the professor frequently. When a student’s absences exceed twenty percent (20%) of the total number of course periods in the term, the student will not receive credit for the course and will be assigned a grade of “WF.” Attendance in an Internet course is defined as electronic communications with the professor. After the Drop/Add period each student will be expected to communicate with the professor via email, discussion participation, or chat participation at least once a week. After two (2) weeks with no communication, the student will be dropped from the course. The professor will assign a grade of “WF” at the last date of attendance, which is the date of the last login.

Withdrawal: Students wishing to withdraw (before or after the Drop/Add period) from the course must contact the professor and the Virtual Campus office. If a student cannot complete a course and Drop/Add period is over, the student’s request to withdraw must be submitted prior to the course end date. Grades will be assigned and refunds will be given based upon current Limestone College policy.

VI. COURSE TIMEFRAME: This course is intended to cover an eight-week time span. Students are expected to complete all course assignments, papers, and formal evaluations within this time frame. If circumstances arise beyond an individual student’s control that preclude finishing the course on schedule, the student should immediately contact the instructor to request an extension and provide written documentation as required to justify the request. All decisions for extensions will be made on a case-by-case basis. However, be advised that extensions are only granted under the most extreme of conditions. Therefore, all students who have not submitted course materials, including formal evaluations, by the required course ending date will receive a grade based on the work that has been completed unless they request and can justify a course extension. The course has been designed to facilitate self-pacing by individual students. Therefore, all course content is made immediately available to students and will remain so for the entire course. The only build-in structure regarding pace of completion is that the first five lessons, including assignments and papers, must be finished before the midterm examination will be released to the student’s proctor, and all ten lessons, assignments, and papers must be completed before the final examination may be requested.