Hey everyone! I am sure you all are singing the praises of a snow day and not even looking at this blog, but I thought I better update you on the final exam and the status of the Golden Chair!
As of 11:00 on today Tuesday, December 16, here is the plan:
Monday, January 5 -- First Semester B Day
We will finish our review game (jot down a note of where you were sitting!) and make up our final this day. Since it a long break and you might forget lots, plan to study your notes and all the outlines to keep it all fresh.
Tuesday, January 6 -- First Day of Second Semester -- 7-Period Day Schedule
Wednesday, January 7 -- Resume Schedule -- A Day
Have a fabulous snow day, common finals time, and winter break! Enjoy this extra needed rest! If you need to talk to me, send an email l.ovaska@laschools.net or give me a call at home 663-0620.
Mrs. O
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Friday, December 12, 2008
December 12: Review
1) No Neuron Note.
Assignments:
1) Study "Tricky Vocabulary" list.
2) Final Exam is on Tuesday during regular class period.
2) Chapters 9 and 10 Test Review. We went over the correct answers on the Memory and Cognition test. There were obvious problems with the questions related to: iconic memory, proactive/retroactive interference, availability/representativeness heuristics.
Assignments:
1) Study "Tricky Vocabulary" list.
2) Final Exam is on Tuesday during regular class period.
Monday, December 8, 2008
December 8: Language
1) Neuron Note. You read answers from last year's Neuron Note and you wrote a new question based on textbook reading.
2) Pop quiz: You could use your notes and notecards.
3) Language Notes: We talked about the part of language (phomenes, morphemes, syntax, semantics, grammar), Chomsky vs. Skinner, and the different stages of language development.
4) Discovering Psychology - Language Development: We watched another Philip Z. video. There were some pretty cute kids using language.
5) Fun activities. We read "Ladle Rat Rotten Hut" and talked about phonemes, morphemes, etc.
and learned to read again.
Assignments:
1) Extra credit lunch video on Animals and Thinking
2) Chapters 9 and 10 test is next class on Wednesday, December 10th.
Thursday, December 4, 2008
December 4: Cognition
1) Neuron Note. You read answers from last year's Neuron Note and you wrote a new question based on textbook reading on cognition.
2) We talked about insight and "A-Ha!" moments by trying to figure out riddles together. We had some "A-Ha!" moments and some big groans. ;) Then we looked at a picture of cliches for more moments of insight.
3) Discovering Psychology - Cognitive Processes: We watched another Philip Z. video. It covered major concepts from the beginning of the chapter on cognition that you read last night.
3) Cogniton Concepts Clarified. We talked about confirmation bias, availability heuristic, representativeness heuristic, overconfidence.
4) Mental Set and Fixedness with Rope Magic: You got a partner and a rope and tried to figure out how to separate once you were intertwined. It was fun and you got to see how you approach problems in the same way over and over.
Assignments:
1) Chapter 10 pp.401-412 on language. Finish it!
2) Chapters 9 and 10 test is Wednesday, December 10th.
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Tuesday, December 2: Memory Games and Notes
In-Class Activities:
1) Neuron Notes. You wrote a new question on memory and read answers from last class.
2) Memory Notes and Games. We used our memories to better understand them. Name the Seven Dwarfs. List as many presidents you can remember. Quiz yourself on a list of silly statements you either encoded visually or auditory. Rajan's Amazing memory. Simon. Remember the SLEEP list.
Assignments:
1) Start chapter 10 pp. 385-400.
2) Test on chapters 9 and 10 will be next week on Wednesday.
1) Neuron Notes. You wrote a new question on memory and read answers from last class.
2) Memory Notes and Games. We used our memories to better understand them. Name the Seven Dwarfs. List as many presidents you can remember. Quiz yourself on a list of silly statements you either encoded visually or auditory. Rajan's Amazing memory. Simon. Remember the SLEEP list.
Assignments:
1) Start chapter 10 pp. 385-400.
2) Test on chapters 9 and 10 will be next week on Wednesday.
Friday, November 21, 2008
Tuesday, November 25: "Don't Forget" Video
I am going to be absent this day. We will be in Arizona visiting my dad who is struggling with his MS. Have a great Thanksgiving break!
1) Neuron Notes. You will write a new question on memory.
2) "Don't Forget" Video. This is a great video on memory from the PBS series, "Scientific American Frontiers." The host Alan Alda participates in many cool experiments on memory.
3) Read Chapter 9. Since everyone is looking tired, you will have the rest of the period to read quietly. Hopefully, you can get chapter 9 completed so you can rest and relax for Thanksgiving.
Assignments:
1) Finish chapter 9.
2) Test on Chapter 9/10 is next Wednesday, December 10.
1) Neuron Notes. You will write a new question on memory.
2) "Don't Forget" Video. This is a great video on memory from the PBS series, "Scientific American Frontiers." The host Alan Alda participates in many cool experiments on memory.
3) Read Chapter 9. Since everyone is looking tired, you will have the rest of the period to read quietly. Hopefully, you can get chapter 9 completed so you can rest and relax for Thanksgiving.
Assignments:
1) Finish chapter 9.
2) Test on Chapter 9/10 is next Wednesday, December 10.
Friday, November 21: Review Test and Memory Video
1) Neuron Notes. You wrote a new question on memory.
2) Review Learning Test. We went over the tricky questions from the test and I gave you the what pages each question came from so you could see what you need to review. This test was not in order of the chapter so you might have had a harder time, but many of you did well. Both class had over 68% getting As and Bs.
3) Memory Video. Since many of you were not prepared to discuss the articles on free will and there were many absences, we will postpone the Socratic Seminar until after Thanksgiving. Instead we watched a little Philip Zimbardo on memory.
Assignments:
1) Read chapter 9. If you would like to have a relaxing Turkey Break, get it done this weekend.
FYI: The next test will be over chapters 9 and 10. It will be on Wednesday, December 10th.
2) Review Learning Test. We went over the tricky questions from the test and I gave you the what pages each question came from so you could see what you need to review. This test was not in order of the chapter so you might have had a harder time, but many of you did well. Both class had over 68% getting As and Bs.
3) Memory Video. Since many of you were not prepared to discuss the articles on free will and there were many absences, we will postpone the Socratic Seminar until after Thanksgiving. Instead we watched a little Philip Zimbardo on memory.
Assignments:
1) Read chapter 9. If you would like to have a relaxing Turkey Break, get it done this weekend.
FYI: The next test will be over chapters 9 and 10. It will be on Wednesday, December 10th.
Wednesday, November 19: Learning Test
Today was a District In-Service Day so the period was shortened but you still had 60 minutes to get the test done. Let me know that was problematic.
1) No Neuron Note questions today but you could read answers.
2) Chapter 8 Test. 100 multiple choice questions on learning. If you were absent, you will take the test at the beginning of class on Thursday while we go over the correct answers.
3) Cognition and Memory Outline. You received the new outline for the next unit. Please get organized. Memory is chapter 9 and Cognition is chapter 10. Plan to read chapter 9 over the weekend and if you feel ambitious, read chapter 10 over Thanksgiving Break.
4) Are Human Actions Determined? You received the articles and handout to analyze two sides of this issue of free will.
Assignments:
1) Start chapter 9.
2) Read the article and complete the handout in preparation for a Socratic Seminar.
1) No Neuron Note questions today but you could read answers.
2) Chapter 8 Test. 100 multiple choice questions on learning. If you were absent, you will take the test at the beginning of class on Thursday while we go over the correct answers.
3) Cognition and Memory Outline. You received the new outline for the next unit. Please get organized. Memory is chapter 9 and Cognition is chapter 10. Plan to read chapter 9 over the weekend and if you feel ambitious, read chapter 10 over Thanksgiving Break.
4) Are Human Actions Determined? You received the articles and handout to analyze two sides of this issue of free will.
Assignments:
1) Start chapter 9.
2) Read the article and complete the handout in preparation for a Socratic Seminar.
Monday, November 17, 2008
November 17: Classical and Operant Conditioning
In-Class Activities:
1) Neuron Notes. You wrote a new question on operant conditioning and read about classical conditioning from last class.
2) Pop Quiz on Chapter 8. I checked notes too and you earned 3 points just for keeping up! Good job! For those of you who are not on top of the reading, get on it!
3) Classical Conditioning. We finished our notes and completed some practice handouts on the UCS --> UCR, NS, CS -->CR. Then we went over everyday examples from advertising, taste aversions, and more.
4) Operant Conditioning. We took notes and made sure everyone understood the difference between reinforcement and punishment, especially NEGATIVE reinforcement. I shared some ideas on the fact that we live in in a world where people need reinforcement and rewards. We talked about extrinsic vs. intrinsic motivation, delay of gratification, procrastination, and more. We finished with going over the schedules of reinforcement.
Assignments:
1) Finish chapter 8 (if you haven't).
2) REVIEW!! The test on Wednesday is just chapter 8. It will be a shortened period since it is a district in-service day, but enough time (60 minutes for the 100 multiple choice test like we always have).
1) Neuron Notes. You wrote a new question on operant conditioning and read about classical conditioning from last class.
2) Pop Quiz on Chapter 8. I checked notes too and you earned 3 points just for keeping up! Good job! For those of you who are not on top of the reading, get on it!
3) Classical Conditioning. We finished our notes and completed some practice handouts on the UCS --> UCR, NS, CS -->CR. Then we went over everyday examples from advertising, taste aversions, and more.
4) Operant Conditioning. We took notes and made sure everyone understood the difference between reinforcement and punishment, especially NEGATIVE reinforcement. I shared some ideas on the fact that we live in in a world where people need reinforcement and rewards. We talked about extrinsic vs. intrinsic motivation, delay of gratification, procrastination, and more. We finished with going over the schedules of reinforcement.
Assignments:
1) Finish chapter 8 (if you haven't).
2) REVIEW!! The test on Wednesday is just chapter 8. It will be a shortened period since it is a district in-service day, but enough time (60 minutes for the 100 multiple choice test like we always have).
Sunday, November 16, 2008
November 13: Review Test and Start Learning
1) Neuron Notes. You wrote a new question on learning.
2) Review Cumulative Test. We went over the tricky questions from the test and I gave you the what chapter each set of questions came from so you could see what you need to review. many of you did not do well on the last two chapters, 6 and 7. Most of you did better on the first chapters -- this is great! You are learning and it is staying with you! :) Cumulative tests are good to see what you know and you tend to know what is working for you and what isn't when you study now. If you need help with your study habits, see me at lunch! Don't struggle alone!
3) Learning Video. We love Philip Zimbardo! We watched a great review of classical and operant conditioning. Real footage of Pavlov's dogs and Skinner's laboratory with the pigeons! COOL!
4) Classical Conditioning Lecture. We took a few short notes.
UCS --> UCR
NS
CS --> CR
Assignments:
1) Finish chapter 8. Get through the Operant Conditioning section.
2) Test on Chapter 8 is next Wednesday. Not much to this chapter. Know the major types of learning.
2) Review Cumulative Test. We went over the tricky questions from the test and I gave you the what chapter each set of questions came from so you could see what you need to review. many of you did not do well on the last two chapters, 6 and 7. Most of you did better on the first chapters -- this is great! You are learning and it is staying with you! :) Cumulative tests are good to see what you know and you tend to know what is working for you and what isn't when you study now. If you need help with your study habits, see me at lunch! Don't struggle alone!
3) Learning Video. We love Philip Zimbardo! We watched a great review of classical and operant conditioning. Real footage of Pavlov's dogs and Skinner's laboratory with the pigeons! COOL!
4) Classical Conditioning Lecture. We took a few short notes.
UCS --> UCR
NS
CS --> CR
Assignments:
1) Finish chapter 8. Get through the Operant Conditioning section.
2) Test on Chapter 8 is next Wednesday. Not much to this chapter. Know the major types of learning.
November 10: Cumulative Test
1) No Neuron Note questions today but you could read answers.
2) Chapters 1 - 7 Test. 100 multiple choice questions total -- ~15 per chapter, ~30 from Ch.7. Why do we do a cumulative test now? Hopefully, you feel like you know the answers and have learned a lot already in theis class! :) If you were absent, you will take the test at the beginning of class on Thursday while we go over the correct answers.
5) Learning Outline. You received the new outline for the Learning unit. Please get organized. Next week, we'll have some great conversations about Pavlov and Skinner. FYI: This unit is short because it is pretty straightforward. You need to read the chapter but we will not have an activities to do. You need to understnad UCS, UCR, ... positive and negative reinforcement, ...
Assignments:
1) Start chapter 8.
2) Chapters 1 - 7 Test. 100 multiple choice questions total -- ~15 per chapter, ~30 from Ch.7. Why do we do a cumulative test now? Hopefully, you feel like you know the answers and have learned a lot already in theis class! :) If you were absent, you will take the test at the beginning of class on Thursday while we go over the correct answers.
5) Learning Outline. You received the new outline for the Learning unit. Please get organized. Next week, we'll have some great conversations about Pavlov and Skinner. FYI: This unit is short because it is pretty straightforward. You need to read the chapter but we will not have an activities to do. You need to understnad UCS, UCR, ... positive and negative reinforcement, ...
Assignments:
1) Start chapter 8.
November 6: Consciousness
In-Class Activities:
1) Neuron Notes. You wrote a new question on consciousness.
2) Consciousness Activities Assignment Explained. You can choose between: recording your day dreams, collecting 50 random thoughts from people, analyzing your night dreams, or trying to wake yourself in stage 1 sleep and solve a problem through sleep.
3) Circadian Rhythm. We talked about your body's natural rhythm in a 24-hour period and you watched a video of Michel Siffre who lived in a cave in Texas for 7 months to see what would happen without any time cues (i.e. the moon, sun, etc.).
4) Hypnosis. You watched video clips of people being hypnotized and what they will say/do. Cool!
5) Drugs and Alcohol. You received several short articles on the topics of drugs and alcohol to read including: caffeine, the date rape drug, medical marijuana, drug abuse treatment, and more.
Assignments:
1) Finish chapter 7 (if you haven't).
2) REVIEW!! The test on Monday is cumulative and you should study with someone!
1) Neuron Notes. You wrote a new question on consciousness.
2) Consciousness Activities Assignment Explained. You can choose between: recording your day dreams, collecting 50 random thoughts from people, analyzing your night dreams, or trying to wake yourself in stage 1 sleep and solve a problem through sleep.
3) Circadian Rhythm. We talked about your body's natural rhythm in a 24-hour period and you watched a video of Michel Siffre who lived in a cave in Texas for 7 months to see what would happen without any time cues (i.e. the moon, sun, etc.).
4) Hypnosis. You watched video clips of people being hypnotized and what they will say/do. Cool!
5) Drugs and Alcohol. You received several short articles on the topics of drugs and alcohol to read including: caffeine, the date rape drug, medical marijuana, drug abuse treatment, and more.
Assignments:
1) Finish chapter 7 (if you haven't).
2) REVIEW!! The test on Monday is cumulative and you should study with someone!
November 4: Review Test/ Start Consciousness
In-Class Activities:
1) Neuron Notes. You wrote a new question on consciousness.
2) Review Test on Sensation and Perception. We went over the tricky questions from the test on chapters 5 & 6. This was a hard test for many of you. I curved the test, making it out of 95. I wonder if the difficulty came from the new content, your preparation, or that this is a busy time of the year for many of you...
3) Consciousness Lecture. We completed a survey on our sleep debt and found that most of you are sleep deprived (and some of you need to go to bed and stop reading this blog!!). We discussed the need to get through all the 5 cycles of a night's sleep in order to get the REM you need to be ready for each day. I lectured about the importance of melotonin, not taking huge afternoon naps (longer than an hour), and more. Hopefully some of you will take the book's advice and just go to bed 15 minutes earlier each night and see how you feel.
Assignments:
1) Read chapter 7.
2) Next test is cumulative -- chpaters 1 through 7.
1) Neuron Notes. You wrote a new question on consciousness.
2) Review Test on Sensation and Perception. We went over the tricky questions from the test on chapters 5 & 6. This was a hard test for many of you. I curved the test, making it out of 95. I wonder if the difficulty came from the new content, your preparation, or that this is a busy time of the year for many of you...
3) Consciousness Lecture. We completed a survey on our sleep debt and found that most of you are sleep deprived (and some of you need to go to bed and stop reading this blog!!). We discussed the need to get through all the 5 cycles of a night's sleep in order to get the REM you need to be ready for each day. I lectured about the importance of melotonin, not taking huge afternoon naps (longer than an hour), and more. Hopefully some of you will take the book's advice and just go to bed 15 minutes earlier each night and see how you feel.
Assignments:
1) Read chapter 7.
2) Next test is cumulative -- chpaters 1 through 7.
Saturday, November 1, 2008
October 31: Boo! A Scary Test!
In-Class Activities:
1) No Neuron Note questions or answers today.
3) Collect Sensation/Perception Activity. You shared your experience testing your light-dark adaptation, understanding illusions, or locating your retinal blood vessels. Great job!
4) Chapters 5 and 6 Test. 100 multiple choice questions on the sensation/perception. If you were absent, you will take the test at the beginning of class on Tuesday while we go over the correct answers. Please come early so you can get settled and get it completed without missing too much of the rest of class.
5) Consciousness Outline. You received the new outline for this next unit. Please get organized. Next week, we'll have some great conversations about sleeping and dreaming and how important they are. FYI: The next test will be cumulative; chapter 7 will not have its own separate test but it will be included. Consciousness is one of the smallest parts of the AP exam it is a good time to have a cumulative test over everything we've learned. My suggestion is to focus on Chapter 7 this weekend and the first part of next week. Then, start reviewing those notecards and studying everything next weekend!
Assignments:
1) Read chapter 7 up to page 248.
Since the next test will be cumulative, start reviewing chapters 1-7. It will be Monday, November 10.
1) No Neuron Note questions or answers today.
3) Collect Sensation/Perception Activity. You shared your experience testing your light-dark adaptation, understanding illusions, or locating your retinal blood vessels. Great job!
4) Chapters 5 and 6 Test. 100 multiple choice questions on the sensation/perception. If you were absent, you will take the test at the beginning of class on Tuesday while we go over the correct answers. Please come early so you can get settled and get it completed without missing too much of the rest of class.
5) Consciousness Outline. You received the new outline for this next unit. Please get organized. Next week, we'll have some great conversations about sleeping and dreaming and how important they are. FYI: The next test will be cumulative; chapter 7 will not have its own separate test but it will be included. Consciousness is one of the smallest parts of the AP exam it is a good time to have a cumulative test over everything we've learned. My suggestion is to focus on Chapter 7 this weekend and the first part of next week. Then, start reviewing those notecards and studying everything next weekend!
Assignments:
1) Read chapter 7 up to page 248.
Since the next test will be cumulative, start reviewing chapters 1-7. It will be Monday, November 10.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
October 29: Spooky Day -- Cow Eyes, Perceptual Set, and Pop Quiz
1)Neuron Notes. You wrote a new question on perception and read the answers from last time.
2) Returned Work. It is the end of the quarter and grades are set. I returned all your classwork and homework. Thank you for your patience.
3) Pop Quiz on Chapter 6. This was easy for those of you with notes. Those of you without notes are going to have a very hard time on Friday's test. Get caught up!!
4) Cow Eye Dissection. http://www.exploratorium.edu/learning_studio/cow_eye/ In groups of 4-5, we dissected a cow eye!!! It was awesome! You did a great job! Once the fat and muscle was removed, you were able to investigate the iris, pupil, lens, aqueous humor, tapetum, etc. It was a great experiment.
5) Perceptual Set. I restated the definition -- a mental predisposition to perceive one thing and not another. This is an important concept for life that I would like you to remember. We get stuck in how we perceive the world...try to shake your perception up! I read a great letter from a college student to her parents. :)
Assignments:
1) STUDY!!!! The test on chapters 5 and 6 is on Friday!
2) Sensation/Perception Activity. Finish up one of the five activities. Due on Friday.
October 27: Perception Organization with Escher
1) Neuron Notes. You wrote a new question on perception and read the answers related to perception.
2) Perception Video. It was a cheesy, educational video but it had some good illusions and concepts to discuss.
3) Perceptual Organization with M.C. Escher drawings. First, we went over different cues and ways to organize sensory information. I gave you a chart you can use to study. Then you worked with a partner and examine one of Escher's drawing (www.worldofescher .com) using the chart of perceptual cues. You did a great job noting if it was you saw relative size or texture gradient.
4) Prosopagnosia article. I gave you an interesting article on people with face blindness.
Assignments:
1) Finish chapter 6.
2) Sensation/Percetion Activity. Choose one of the five activities to really enjoy the concepts from these chapters. It is due on Halloween.
3) Test on Chapter 5 and 6 on Friday! STUDY! This stuff is hard!
2) Perception Video. It was a cheesy, educational video but it had some good illusions and concepts to discuss.
3) Perceptual Organization with M.C. Escher drawings. First, we went over different cues and ways to organize sensory information. I gave you a chart you can use to study. Then you worked with a partner and examine one of Escher's drawing (www.worldofescher .com) using the chart of perceptual cues. You did a great job noting if it was you saw relative size or texture gradient.
4) Prosopagnosia article. I gave you an interesting article on people with face blindness.
Assignments:
1) Finish chapter 6.
2) Sensation/Percetion Activity. Choose one of the five activities to really enjoy the concepts from these chapters. It is due on Halloween.
3) Test on Chapter 5 and 6 on Friday! STUDY! This stuff is hard!
Monday, October 27, 2008
October 23: Hearing, Touch, Taste, Smell, and Body Position
1) Neuron Notes. You wrote a new question on sensation and read the answers related to sensation.
2) Pop Quiz on Chapter 5. You could use your notes.
3) Hearing, Touching, Tasting, Smelling, and More. We took notes and did a bunch of activities to better understand each sense. We drew the ear, talked about hearing loss, and a volunteer located sounds. We talked about our touch system (cutaneous receptors) as a few students were blindfolded and got to know a lemon and was able to find it again. We talked about how our taste interacts with our other senses as we ate jelly bellies with our noses plugged and then we opened our noses and WOW! We smelled a bunch of odors and tried to identify them without much luck. Our smell is an old, old sense and has an important purpose.
Assignments:
1) Read chapter 6. Start!
2) Sensation/Percetion Activity. Choose one of the five activities to really enjoy the concepts from these chapters. It is due on Halloween.
2) Pop Quiz on Chapter 5. You could use your notes.
3) Hearing, Touching, Tasting, Smelling, and More. We took notes and did a bunch of activities to better understand each sense. We drew the ear, talked about hearing loss, and a volunteer located sounds. We talked about our touch system (cutaneous receptors) as a few students were blindfolded and got to know a lemon and was able to find it again. We talked about how our taste interacts with our other senses as we ate jelly bellies with our noses plugged and then we opened our noses and WOW! We smelled a bunch of odors and tried to identify them without much luck. Our smell is an old, old sense and has an important purpose.
Assignments:
1) Read chapter 6. Start!
2) Sensation/Percetion Activity. Choose one of the five activities to really enjoy the concepts from these chapters. It is due on Halloween.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
October 21: Sensation Thresholds and Vision
1) Neuron Notes. You wrote a new question on sensation and read the answers related to sensory thresholds.
2) Sensation/Perception Video. I love Philip Zimbardo. He summarized sensation and perception in 25 minutes for you.
3) Sensory Thresholds. We took notes on absolute threshold and difference threshold. We did a two demonstrations to help you understand these concepts.
4) Vision Notes. We drew the eye, analyzed the color spectrum and wavelength, talked about the two theories of color vision, and explained depth and distance perception. We did all sorts of demonstrations related to vision.
Assignments:
1) Read chapter 5 pages 211-228. Finish!
2) Make notecards on chapters 5 and 6! I will not check these, but you will do better if you memorize the vocabulary.
2) Sensation/Perception Video. I love Philip Zimbardo. He summarized sensation and perception in 25 minutes for you.
3) Sensory Thresholds. We took notes on absolute threshold and difference threshold. We did a two demonstrations to help you understand these concepts.
4) Vision Notes. We drew the eye, analyzed the color spectrum and wavelength, talked about the two theories of color vision, and explained depth and distance perception. We did all sorts of demonstrations related to vision.
Assignments:
1) Read chapter 5 pages 211-228. Finish!
2) Make notecards on chapters 5 and 6! I will not check these, but you will do better if you memorize the vocabulary.
Friday, October 17, 2008
October 17: Review Test and Socratic Seminar
In-Class Activities:
1) Neuron Notes. You wrote a new question on sensation.
2) Developmental Activities. Some of you presented your Freudian fairy tale or your video of testing a child's conservation. Fun!
3) Review Test on Development. We went over the tricky questions from the test on chapters 3 & 4.
4) Socratic Seminar on the issue: "Does Divorce of Parents Harm Their Children?" After reading the two sides of this argument, we sat in a circle and had a very intelligent discussion to btter understand the text. WAY TO GO! You guys are really good at this!
Assignments:
1) Read chapter 5 pages .199-211
2) Make notecards on chapters 5 and 6. This unit is one of the hardest so please make sure you review and review and review!
1) Neuron Notes. You wrote a new question on sensation.
2) Developmental Activities. Some of you presented your Freudian fairy tale or your video of testing a child's conservation. Fun!
3) Review Test on Development. We went over the tricky questions from the test on chapters 3 & 4.
4) Socratic Seminar on the issue: "Does Divorce of Parents Harm Their Children?" After reading the two sides of this argument, we sat in a circle and had a very intelligent discussion to btter understand the text. WAY TO GO! You guys are really good at this!
Assignments:
1) Read chapter 5 pages .199-211
2) Make notecards on chapters 5 and 6. This unit is one of the hardest so please make sure you review and review and review!
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
October 14: Development Test on Ch.3 and Ch. 4
In-Class Activities:
1) Neuron Notes. You didn't need to write a new question, but I gave you the responses about aging.
2) Review. We went through the chapters and highlighted each point.
3) Collect Development Activity. You shared your experience testing and analyzing Piaget's stages, Kohlberg's moral ladder, or Freud's personality development. Great job!
4) Chapters 3 and 4 Test. 100 multiple choice questions on the development. If you were absent, you will take the test at the beginning of class on Friday while we go over the correct answers. Please come early so you can get settled and get it completed without missing too much of the rest of class.
5) Sensation/Perception Outline. You received the new outline for this next unit. Please get organized. We'll have some great conversations about all of your senses and how you perceive the world. The next test will cover both chapter 5 and chapter 6. Start making those notecards this week!
6) Taking Sides Articles. Please read both sides to the question "Does the Divorce of Parents Harm Their Parents?" and complete the handout so you can participate in our Socratic Seminar next class.
Assignments:
1) Read chapter 5 up to page 199.
2) Taking Sides articles and handout
1) Neuron Notes. You didn't need to write a new question, but I gave you the responses about aging.
2) Review. We went through the chapters and highlighted each point.
3) Collect Development Activity. You shared your experience testing and analyzing Piaget's stages, Kohlberg's moral ladder, or Freud's personality development. Great job!
4) Chapters 3 and 4 Test. 100 multiple choice questions on the development. If you were absent, you will take the test at the beginning of class on Friday while we go over the correct answers. Please come early so you can get settled and get it completed without missing too much of the rest of class.
5) Sensation/Perception Outline. You received the new outline for this next unit. Please get organized. We'll have some great conversations about all of your senses and how you perceive the world. The next test will cover both chapter 5 and chapter 6. Start making those notecards this week!
6) Taking Sides Articles. Please read both sides to the question "Does the Divorce of Parents Harm Their Parents?" and complete the handout so you can participate in our Socratic Seminar next class.
Assignments:
1) Read chapter 5 up to page 199.
2) Taking Sides articles and handout
Friday, October 10, 2008
October 9: Finish Adolescence and then OLD people
In-Class Activities:
1) Neuron Note. You wrote me one more question about development and you read the answers to your last questions.
2) Frontline "Inside the Teenage Brain." We finished watching this.
3) Sing-A-Long. We looked at songs that talk about moving to adulthood and we listened to the perfect song called "Father and Son" by Cat Stevens. Adolescence is the final severing of the umbilical cord for parents and you. It usually isn't easy, but you all can do it! :)
4) Notes on OLD. We talked briefly about what happens as you age and how our culture sees aging as a negative event.
5) "Never Say Die" Video Clip. Alan Alda and Scientific American Frontiers has some great programs and this one is fascinating. What if we "cure" aging!? We watched the segment on Roy Walford M.D.'s calorie restriction diet for longevity. For more information, read: http://www.walford.com/ and http://www.technologyreview.com/biomedicine/17572/
Assignments:
1) Finish chapter 4.
2) Developmental Activity. Due on Tuesday. You can try to test object permanence or conservation and better understand Piaget. Or you can ask people the Heinz dilemma and analyze their responses using Kohlberg's moral ladder. Or you can analyze a fairytale using Freud's psychosexual stages of personality development.
3) Test over chapters 3 and 4 is on Tuesday, October 14.
1) Neuron Note. You wrote me one more question about development and you read the answers to your last questions.
2) Frontline "Inside the Teenage Brain." We finished watching this.
3) Sing-A-Long. We looked at songs that talk about moving to adulthood and we listened to the perfect song called "Father and Son" by Cat Stevens. Adolescence is the final severing of the umbilical cord for parents and you. It usually isn't easy, but you all can do it! :)
4) Notes on OLD. We talked briefly about what happens as you age and how our culture sees aging as a negative event.
5) "Never Say Die" Video Clip. Alan Alda and Scientific American Frontiers has some great programs and this one is fascinating. What if we "cure" aging!? We watched the segment on Roy Walford M.D.'s calorie restriction diet for longevity. For more information, read: http://www.walford.com/ and http://www.technologyreview.com/biomedicine/17572/
Assignments:
1) Finish chapter 4.
2) Developmental Activity. Due on Tuesday. You can try to test object permanence or conservation and better understand Piaget. Or you can ask people the Heinz dilemma and analyze their responses using Kohlberg's moral ladder. Or you can analyze a fairytale using Freud's psychosexual stages of personality development.
3) Test over chapters 3 and 4 is on Tuesday, October 14.
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
October 7: Adolescence
In-Class Activities:
1) Neuron Note. You wrote me a new question about adolescence and I answered your questions from the last two classes. We spent lots of time reading these answers since many were interesting.
2) Parenting Styles. We reviewed Baumrind's parenting styles: authoritarian, permissive, and authoritative. We discussed our own parents and their styles and how you might be a parent.
3) Adolesence Notes. We talked about puberty, adolescent egocentrism concepts of imaginary audience and invincibility fable, and what stage you are at with each theorist (Piaget, Kohlberg, Erikson).
4) James Marcia's Identity States. You took a survey of repeating questions about gender roles, religion, politics, lifestyle, dating, occupation, etc. to see what stage of identity you are at.
Foreclosure = you have an identity, you are not searching, it is what you have been raised to be
"I am a Republican, my parents are Republican, my grandparents are Republicans."
Diffusion = you do not have an identity, you are not searching.
"I don't know. I don't care about politics. Whatever."
Moratorium = you do not have an identity, you are searching.
"I'm not sure who I support in the election, but I think I'll watch the debate. I'm curious about the candidates. What do Democrats and Republicans believe?"
Achievement = you have an identity, it is your own.
"I know who I am voting for in the election. I know where I stand on the issues. I can articulate my position and give examples from my own life to explain why I believe what I do."
5) Frontline "Inside the Teenage Brain." We were only able to watch the first ~20 minutes of this GREAT program. We'll finish it on Thursday.
Assignments:
1) Read chapter 4 up to page 188 (or just finish it!).
2) Developmental Activity. You received a detailed explanation of this assignment. You can try to test object permanence or conservation and better understand Piaget. Or you can ask people the Heinz dilemma and analyze their responses using Kohlberg's moral ladder. Or you can analyze a fairytale using Freud's psychosexual stages of personality development. It is due next Tuesday.
3) Test over chapters 3 and 4 is on Tuesday, October 14.
1) Neuron Note. You wrote me a new question about adolescence and I answered your questions from the last two classes. We spent lots of time reading these answers since many were interesting.
2) Parenting Styles. We reviewed Baumrind's parenting styles: authoritarian, permissive, and authoritative. We discussed our own parents and their styles and how you might be a parent.
3) Adolesence Notes. We talked about puberty, adolescent egocentrism concepts of imaginary audience and invincibility fable, and what stage you are at with each theorist (Piaget, Kohlberg, Erikson).
4) James Marcia's Identity States. You took a survey of repeating questions about gender roles, religion, politics, lifestyle, dating, occupation, etc. to see what stage of identity you are at.
Foreclosure = you have an identity, you are not searching, it is what you have been raised to be
"I am a Republican, my parents are Republican, my grandparents are Republicans."
Diffusion = you do not have an identity, you are not searching.
"I don't know. I don't care about politics. Whatever."
Moratorium = you do not have an identity, you are searching.
"I'm not sure who I support in the election, but I think I'll watch the debate. I'm curious about the candidates. What do Democrats and Republicans believe?"
Achievement = you have an identity, it is your own.
"I know who I am voting for in the election. I know where I stand on the issues. I can articulate my position and give examples from my own life to explain why I believe what I do."
5) Frontline "Inside the Teenage Brain." We were only able to watch the first ~20 minutes of this GREAT program. We'll finish it on Thursday.
Assignments:
1) Read chapter 4 up to page 188 (or just finish it!).
2) Developmental Activity. You received a detailed explanation of this assignment. You can try to test object permanence or conservation and better understand Piaget. Or you can ask people the Heinz dilemma and analyze their responses using Kohlberg's moral ladder. Or you can analyze a fairytale using Freud's psychosexual stages of personality development. It is due next Tuesday.
3) Test over chapters 3 and 4 is on Tuesday, October 14.
Friday, October 3, 2008
October 3: Piaget, Kohlberg, Erikson, Freud
In-Class Activities:
1) Neuron Note. You wrote me a new question about Piaget, attachment, and the other development concepts.
2) Did you watch the VP Debate? Keep up with what is going on in the world! When is a child, developmentally old enough to tackle controversational issues?
3) Lecture on Piaget, Kohlberg, Erikson, Freud. I gave you notes on the overhead over these stage theorists. Hopefully, we did enough to make it interesting. I gave you lots of life examples of my own children who are different stages at ages 1, 3, 6. We analyzed Kohlberg's moral dilemma with Heinz. I think Freud in just fascinating on his own to talk about. Make sure you know the different stages!
Assignments:
1) Read chapter 4 pp. 159-170.
2) Chapter vocabulary notecards (optional)
3) Extra credit video at lunch B days this week and next week.
1) Neuron Note. You wrote me a new question about Piaget, attachment, and the other development concepts.
2) Did you watch the VP Debate? Keep up with what is going on in the world! When is a child, developmentally old enough to tackle controversational issues?
3) Lecture on Piaget, Kohlberg, Erikson, Freud. I gave you notes on the overhead over these stage theorists. Hopefully, we did enough to make it interesting. I gave you lots of life examples of my own children who are different stages at ages 1, 3, 6. We analyzed Kohlberg's moral dilemma with Heinz. I think Freud in just fascinating on his own to talk about. Make sure you know the different stages!
Assignments:
1) Read chapter 4 pp. 159-170.
2) Chapter vocabulary notecards (optional)
3) Extra credit video at lunch B days this week and next week.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
October 1: Gus! Prenatal, Neonatal, Child Development
In-Class Activities:
1) Neuron Note. You read answers to your questions from the last two classes. We are back up to speed with your questions and my answers.
2) LIFE book. We looked at amazing photos of conception, blastocytes, embryos, fetuses. Check it out in the IMC.
3) Gus. My one-year-old joined us today to demonstrate some of his abilities. We looked at the next reading assignment and Gus showed you what he can do from that section! We talked about motor development, object permanence (and we hid toys until a cloth napkin to see what stages he has mastered), attachment (I wore him in a baby carrier when he got crabby), temperament (he is a social child, not inhibited...Jerome Kagan), and self-concept (we made his nose blue to see if he would wipe it off when he looked in the mirror...he didn't...maybe in a few months). Thank for being so good to Gus. I think he had a blast! You are all qualified to be babysitters! :)
4) Child Development Video. We watched the Philip Zimbardo video that showed babies abilities, nature/nurture, Piaget, and some great research on children.
Assignments:
1) Read chapter 4 pp. 143-159.
2) Chapter vocabulary notecards (optional)
3) Extra credit video at lunch B days this week and next week.
1) Neuron Note. You read answers to your questions from the last two classes. We are back up to speed with your questions and my answers.
2) LIFE book. We looked at amazing photos of conception, blastocytes, embryos, fetuses. Check it out in the IMC.
3) Gus. My one-year-old joined us today to demonstrate some of his abilities. We looked at the next reading assignment and Gus showed you what he can do from that section! We talked about motor development, object permanence (and we hid toys until a cloth napkin to see what stages he has mastered), attachment (I wore him in a baby carrier when he got crabby), temperament (he is a social child, not inhibited...Jerome Kagan), and self-concept (we made his nose blue to see if he would wipe it off when he looked in the mirror...he didn't...maybe in a few months). Thank for being so good to Gus. I think he had a blast! You are all qualified to be babysitters! :)
4) Child Development Video. We watched the Philip Zimbardo video that showed babies abilities, nature/nurture, Piaget, and some great research on children.
Assignments:
1) Read chapter 4 pp. 143-159.
2) Chapter vocabulary notecards (optional)
3) Extra credit video at lunch B days this week and next week.
Monday, September 29, 2008
September 29: Gender Differences
In-Class Activities:
1) Neuron Note. You read answers to your questions about heritability and more.
2) Striking Similarities. You finished your conversation with your neighbor trying to find similarities between you. Have you traveled to the same places? Do you like the same foods? Are you interested in the same books? The point of this activity is to show that even though identical twins who were separated at birth and reunited might have some striking similarities, so do you when you sit down and talk to someone who is not genetically close to you.
3) Gender Differences Fishbowl Conversation. You wrote anonymous questions to ask the opposite sex and I collected them. They all the ladies got together in a circle, with the guys listening on the outside, to have an honest conversation about them. And then we switched with the guys answering the ladies' question in the circle in order to find out their responses. This allows each gender to get a chance to talk amongst themselves honestly. In the end, we came to the conclusion that all females are not the same and all males are not the same.
Assignments:
1) Start chapter 4.
2) Chapter vocabulary notecards (optional)
3) Extra credit video at lunch all week
1) Neuron Note. You read answers to your questions about heritability and more.
2) Striking Similarities. You finished your conversation with your neighbor trying to find similarities between you. Have you traveled to the same places? Do you like the same foods? Are you interested in the same books? The point of this activity is to show that even though identical twins who were separated at birth and reunited might have some striking similarities, so do you when you sit down and talk to someone who is not genetically close to you.
3) Gender Differences Fishbowl Conversation. You wrote anonymous questions to ask the opposite sex and I collected them. They all the ladies got together in a circle, with the guys listening on the outside, to have an honest conversation about them. And then we switched with the guys answering the ladies' question in the circle in order to find out their responses. This allows each gender to get a chance to talk amongst themselves honestly. In the end, we came to the conclusion that all females are not the same and all males are not the same.
Assignments:
1) Start chapter 4.
2) Chapter vocabulary notecards (optional)
3) Extra credit video at lunch all week
Friday, September 26, 2008
September 25: Hot Topics of Nature/Nurture
In-Class Activities:
1) Neuron Note. I was not able to finish your Neuron Notes question for today since we have our grandma in town, but you wrote a new question. I'll get both sheets prepared this weekend.
2) Gattaca. We watched the first 5 minutes of this movie to start thinking about the how genetic could play in the future. The main character is one of the last "natural" babies born into a world where parents meet with the local geneticist to determine what traits they want they new child to have. Because of the knowledge that comes from genes, life expectancy and disease probabilities are known at birth. Since he is not genetically perfect, he has no chance of a career in a society that now discriminates against your genes, instead of your gender, race or religion. Until he assumes the identity of another perfectly genetic man... Watch the rest of it for a great conversation with your family and friends that relates to this chapter.
3) Jigsaw on Behavior Genetics, Evolutionary Psychology, and the Role of the Environment: you read one set of articles about hot topics and shared your information with a small group and listened to the other information they discovered in their readings.
Assignments:
1) Finish chapter 3.
2) Chapter 3 vocabulary notecards (optional)
Have a great Homecoming weekend!!!
1) Neuron Note. I was not able to finish your Neuron Notes question for today since we have our grandma in town, but you wrote a new question. I'll get both sheets prepared this weekend.
2) Gattaca. We watched the first 5 minutes of this movie to start thinking about the how genetic could play in the future. The main character is one of the last "natural" babies born into a world where parents meet with the local geneticist to determine what traits they want they new child to have. Because of the knowledge that comes from genes, life expectancy and disease probabilities are known at birth. Since he is not genetically perfect, he has no chance of a career in a society that now discriminates against your genes, instead of your gender, race or religion. Until he assumes the identity of another perfectly genetic man... Watch the rest of it for a great conversation with your family and friends that relates to this chapter.
3) Jigsaw on Behavior Genetics, Evolutionary Psychology, and the Role of the Environment: you read one set of articles about hot topics and shared your information with a small group and listened to the other information they discovered in their readings.
Assignments:
1) Finish chapter 3.
2) Chapter 3 vocabulary notecards (optional)
Have a great Homecoming weekend!!!
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
September 23: Review Brain Test/Responsive Brain
In-Class Activities:
1) Neuron Note. You didn't have answers to read today, but you wrote a new question based on the weekend's textbook reading on behavior genetics, twin studies, and evolutionary psychology.
2) Brain Test Review. I put the test data (distribution, mean, median, mode, standard deviation, histogram, grade scale) on the overhead so you could see how we did as a class as well as how you did in comparison with your classmates. Since three people earned a 96, I did not curve the test. We went over the questions that most students got wrong and you were able to write down the reasoning behind those tricky questions. I also tried to give page numbers so you could look up those concepts again. I did give everyone an extra point for #75. Please read the top paragraph on page 82 to remember that the right temporal lobe is involved in face recognition.
General comments about the trickiest questions: Many of you missed the ones related to the types of neurotransmitters (chart on page 62), how the nervous system is divided, and what each hemisphere is specialized in doing.
3) Evolutionary Psychology Survey: This gave us a chance to talk about how evolutionary psychologists talk about human behavior and our underlying motivations to perpetuate our genes.
4) "The Responsive Brain" Video: Philip Zimbardo told you about some important research on human touch and how it changes the brain as well as memory, evolution of human behavior, and more.
5) Striking Similarities. We spend the last 10 minutes of class finding similarities and differences between your neighbor and you. We'll use these at the start of class on Thursday
Assignments:
1) Read chapter 3 pages 116-125.
2) Chapter 3 vocabulary notecards (optional)
Please enjoy Homecoming week!!!
1) Neuron Note. You didn't have answers to read today, but you wrote a new question based on the weekend's textbook reading on behavior genetics, twin studies, and evolutionary psychology.
2) Brain Test Review. I put the test data (distribution, mean, median, mode, standard deviation, histogram, grade scale) on the overhead so you could see how we did as a class as well as how you did in comparison with your classmates. Since three people earned a 96, I did not curve the test. We went over the questions that most students got wrong and you were able to write down the reasoning behind those tricky questions. I also tried to give page numbers so you could look up those concepts again. I did give everyone an extra point for #75. Please read the top paragraph on page 82 to remember that the right temporal lobe is involved in face recognition.
General comments about the trickiest questions: Many of you missed the ones related to the types of neurotransmitters (chart on page 62), how the nervous system is divided, and what each hemisphere is specialized in doing.
3) Evolutionary Psychology Survey: This gave us a chance to talk about how evolutionary psychologists talk about human behavior and our underlying motivations to perpetuate our genes.
4) "The Responsive Brain" Video: Philip Zimbardo told you about some important research on human touch and how it changes the brain as well as memory, evolution of human behavior, and more.
5) Striking Similarities. We spend the last 10 minutes of class finding similarities and differences between your neighbor and you. We'll use these at the start of class on Thursday
Assignments:
1) Read chapter 3 pages 116-125.
2) Chapter 3 vocabulary notecards (optional)
Please enjoy Homecoming week!!!
Friday, September 19, 2008
September 19: Chapter 2 Test
In-Class Activities:
1) Neuron Notes. You didn't need to write a new question, but I gave you the responses from the last class. You had time to read before the test.
2) Endocrine System. I did a short review of hormones and the endocrine system.
3) Chapter 2 Test. 100 multiple choice questions on the brain. Mean If you were absent, you will take the test at the beginning of class on Tuesday while we go over the correct answers. Please come early so you can get settled and get it completed without missing too much of the rest of class.
3) Development Outline. You received the new outline for this next unit. Please get organized. We'll have some great conversations about nature/nurture and human development. The next test will cover both chapter 3 and chapter 4. Start making those notecards this weekend!
Assignments:
1) Read chapter 3 up to page 116.
1) Neuron Notes. You didn't need to write a new question, but I gave you the responses from the last class. You had time to read before the test.
2) Endocrine System. I did a short review of hormones and the endocrine system.
3) Chapter 2 Test. 100 multiple choice questions on the brain. Mean If you were absent, you will take the test at the beginning of class on Tuesday while we go over the correct answers. Please come early so you can get settled and get it completed without missing too much of the rest of class.
3) Development Outline. You received the new outline for this next unit. Please get organized. We'll have some great conversations about nature/nurture and human development. The next test will cover both chapter 3 and chapter 4. Start making those notecards this weekend!
Assignments:
1) Read chapter 3 up to page 116.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
September 17: Hemisphere Dominance
In -Class Activities
1) Neuron Note. You wrote a new questions and I finished answering your questions while you watched the video. 2B got a copy of these answers but 3B was not able to get them since the copier was broken. I went over the answers orally and you can get a copy of the answers at the end of the day.
2) Hemisphere Dominance. We took a little survey to see if you are left/right dominant. This is a bit silly since we all use both sides of our brains ALWAYS! But it gives us a place to start so we understand the specialization of each hemisphere. Then we watched, "Scientific American Frontiers: Pieces of Mind" clip on Michael Gazzinaga's research with split brain patients. WOW!!!
3) "Make Up Your Mind" video. This is more "Scientific American Frontiers" where Alan Alda visits different researchers and shares some amazing findings. 1) Phineas Gage's skull and what we know 2) Children and their fragile memories 3) Moral and difficult decisions and the brain regions 4) Being blind and brain plasticity 5) Missing a brain hemisphere and living normally
Assignments:
1) Finish chapter 2
2) Test on chapter 2 is on Friday! STUDY HARD!
1) Neuron Note. You wrote a new questions and I finished answering your questions while you watched the video. 2B got a copy of these answers but 3B was not able to get them since the copier was broken. I went over the answers orally and you can get a copy of the answers at the end of the day.
2) Hemisphere Dominance. We took a little survey to see if you are left/right dominant. This is a bit silly since we all use both sides of our brains ALWAYS! But it gives us a place to start so we understand the specialization of each hemisphere. Then we watched, "Scientific American Frontiers: Pieces of Mind" clip on Michael Gazzinaga's research with split brain patients. WOW!!!
3) "Make Up Your Mind" video. This is more "Scientific American Frontiers" where Alan Alda visits different researchers and shares some amazing findings. 1) Phineas Gage's skull and what we know 2) Children and their fragile memories 3) Moral and difficult decisions and the brain regions 4) Being blind and brain plasticity 5) Missing a brain hemisphere and living normally
Assignments:
1) Finish chapter 2
2) Test on chapter 2 is on Friday! STUDY HARD!
Monday, September 15, 2008
September 15: Play-Doh Brains
In-Class Activities:
1) Neuron Note. You read the answers and wrote one more good question related to the reading. I think this activity is really working out for us. Make the most of the reviewing.
2) Check Chapter 2 Notecards. I made sure you had completed the chapter 2 notecards. Way to go! Now use them to study for Friday's test!
3) Pop Quiz on pages 70-85.
4) Play-doh Brains. We made brains using play-doh. We started from the spinal cord, built the brain stem, added the limbic system, and finished with the cerebral cortex. I tried to make it "real." Make sure you know the parts, where they are located and what they do.
Assignments:
1) Read chapter pp..85-93. Hey, you might as well finish it!
2) TEST on Friday!
3) Extra credit videos at lunch today and Wednesday.
1) Neuron Note. You read the answers and wrote one more good question related to the reading. I think this activity is really working out for us. Make the most of the reviewing.
2) Check Chapter 2 Notecards. I made sure you had completed the chapter 2 notecards. Way to go! Now use them to study for Friday's test!
3) Pop Quiz on pages 70-85.
4) Play-doh Brains. We made brains using play-doh. We started from the spinal cord, built the brain stem, added the limbic system, and finished with the cerebral cortex. I tried to make it "real." Make sure you know the parts, where they are located and what they do.
Assignments:
1) Read chapter pp..85-93. Hey, you might as well finish it!
2) TEST on Friday!
3) Extra credit videos at lunch today and Wednesday.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
September 11: Neurons
In- Class Activities:
1) Neuron Note. You read answers to your awesome questions and asked a new question related to the brain. Nice work everyone!
2) Neuron Models. WOW! You guys are super creative! Not one lame neuron model. Whether they were made out of food, felt, or famous people, I hope they helped you learn the parts of the neuron and their function. We got a chance to judge the best ones from each class and I am proud to tell you:
3) Neural Transmission. We re-read the section in your book (page 56) on how neurons fire. It is really important that you understand action potential, resting potential, positive/negative ions, refractory periods, excititory/inhibitory signals, etc. Then we went outside and made ourselves into neurons. Some of you were dendrites, cell bodies, axons, axon terminals. I supplied the neurotransmitters (M & Ms) from a axon terminal, then the dendrites "ate" the neurotransmitters until they reached the treshold and told the neuron to fire, positive ions rushed in and negative ions rushed out as the neuron depolarizes and the message was sent down the axon to the terminal branches and the synapse. Then we did it again. Hopefully, it was helpful.
4) Nervous System. I told my personal stories of CNS and PNS injuries. Morals of those stories: Wear your seat belt and be good to your parents.
Assignments:
1) Read chapter 2 up to page 75.
2) All chapter 2 notecards are due on Monday
3) Don't forget your play-doh for Monday's brain creation
FYI: Chapter 2 test is on Friday, the 19th.
1) Neuron Note. You read answers to your awesome questions and asked a new question related to the brain. Nice work everyone!
2) Neuron Models. WOW! You guys are super creative! Not one lame neuron model. Whether they were made out of food, felt, or famous people, I hope they helped you learn the parts of the neuron and their function. We got a chance to judge the best ones from each class and I am proud to tell you:
2B's Best Neurons
#1 Jennifer Kwon's Origami Neuron
#2 Natasha Roberts' Ballet Neuron
#3 (tie) Craig Mortenson's Steve Erwin Neuron and Arielle Owens' Wearable Neuron
#2 Natasha Roberts' Ballet Neuron
#3 (tie) Craig Mortenson's Steve Erwin Neuron and Arielle Owens' Wearable Neuron
3B's Best Neurons
#1 Jacinta Lestone's Doggie Neuron
#2 Alec mcNamara's Rubix Neuron
#3 Bethany Sullivan's Espresson Neuron
#2 Alec mcNamara's Rubix Neuron
#3 Bethany Sullivan's Espresson Neuron
3) Neural Transmission. We re-read the section in your book (page 56) on how neurons fire. It is really important that you understand action potential, resting potential, positive/negative ions, refractory periods, excititory/inhibitory signals, etc. Then we went outside and made ourselves into neurons. Some of you were dendrites, cell bodies, axons, axon terminals. I supplied the neurotransmitters (M & Ms) from a axon terminal, then the dendrites "ate" the neurotransmitters until they reached the treshold and told the neuron to fire, positive ions rushed in and negative ions rushed out as the neuron depolarizes and the message was sent down the axon to the terminal branches and the synapse. Then we did it again. Hopefully, it was helpful.
4) Nervous System. I told my personal stories of CNS and PNS injuries. Morals of those stories: Wear your seat belt and be good to your parents.
Assignments:
1) Read chapter 2 up to page 75.
2) All chapter 2 notecards are due on Monday
3) Don't forget your play-doh for Monday's brain creation
FYI: Chapter 2 test is on Friday, the 19th.
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
September 9: Review Test/Animal Research Discussion
In-Class Activities:
1) Neuron Note. You didn't have answers to read today, but you wrote a new question based on the weekend's textbook reading on neural communication.
2) Prologue/Chapter 1 Test Review. I put the test data (distribution, mean, median, mode, standard deviation, histogram, grade scale) on the overhead so you could see how we did as a class as well as how you did in comparison with your classmates. Since the highest score was an 95, I curved the test by making the total points 95, not 100. We went over the questions that most students got wrong and you were able to write down the reasoning behind those tricky questions. I also tried to give page numbers so you could look up those concepts again. No matter how you did, you should be motivated to improve your test preparation, notetaking, vocabulary memorization, and study plans. As you learn more and more about what to expect from these tests and adjust your system for this class, you will be more and more successful.
General comments about the trickiest questions: Many of you missed the ones related to the early philosophers and psychologists. Study the chart on the bottom of page 3 and memorize those early names. Make sure you know that psychological research is broken down into three categories: description, correlation, experimentation.
3) Neuron Model Assignment Explanation: For tonight, your job is to make a model of a neuron with readily available supplies from your house. It must have all the parts (axon, dendrites, cell body, nucleus, myelin sheath labeled AND defined. Be thorough and thoughtful, and have fun and be creative.
4) Animal Research Taking Sides Discussion. Way to Go! Most of you read the two arguments for and against animal research in psychology. We broke into small groups and you discussed the articles and your personal opinion on the topic. We reconvened at a large group and discussed more. There are many hot topics on psychology and we'll try to read about them as we go through the semester.
Assignments:
1) Read chapter 2 pages 65-76.
2) Neuron Model is due on Thursday.
3) Make notecards so you can just review vocabulary next week. I'll check them on Monday.
4) Play-doh is needed for class on Monday.
FYI: Chapter 2 test is Friday, September 19.
1) Neuron Note. You didn't have answers to read today, but you wrote a new question based on the weekend's textbook reading on neural communication.
2) Prologue/Chapter 1 Test Review. I put the test data (distribution, mean, median, mode, standard deviation, histogram, grade scale) on the overhead so you could see how we did as a class as well as how you did in comparison with your classmates. Since the highest score was an 95, I curved the test by making the total points 95, not 100. We went over the questions that most students got wrong and you were able to write down the reasoning behind those tricky questions. I also tried to give page numbers so you could look up those concepts again. No matter how you did, you should be motivated to improve your test preparation, notetaking, vocabulary memorization, and study plans. As you learn more and more about what to expect from these tests and adjust your system for this class, you will be more and more successful.
General comments about the trickiest questions: Many of you missed the ones related to the early philosophers and psychologists. Study the chart on the bottom of page 3 and memorize those early names. Make sure you know that psychological research is broken down into three categories: description, correlation, experimentation.
3) Neuron Model Assignment Explanation: For tonight, your job is to make a model of a neuron with readily available supplies from your house. It must have all the parts (axon, dendrites, cell body, nucleus, myelin sheath labeled AND defined. Be thorough and thoughtful, and have fun and be creative.
4) Animal Research Taking Sides Discussion. Way to Go! Most of you read the two arguments for and against animal research in psychology. We broke into small groups and you discussed the articles and your personal opinion on the topic. We reconvened at a large group and discussed more. There are many hot topics on psychology and we'll try to read about them as we go through the semester.
Assignments:
1) Read chapter 2 pages 65-76.
2) Neuron Model is due on Thursday.
3) Make notecards so you can just review vocabulary next week. I'll check them on Monday.
4) Play-doh is needed for class on Monday.
FYI: Chapter 2 test is Friday, September 19.
Friday, September 5, 2008
September 5: Prologue/Ch.1 Test
In-Class Activities:
1) Neuron Notes. You didn't need to write a new question, but I gave you the responses from the last class. You had time to read before the test.
2) Sampling. Yum! Each of you got a sample of M&Ms. You calculated the percentage of each color of your M&Ms sample. Is it representative of the entire population of M&Ms' colors? No. So we calculated the entire class' M&M sample. Was it representative of the entire population of M&Ms? No. But it made the point of sampling and it tasted good.
Here is the distribution of colors:
13% Brown, 14% Yellow, 20% Orange, 13% Red, 16%Green, 24% Blue
For more M&Ms info, visit: http://us.mms.com/us/
3) Prologue/Chapter 1 Test. You completed your first of 14 multiple choice exams that you will take this year. 100 multiple choice questions in 70 minutes. The questions came from the writers of the textbook, so you should have memorized those first 50+pages. If you were absent, you will take the test at the beginning of class on Tuesday while we go over the correct answers. Please come early so you can get settled and get it completed without missing too much of the rest of class.
3) Brain/Biology Outline. You received the new outline for this next unit. You should use it to get organized. The BRAIN is great! The chapter 2 test will be in two weeks on Friday, September 19...start making those notecards tonight!
Side Note: As you visit Powerschool to check your test score, please think about what you did to prepare for the exam. If you didn't do as well as you thought you would, you need to rethink how you prepared. This is a college-level class with a college-level textbook and college-level tests. You must not only memorize the vocabulary, but make those concepts real. What can you do differently to improve your score for the next test? We will go over the tests on Tuesday and you can use that time to ask questions and learn more about these concepts before we move on. If you did well on the test, find someone who didn't do so hot and help them prepare better for the next test. Not only will you make a friend, but it will help you know the concepts even more as you explain them.
Assignments:
1) Read chapter 2 pp. 57-65
2) Animal Research Taking Sides Readings and Analysis. Should animal research be eliminated? Read both sides of this hot topic and come prepared for a class discussion.
3) Start making those notecards! Mastering the vocabulary early is key since we will use those words throughout the next chapter.
1) Neuron Notes. You didn't need to write a new question, but I gave you the responses from the last class. You had time to read before the test.
2) Sampling. Yum! Each of you got a sample of M&Ms. You calculated the percentage of each color of your M&Ms sample. Is it representative of the entire population of M&Ms' colors? No. So we calculated the entire class' M&M sample. Was it representative of the entire population of M&Ms? No. But it made the point of sampling and it tasted good.
Here is the distribution of colors:
13% Brown, 14% Yellow, 20% Orange, 13% Red, 16%Green, 24% Blue
For more M&Ms info, visit: http://us.mms.com/us/
3) Prologue/Chapter 1 Test. You completed your first of 14 multiple choice exams that you will take this year. 100 multiple choice questions in 70 minutes. The questions came from the writers of the textbook, so you should have memorized those first 50+pages. If you were absent, you will take the test at the beginning of class on Tuesday while we go over the correct answers. Please come early so you can get settled and get it completed without missing too much of the rest of class.
3) Brain/Biology Outline. You received the new outline for this next unit. You should use it to get organized. The BRAIN is great! The chapter 2 test will be in two weeks on Friday, September 19...start making those notecards tonight!
Side Note: As you visit Powerschool to check your test score, please think about what you did to prepare for the exam. If you didn't do as well as you thought you would, you need to rethink how you prepared. This is a college-level class with a college-level textbook and college-level tests. You must not only memorize the vocabulary, but make those concepts real. What can you do differently to improve your score for the next test? We will go over the tests on Tuesday and you can use that time to ask questions and learn more about these concepts before we move on. If you did well on the test, find someone who didn't do so hot and help them prepare better for the next test. Not only will you make a friend, but it will help you know the concepts even more as you explain them.
Assignments:
1) Read chapter 2 pp. 57-65
2) Animal Research Taking Sides Readings and Analysis. Should animal research be eliminated? Read both sides of this hot topic and come prepared for a class discussion.
3) Start making those notecards! Mastering the vocabulary early is key since we will use those words throughout the next chapter.
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
September 3: Statistics
In-Class Activities:
1) Neuron Note: You wrote one last Neuron Note before the test and you read the answers to last class' questions.
2) I collected the Psych Sim: Statistics assignment.
3) I also gave you one more experiment to identify the hypothesis, IV, DV, experimental group, control group. If you are still having trouble with this, talk to me or your study buddy before the test!
3) Central Tendency and Height. You all became "data" and we organized ourselves into a dichotomy, trichotomy, continuum, range, and histogram with mean, median, mode.
4) Standard Deviation Notes. We went step-by-step through the calculations of standard deviation using the example of punting distances. I explained the Normal Curve and its key percentages: 68%, 95%, 99.7%
5) Correlation Coefficient Notes. You do not need to know how to calculate it, but you do need to know what it means. There are two major questions to ask: Is it positive or negative? What is the strength? We went through examples and I encouraged you to find more in your life.
Assignments:
1) Finish Chapter 1
2) Study for the first big test on Friday. 100 Multiple Choice Questions in 70 Minutes. Get together with your study buddy. Review flashcards. Re-read the sections that were confusing. Send a message me. Good Luck! Remember to overlearn!
1) Neuron Note: You wrote one last Neuron Note before the test and you read the answers to last class' questions.
2) I collected the Psych Sim: Statistics assignment.
3) I also gave you one more experiment to identify the hypothesis, IV, DV, experimental group, control group. If you are still having trouble with this, talk to me or your study buddy before the test!
3) Central Tendency and Height. You all became "data" and we organized ourselves into a dichotomy, trichotomy, continuum, range, and histogram with mean, median, mode.
4) Standard Deviation Notes. We went step-by-step through the calculations of standard deviation using the example of punting distances. I explained the Normal Curve and its key percentages: 68%, 95%, 99.7%
5) Correlation Coefficient Notes. You do not need to know how to calculate it, but you do need to know what it means. There are two major questions to ask: Is it positive or negative? What is the strength? We went through examples and I encouraged you to find more in your life.
Assignments:
1) Finish Chapter 1
2) Study for the first big test on Friday. 100 Multiple Choice Questions in 70 Minutes. Get together with your study buddy. Review flashcards. Re-read the sections that were confusing. Send a message me. Good Luck! Remember to overlearn!
Friday, August 29, 2008
August 29: Research Methods
In-Class Activities:
1) Neuron Note. You read responses from last class' questions and you asked new questions in regards to the reading.
2) We reviewed the approaches posters from Monday and made sure everyone understood each perspective of psychology. You got to fight over who can take home the poster. :)
3) We got into our groups from the naturalistic observation. You brainstormed different human behaviors that make us curious. This is what research psychologists do -- spending their days ask questions, using the scientific method to find answers to those questions, refining their questions, and doing more studies. You made a list of interesting behaviors you observed and developed hypotheses based on those interesting behaviors. Then, you tried to operationally define your hypotheses from your observation and determine a plan for trying to do more research on your prediction. We shared our hypothesis with each other.
4) We took notes over Description Research methods of surveys, naturalistic observation, interviews, case studies and all of pros and cons for using them. Then we took notes over Correlational Research or Non-Experimental Research and how it is used to find associations between variables. We discussed when and why it is used. And we took notes over Experimentation and analyzed the five basic parts of an experiment: Hypothesis, Independent Variable, Dependent Variable, Experimental Group, and Control Group. You heard about Theresa Amabile's experiment examining creativity and competitive rewards. We dissected her experiment into the five basic elements. We also discussed operational definitions, confounding variables, random assignment, lab vs. field experiments, and replication.
5) I collected all of the naturalistic work.
Assignments:
1) Read Chapter 1 pp. 41-47 or just finish it!
2) Psych Sim on Descriptive Statistics and Correlation. Use the textbook's website and complete the two simulations. Then practice what you learned with this handout.
1) Neuron Note. You read responses from last class' questions and you asked new questions in regards to the reading.
2) We reviewed the approaches posters from Monday and made sure everyone understood each perspective of psychology. You got to fight over who can take home the poster. :)
3) We got into our groups from the naturalistic observation. You brainstormed different human behaviors that make us curious. This is what research psychologists do -- spending their days ask questions, using the scientific method to find answers to those questions, refining their questions, and doing more studies. You made a list of interesting behaviors you observed and developed hypotheses based on those interesting behaviors. Then, you tried to operationally define your hypotheses from your observation and determine a plan for trying to do more research on your prediction. We shared our hypothesis with each other.
4) We took notes over Description Research methods of surveys, naturalistic observation, interviews, case studies and all of pros and cons for using them. Then we took notes over Correlational Research or Non-Experimental Research and how it is used to find associations between variables. We discussed when and why it is used. And we took notes over Experimentation and analyzed the five basic parts of an experiment: Hypothesis, Independent Variable, Dependent Variable, Experimental Group, and Control Group. You heard about Theresa Amabile's experiment examining creativity and competitive rewards. We dissected her experiment into the five basic elements. We also discussed operational definitions, confounding variables, random assignment, lab vs. field experiments, and replication.
5) I collected all of the naturalistic work.
Assignments:
1) Read Chapter 1 pp. 41-47 or just finish it!
2) Psych Sim on Descriptive Statistics and Correlation. Use the textbook's website and complete the two simulations. Then practice what you learned with this handout.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
August 27: Introduction to Research
Good Job Everyone! I hope you have developed an efficient system to handle reading the textbook, taking notes, making notecards, and more.
In-Class Activities:
1) Neuron Note...You read my responses to last class period's questions and wrote new questions.
2) You turned in your textbook website assignment. If you did not get it done, please do it ASAP. Late work will earn half points and I will not accept it once it becomes a habit.
3) We had a pop quiz on pages 1-30. You used your notes and notecards. If you were absent, make it up in class on Friday.
4) We tried to get into the mind set of psychologists use to understand behavior and mental processes by taking some notes on thinking critically.
5) We watched the Phil Zimbardo video segment "Understanding Research" to get our minds turned on to why psychologists do experiments and other types of research. It talked about placebo effect, double-blind studies, correlation is not necessarily causation, placebo effect, and more.
5) You got the Naturalistic Observation assignment. With a partner, you are to observe two or more people interacting for ~10 minutes and take notes. Once your notes are complete and before you talk to your partner, you write up a 1-page summary of your observation and then swap with your partner. After reading their response, you record the differences in your observations. You must complete this assignment before class on Friday.
Assignments:
1) Read chapter 1 pp. 31-42
2) Naturalistic Observation
In-Class Activities:
1) Neuron Note...You read my responses to last class period's questions and wrote new questions.
2) You turned in your textbook website assignment. If you did not get it done, please do it ASAP. Late work will earn half points and I will not accept it once it becomes a habit.
3) We had a pop quiz on pages 1-30. You used your notes and notecards. If you were absent, make it up in class on Friday.
4) We tried to get into the mind set of psychologists use to understand behavior and mental processes by taking some notes on thinking critically.
5) We watched the Phil Zimbardo video segment "Understanding Research" to get our minds turned on to why psychologists do experiments and other types of research. It talked about placebo effect, double-blind studies, correlation is not necessarily causation, placebo effect, and more.
5) You got the Naturalistic Observation assignment. With a partner, you are to observe two or more people interacting for ~10 minutes and take notes. Once your notes are complete and before you talk to your partner, you write up a 1-page summary of your observation and then swap with your partner. After reading their response, you record the differences in your observations. You must complete this assignment before class on Friday.
Assignments:
1) Read chapter 1 pp. 31-42
2) Naturalistic Observation
Monday, August 25, 2008
August 25: Approaches to Psychology
In Class-Activities:
1) You wrote a Neuron Note and read the responses to last period's Neuron Note questions. This will be a regular activity at the start of class every day. Hopefully, you will make the most of it by getting out your notes, reviewing them, writing a thoughtful question or comment, and then reading my answers to your previous questions. The goal is to REVIEW the textbook reading. If you haven't read, please do not write a question. Keep up with the reading!!! And review!!!
2) We made sure everyone was ready to start learning so it was the last time to show me a book covered, parent signature, binder with dividers, and notecards. I also checked that you had created the vocabulary notecards of the Prologue and Chapter 1. Nice Job!
3) As a way to really understand each perspective of psychology, you broke into your table teams and made a poster of all the approaches to psychology. In your group, you compared the chart on page 11 in your textbook with the College Board Outline and then with the "Psychology & You" textbook's explanation of the approaches. You made a web of perspectives. With each perspective, you wrote the definition, listed famous people, and gave examples. At the end of class, we analyzed a situation with a woman who was depressed after dating a man of a different religion. The goal of the day was to REALLY understand the differing views psychologists take when examining human behavior.
Assignments:
1) Read the beginning of chapter 1 up to page 30.
2) Review all the notecards you made for the Prologue and chapter1.
3) Visit the textbook's website and complete the handout. This will give you a chance to sample all that it has to offer.
1) You wrote a Neuron Note and read the responses to last period's Neuron Note questions. This will be a regular activity at the start of class every day. Hopefully, you will make the most of it by getting out your notes, reviewing them, writing a thoughtful question or comment, and then reading my answers to your previous questions. The goal is to REVIEW the textbook reading. If you haven't read, please do not write a question. Keep up with the reading!!! And review!!!
2) We made sure everyone was ready to start learning so it was the last time to show me a book covered, parent signature, binder with dividers, and notecards. I also checked that you had created the vocabulary notecards of the Prologue and Chapter 1. Nice Job!
3) As a way to really understand each perspective of psychology, you broke into your table teams and made a poster of all the approaches to psychology. In your group, you compared the chart on page 11 in your textbook with the College Board Outline and then with the "Psychology & You" textbook's explanation of the approaches. You made a web of perspectives. With each perspective, you wrote the definition, listed famous people, and gave examples. At the end of class, we analyzed a situation with a woman who was depressed after dating a man of a different religion. The goal of the day was to REALLY understand the differing views psychologists take when examining human behavior.
Assignments:
1) Read the beginning of chapter 1 up to page 30.
2) Review all the notecards you made for the Prologue and chapter1.
3) Visit the textbook's website and complete the handout. This will give you a chance to sample all that it has to offer.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
August 21: Introduction and History of Psychology
In-Class Activities:
1) You wrote your first Neuron Note. This is a way for you to ask me questions about the reading every class period. If you do not have a question from the reading, you can make a thoughtful comment. I do this activity for many reasons but the main one is so you continually review the reading. Think about it: You read and took notes over the assigned pages at home. Today, you reviewed your notes by thinking about them as you wrote your Neuron Note. Tonight, I am responding to your questions and you will be able to read all the answers on Monday. It keeps you reviewing and reviewing the reading. If you do not read, please do not waste your time and my time writing a bogus question. This daily activity is for serious students who have genuine questions and thoughts about the reading.
2) I checked your Book Cover, Parent Signature, Binder with Dividers. I need you to develop a system and these easy activities some me that you are getting yourself organized. I am impressed by some of you. Those of you who could not do these simple assignments need to reconsider whether or not you can keep up with this class. It is an AP elective and you will need to be on top of the assignments. Please think about your ability to participate fully if these easy tasks were too much.
3) We completed a "quiz" that challenged your assumptions. For example, what professional baseball player stole the most bases in a year? The answer is Sophie Kurys, a female who played on the Women's Professional Baseball Team of the Racine Belles in 1946. While trying to understand human behavior, we jump to conclusions that we believe to be true, but we haven't seen the whole picture. I encourage you to let go of your overconfidence in what you know to be true and realize much of our assumptions are not 100% accurate.
4) We watched the first in a video series called "Discovering Psychology." It is a bit outdated, but a fabulous review on the major units of study. Philip Zimbardo, former professor and researcher at Stanford and APA President, is the narrator and we will use these short videos to get ourselves tuned into the chapters we cover. Today's video was a simple introduction to psychology with a great review of the major historical figures.
5) I lectured on the History of Psychology: its roots, its beginning as a science and as therapy, as well as current views.
Assignments:
1) Read the rest of the Prologue pp.9-16 Take serious notes and think about what you might ask as a Neuron Note question next class.
2) Send me an email answering one of the eight FAQ of psychology.
3) Complete all the vocabulary notecards for the Prologue and Ch.1
4) Find a study buddy from your class or the other AP class.
1) You wrote your first Neuron Note. This is a way for you to ask me questions about the reading every class period. If you do not have a question from the reading, you can make a thoughtful comment. I do this activity for many reasons but the main one is so you continually review the reading. Think about it: You read and took notes over the assigned pages at home. Today, you reviewed your notes by thinking about them as you wrote your Neuron Note. Tonight, I am responding to your questions and you will be able to read all the answers on Monday. It keeps you reviewing and reviewing the reading. If you do not read, please do not waste your time and my time writing a bogus question. This daily activity is for serious students who have genuine questions and thoughts about the reading.
2) I checked your Book Cover, Parent Signature, Binder with Dividers. I need you to develop a system and these easy activities some me that you are getting yourself organized. I am impressed by some of you. Those of you who could not do these simple assignments need to reconsider whether or not you can keep up with this class. It is an AP elective and you will need to be on top of the assignments. Please think about your ability to participate fully if these easy tasks were too much.
3) We completed a "quiz" that challenged your assumptions. For example, what professional baseball player stole the most bases in a year? The answer is Sophie Kurys, a female who played on the Women's Professional Baseball Team of the Racine Belles in 1946. While trying to understand human behavior, we jump to conclusions that we believe to be true, but we haven't seen the whole picture. I encourage you to let go of your overconfidence in what you know to be true and realize much of our assumptions are not 100% accurate.
4) We watched the first in a video series called "Discovering Psychology." It is a bit outdated, but a fabulous review on the major units of study. Philip Zimbardo, former professor and researcher at Stanford and APA President, is the narrator and we will use these short videos to get ourselves tuned into the chapters we cover. Today's video was a simple introduction to psychology with a great review of the major historical figures.
5) I lectured on the History of Psychology: its roots, its beginning as a science and as therapy, as well as current views.
Assignments:
1) Read the rest of the Prologue pp.9-16 Take serious notes and think about what you might ask as a Neuron Note question next class.
2) Send me an email answering one of the eight FAQ of psychology.
3) Complete all the vocabulary notecards for the Prologue and Ch.1
4) Find a study buddy from your class or the other AP class.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
August 19: WELCOME NEW AP PSYCH-Os!
Welcome New AP Psych-os!
I am psyched! I hope you all are too.
Over the years, I have used many ways to communicate with students regularly outside of class, but the blog has been super helpful since I am only at LAHS on B days. My goal is for you to feel very connected to AP Psych and never feel like you "don't know what is going on." Please bookmark this blog and visit it before you go to bed on B days. I will post our class activities, assignments, great websites, fresh ideas, and more.
In-Class Activities:
1) I welcomed you and told you about myself and the class.
2) We went through the AP Psychology Expectations handout, the College Board's AP Psychology outline, Exam Tidbits, and Advice from Last Year's AP Psych students. This is a college level class and we will be taking the AP exam in May. If this commitment is too much, you should make an appointment with your counselor for a schedule change. Regular Psychology (during 4B) might better suit your needs.
3) You completed a notecard of information about yourself: basic information as well as your strengths/weaknesses/worthwhile learning experiences/ineffective learning experiences.
4) You completed a survey on contentious topics of psychology. We had a Agree/Disagree discussion on the topics of IQ and gender differences. Nature vs. Nurture, man!
Tonight's Assignments:
1) Cover your book
2) Have your parent's sign the AP Psych Expectations handout.
3) Email me at l.ovaska@laschools.net
One topic from you textbook that interests you.
One cool fact about yourself.
4) Read the Prologue pp.1-9 and take superstar notes and make notecards of all the vocabulary in the Prologue.
5) Get a binder with 14 dividers that correspond with the units on the College Board Outline
6) Check out www.apa.org
7) Bring Kleenex
Extra Information:
Not only should you visit this blog at: http://ovaska-appsych.blogspot.com/, the American Psychological Association at: www.apa.org, but you should explore the textbook's website at: http://bcs.worthpublishers.com/myers7e
I am psyched! I hope you all are too.
Over the years, I have used many ways to communicate with students regularly outside of class, but the blog has been super helpful since I am only at LAHS on B days. My goal is for you to feel very connected to AP Psych and never feel like you "don't know what is going on." Please bookmark this blog and visit it before you go to bed on B days. I will post our class activities, assignments, great websites, fresh ideas, and more.
In-Class Activities:
1) I welcomed you and told you about myself and the class.
2) We went through the AP Psychology Expectations handout, the College Board's AP Psychology outline, Exam Tidbits, and Advice from Last Year's AP Psych students. This is a college level class and we will be taking the AP exam in May. If this commitment is too much, you should make an appointment with your counselor for a schedule change. Regular Psychology (during 4B) might better suit your needs.
3) You completed a notecard of information about yourself: basic information as well as your strengths/weaknesses/worthwhile learning experiences/ineffective learning experiences.
4) You completed a survey on contentious topics of psychology. We had a Agree/Disagree discussion on the topics of IQ and gender differences. Nature vs. Nurture, man!
Tonight's Assignments:
1) Cover your book
2) Have your parent's sign the AP Psych Expectations handout.
3) Email me at l.ovaska@laschools.net
One topic from you textbook that interests you.
One cool fact about yourself.
4) Read the Prologue pp.1-9 and take superstar notes and make notecards of all the vocabulary in the Prologue.
5) Get a binder with 14 dividers that correspond with the units on the College Board Outline
6) Check out www.apa.org
7) Bring Kleenex
Extra Information:
Not only should you visit this blog at: http://ovaska-appsych.blogspot.com/, the American Psychological Association at: www.apa.org, but you should explore the textbook's website at: http://bcs.worthpublishers.com/myers7e
Sunday, April 27, 2008
April 24: Review Outlines DUE! Finish Social Psych
Class Activities:
1) Psych News. 2B is done with presentations. 3B heard from Arianna.
2) Collected Review Outlines. Awesome! You guys did great and I am so proud of you! If you didn't get it done. Send it to me ASAP!!
3) Aggression, Attraction, Altruism. I lectured on these final concepts from the book. Nature vs. Nurture with Aggression. What about the crime rate? Beautiful people win! UGH! Love styles. Bystander intervention. Kitty Genovese. Go and do random acts of kindness.
4) Free-Response on Social Psych. You can do it!
Assignments:
1) Cahpter 1-18 Test is on Monday. STUDY!!
1) Psych News. 2B is done with presentations. 3B heard from Arianna.
2) Collected Review Outlines. Awesome! You guys did great and I am so proud of you! If you didn't get it done. Send it to me ASAP!!
3) Aggression, Attraction, Altruism. I lectured on these final concepts from the book. Nature vs. Nurture with Aggression. What about the crime rate? Beautiful people win! UGH! Love styles. Bystander intervention. Kitty Genovese. Go and do random acts of kindness.
4) Free-Response on Social Psych. You can do it!
Assignments:
1) Cahpter 1-18 Test is on Monday. STUDY!!
April 18: More Social Psych
Class Activities:
1) Psych News.
2) Announcements. Final Drafts of Review Outlines due on Thursday, the 24th. I will be gone next class so ask me your questions ASAP. You will watch the videos on the Social Psych experiments next class and I will give you time to meet with your partners to finish up your outlines.
3) Deindividuation, Prejudice, and More Lecture.
4) Review Outline Work Time. Make a plan with your partner, look at extra textbooks, ask questions.
Assignments:
1) Finish Chapter 18.
2) Review Outlines are due on Thursday.
1) Psych News.
2) Announcements. Final Drafts of Review Outlines due on Thursday, the 24th. I will be gone next class so ask me your questions ASAP. You will watch the videos on the Social Psych experiments next class and I will give you time to meet with your partners to finish up your outlines.
3) Deindividuation, Prejudice, and More Lecture.
4) Review Outline Work Time. Make a plan with your partner, look at extra textbooks, ask questions.
Assignments:
1) Finish Chapter 18.
2) Review Outlines are due on Thursday.
April 16: Obediance and Conformity
Class Activities:
1) Announcements: Outline progress will be collected on Friday. Your unit outlines need to have the vocabulary, people, and concepts started. And Chapter 18 needs to be read. Stay focused. Lunch Reviews all this week.
2) Lecture on Conformity and Obediance. We talked about why we conform, gave examples. We talked about obedience and why we comply with other (why did you do all those silly things I asked you?). We watched the video clips of Asch's conformity study and the controversial Milgram's study with "shocking" people. Amazing isn't it!?
Assignments:
1) Read chapter 18.
2) Get into your review outline. I'll collect your progress in class next time.
1) Announcements: Outline progress will be collected on Friday. Your unit outlines need to have the vocabulary, people, and concepts started. And Chapter 18 needs to be read. Stay focused. Lunch Reviews all this week.
2) Lecture on Conformity and Obediance. We talked about why we conform, gave examples. We talked about obedience and why we comply with other (why did you do all those silly things I asked you?). We watched the video clips of Asch's conformity study and the controversial Milgram's study with "shocking" people. Amazing isn't it!?
Assignments:
1) Read chapter 18.
2) Get into your review outline. I'll collect your progress in class next time.
April 14: Test Review and Intro of Social Psych
Class Activities:
1) Psych News.
2) Announcements. Last class, you selected a unit to become the expert in and you were to get organized over the weekend. It is really important that you work hard on these. You will be sharing this with everyone and so you need to be thorough.
3) Test Review. People did pretty well on this test and so we didn't spend a lot of time going over the questions.
4) Social Psych Lecture. I explained the difference between psychology/sociology/social psychology. We looked at many concepts from the year and how they relate to social psychology (i.e. schema). Social thinking is connected to many of the topics we have already mastered.
Assignments:
1) Read Chapter 18.
2) Work on your outlines.
1) Psych News.
2) Announcements. Last class, you selected a unit to become the expert in and you were to get organized over the weekend. It is really important that you work hard on these. You will be sharing this with everyone and so you need to be thorough.
3) Test Review. People did pretty well on this test and so we didn't spend a lot of time going over the questions.
4) Social Psych Lecture. I explained the difference between psychology/sociology/social psychology. We looked at many concepts from the year and how they relate to social psychology (i.e. schema). Social thinking is connected to many of the topics we have already mastered.
Assignments:
1) Read Chapter 18.
2) Work on your outlines.
Friday, April 11, 2008
April 10: Chapter 17 Test
Class Activities:
1) Announcements: Time to hunker down with the AP Exam. Chapter 18 is the last chapter. You will create unit outlines for each other over the next two weeks. Stay focused. Start thinking about all the material. Lunch Reviews over the units will begin next week.
2) Chapter 17 Multiple Choice Test.
3) Chapter 17 Free-Response essay.
4) Review Outline Selection. You choose the topic you will research, review, and explain on an outline for the rest of class.
Assignments:
1) Read chapter 18 up to page 705.
2) Get organized for your review outline.
1) Announcements: Time to hunker down with the AP Exam. Chapter 18 is the last chapter. You will create unit outlines for each other over the next two weeks. Stay focused. Start thinking about all the material. Lunch Reviews over the units will begin next week.
2) Chapter 17 Multiple Choice Test.
3) Chapter 17 Free-Response essay.
4) Review Outline Selection. You choose the topic you will research, review, and explain on an outline for the rest of class.
Assignments:
1) Read chapter 18 up to page 705.
2) Get organized for your review outline.
April 8: UNM Field Trip
Off we went to UNM at 7am...
Dr. Julia Stephen gave us a tour of the MIND Imaging Center. We saw new technology with MEG and BabySquid as well as EEG and MRI.
Psychology Department Chair ,Dr. Ronald Yeo, gave us a nice welcome to the psychology department and all it has to offer.
We visited Dr. Akaysha Tang's rat lab where she is researching what happens to rats who spent 3 minutes away from their mothers for the first three weeks of their lives.
We also visited research labs in positive psychology and health issues including one study with firefighters.
We ate lunch at the duck pond.
We attended the Abnormal Psychology lecture.
Assignments:
1) Chapter 17 Test is on Thursday.
Dr. Julia Stephen gave us a tour of the MIND Imaging Center. We saw new technology with MEG and BabySquid as well as EEG and MRI.
Psychology Department Chair ,Dr. Ronald Yeo, gave us a nice welcome to the psychology department and all it has to offer.
We visited Dr. Akaysha Tang's rat lab where she is researching what happens to rats who spent 3 minutes away from their mothers for the first three weeks of their lives.
We also visited research labs in positive psychology and health issues including one study with firefighters.
We ate lunch at the duck pond.
We attended the Abnormal Psychology lecture.
Assignments:
1) Chapter 17 Test is on Thursday.
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
March 26: Treatment Lecture
Class Activities:
1) Collect UNM $$ and permission slips. If you are not going on the field trip, you will meet in Mrs. Raichur's room (end of the P-Wing Hallway) for class that Tuesday.
2) Neuron Note/Psych News. You wrote a new question and listened to the presentation from Hilary (2B) and Nat (3B).
3) Lecture on Treatment. I explained the five major types of psychotherapy: psychoanalysis, humanism, behavioral, cognitive, and biomedical. While you took notes and watched video clips, I tried to systematically desensitize you to crickets. We looked at them, learned about them, touched them, and a few even ate them. ;)
Assignments:
1) Handout for UNM field trip. Visit the psych department's website and answer questions.
2) Read Chapter 17 over spring break. Test will be the Thursday after spring break.
3) If you are interested in some extra credit, read a book that relates to psychology over the break and write a summary and response (how does it relate to class and the text). Please handwrite your book report.
1) Collect UNM $$ and permission slips. If you are not going on the field trip, you will meet in Mrs. Raichur's room (end of the P-Wing Hallway) for class that Tuesday.
2) Neuron Note/Psych News. You wrote a new question and listened to the presentation from Hilary (2B) and Nat (3B).
3) Lecture on Treatment. I explained the five major types of psychotherapy: psychoanalysis, humanism, behavioral, cognitive, and biomedical. While you took notes and watched video clips, I tried to systematically desensitize you to crickets. We looked at them, learned about them, touched them, and a few even ate them. ;)
Assignments:
1) Handout for UNM field trip. Visit the psych department's website and answer questions.
2) Read Chapter 17 over spring break. Test will be the Thursday after spring break.
3) If you are interested in some extra credit, read a book that relates to psychology over the break and write a summary and response (how does it relate to class and the text). Please handwrite your book report.
Monday, March 24, 2008
March 23: Test on Chapter 16
Class Activities:
1) Collect UNM $$ and permission slips.
2) Finish Creative Project Presentations.
3) Multiple Choice Test on Chapter 16.
4) Free -Response on Disorders. This was timed. You had 25 minutes to answer it.
Assignments:
1) $$ and permission for UNM field trip.
2) Start reading chapter 17 up to page 673.
1) Collect UNM $$ and permission slips.
2) Finish Creative Project Presentations.
3) Multiple Choice Test on Chapter 16.
4) Free -Response on Disorders. This was timed. You had 25 minutes to answer it.
Assignments:
1) $$ and permission for UNM field trip.
2) Start reading chapter 17 up to page 673.
March 20: Presentations of Projects
lass Activities:
1) Announcements. Turn in your AP exam $$ to Mrs. Lieb. Turn in your field trip permission slips and $$ to me on Monday.
2) Presentations of creative projects. Each of you got 3-5 minutes to explain the disorder you selected and your creative project. WOW! You guys are awesome! Great job being creative!
Assignments:
1) Turn in $$.
2) Test on Chapter 16 will be on Monday, March 23.
1) Announcements. Turn in your AP exam $$ to Mrs. Lieb. Turn in your field trip permission slips and $$ to me on Monday.
2) Presentations of creative projects. Each of you got 3-5 minutes to explain the disorder you selected and your creative project. WOW! You guys are awesome! Great job being creative!
Assignments:
1) Turn in $$.
2) Test on Chapter 16 will be on Monday, March 23.
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
March 18: Schizophrenia
Class Activities:
1) Psych News/Neuron Note. You wrote a question. I'll get my responses to you next class. News was presented from Amber in 2B. Thomas was absent for 3B's presentation.
2) Pop Quiz on chapter 16.
3) Schizophrenia Notes and Video clips. We watched a clip of a man named Jerry who has all the classic symptoms of schizophrenia. We also watched the beginning of a Discovery show on schizophrenia. It had great explanation of the disorder.
Assignments:
1) Creative Project is due on Thursday.
2) Test on Chapter 16 will be on Monday, March 23.
1) Psych News/Neuron Note. You wrote a question. I'll get my responses to you next class. News was presented from Amber in 2B. Thomas was absent for 3B's presentation.
2) Pop Quiz on chapter 16.
3) Schizophrenia Notes and Video clips. We watched a clip of a man named Jerry who has all the classic symptoms of schizophrenia. We also watched the beginning of a Discovery show on schizophrenia. It had great explanation of the disorder.
Assignments:
1) Creative Project is due on Thursday.
2) Test on Chapter 16 will be on Monday, March 23.
Friday, March 14, 2008
March 14: OCD and Mood Disorders
Class Activities:
1) Neuron Note/Psych News. You wrote a new Neuron Note Psych News articles were presented: 2B-Gareth and 3B - Allen.
2) I collected your handout for the disorder you will present next week. Work on your creative part this weekend.
3) OCD Video. Wow! Kissing 32 times before leaving home...
4) Mood Disorders Notes. Depression, Dysthmia, and Bipolar Disorder.
5) "Fires of the Mind: Depression and Bipolar"
Assignments:
1) Read and take notes over chapter 16 to the end.
2) Work on your creative project. It is due on Thursday.
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
March 12: What is Abnormal?, DSM-IV, and Anxiety Disorders
Class Activities:
1) Neuron Note/Psych News. You wrote a new Neuron Note for chapter 16 up to 633. Many Psych News articles were presented: 2B-Julie, Lisa, and Amelia and 3B - Anna and Cassandra.
2) 2B quickly reviewed their Multiple Choice Test on chapter 15.
3) Turn in Work and Return Work. You received your free-responses and other assignments. I collected the Website Assignment and checked you sources for your disorder research. We all got organized.
4) Disorders Creative Project Clarification. We made sure everyone has a disorder to research. Handouts are due next class. Creative Projects are due next week.
5) What is abnormal? We talked about what is normal and what is abnormal. There are three criteria I use when determining if something is a mental disorder:
1. Does it violate cultural norms?
2. Is it harmful for yourself or others?
3. Does it make your life inefficient?
We also talked about labeling and its problems, the DSM-IV, drapetomania, the study of being sane in insane places, and more.
6) Anxiety Disorders. We took notes over four main ones and watched video clips on them.
Assignments:
1) Read and take notes over chapter 16 up to page 653.
2) Research your disorder for the creative project. Bring your handout with all the information on Friday.
Friday, March 7, 2008
March7: Review Test/Select Disorders
7-Period Day from yesterday's snow day. Class was only 48 minutes.
Class Activities:
1) Neuron Note/Psych News. No Neuron Note. Psych News will be presented next week.
2) 2B finished their Multiple Choice Test on chapter 15.
3) Review Test. We reviewed the most difficult questions on the chapter 15 test.
4) New Outline! Because of the snow day, I changed the test for chapter 16 and updated the schedule. Make sure you get a copy.
5) Select disorder to research. Each of you will research a selected disorder. The assignment is to make a handout with all sorts of information about this disorder, make something creative related to this disorder, and present it all to class. In class today, you chose your disorder. Over the weekend, start researching it. For our next class on Wednesday, bring 5 sources that you are using to learn about your disorder. Your handout is due next Friday. Your creative project is due on Thursday, March 20th (this is changed from the original assignment).
1) Read and take notes over chapter 16 up to page 633.
2) Research your disorder for the creative project. Bring 5 resources to class on Wednesday.
3) Mental Disorders Websites. This assignment takes you through two great websites on mental illness: the National Institutes of Mental Health website and a website for online diagnoses. Complete the questions and you view them. Due on Wednesday too.
March 5: Test on Personality
Class Activities:
1) No Neuron Note or Psych News today.
2) Multiple Choice Test on Personality.
3) Free-Response on Personality
4) Pick up Abnormal Psych Outline and Creative Project Assignment.
1) Read and take notes over chapter 16 up to page 619
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
3B ONLY! March 4: Social-Cognitive Theories and The Self
1) Neuron Note/Psych News. You didn't need to write a new question and read the answers to your questions. 2B heard the news presentation from Caroline.
2) Social Cognitive Perspective.
Reciprocal Determinism clarification.
"Shindler's List" clip: The Jewish maid has lost all sense of control in her life. Have you ever felt a lack of control? What does that do to your personality?
1) STUDY!!! Test on chapter 15 tomorrow Wednesday, March 5th. Multiple Choice and Free-Response
2) Personality Free-Response. Use this to practice for the test. Due on tomorrow.
2) Social Cognitive Perspective.
Reciprocal Determinism clarification.
"Shindler's List" clip: The Jewish maid has lost all sense of control in her life. Have you ever felt a lack of control? What does that do to your personality?
Locus of Control Survey.
3) The Self.
Self-Esteem survey and evaluation. Notes on self-esteem.
The Dark Side of Self-Esteem notes and discussion.
Biased Self-Ratings. Better-than-average Phenomenon.
Self-Handicapping. Don't create an excuse for failure on Wednesday's test!
1) STUDY!!! Test on chapter 15 tomorrow Wednesday, March 5th. Multiple Choice and Free-Response
2) Personality Free-Response. Use this to practice for the test. Due on tomorrow.
Thursday, February 28, 2008
3B Only! February 28: Humanistic and Trait Theories
Class Activities:
1) Neuron Note/Psych News. You wrote a new question and read the answers to your questions. 3B heard the news presentation from Danielle.
2) Grade Free-Responses. These were the questions from 2004.
3) Humanistic Perspective.
"Dead Poet's Society:" Neal tries to be true to himself but his father's expectations bury him.
Perceived vs. Ideal Self: Are they the same? Can we self-actualize?
Obstacles of Self-actualization
4) Trait Perspective.
Myers-Briggs Type Indicator Notes.
Keirsey Temperament Sorter: You completed the survey and found your "type" (i.e., ENFJ)
Big Five Survey: You got your score of extraversion, emotional stability, openness, agreeableness, conscientiousness.
Assignments:1) Finish chapter 15. Test on Wednesday, March 5th.
2) Personality Free-Response. Use this to practice before next week's test. Due on March 5th.
2B Only! February 28: Social-Cognitive Theories and the Self
Class Activities:
1) Neuron Note/Psych News. You wrote a new question and read the answers to your questions. 2B heard the news presentation from Mary.
2) Social Cognitive Perspective.
Reciprocal Determinism clarification.
"Shindler's List" clip: The Jewish maid has lost all sense of control in her life. Have you ever felt a lack of control? What does that do to your personality?
Locus of Control Survey.
3) The Self.
Self-Esteem survey and evaluation. Notes on self-esteem.
The Dark Side of Self-Esteem notes and discussion.
Biased Self-Ratings. Better-than-average Phenomenon.
Self-Handicapping. Don't create an excuse for failure on Wednesday's test!
1) STUDY!!! Test on chapter 15 on Wednesday, March 5th. Multiple Choice and Free-Response
2) Personality Free-Response. Use this to practice for the test. Due on Wednesday.
2B Only! February 26: Humanism and Trait Theories
Class Activities:
1) Neuron Note/Psych News. You wrote a new question and read the answers to your questions. 2B heard the news presentation from Ashlynn.
2) Grade Free-Responses. These were the questions from 2004.
3) Humanistic Perspective.
"Dead Poet's Society:" Neal tries to be true to himself but his father's expectations bury him.
Perceived vs. Ideal Self: Are they the same? Can we self-actualize?
Obstacles of Self-actualization
4) Trait Perspective.
Myers-Briggs Type Indicator Notes.
Keirsey Temperament Sorter: You completed the survey and found your "type" (i.e., ENFJ)
Big Five Survey: You got your score of extraversion, emotional stability, openness, agreeableness, conscientiousness.
Assignments:1) Finish chapter 15.
2) Personality Free-Response. Use this to practice before next week's test. Due on March 5th.
February 22: Freud and Psychoanalysis
Class Activities:
1) Neuron Note/Psych News. You wrote a new question and read the answers to your questions. 2B heard the news presentation from Craig. 3B didn't have a news presentation
2) Pop Quiz over pages 575-600.
3) Freud. We took a survey to see if psychoanalysis is in our lives today. Then we took notes on Freud. We watched an A & E Biography on Freud's life. Then we completed a handout of defense mechanisms to understand the examples of each type.
1) Read and take notes over chapter 15 pages 600-614.
2) Two Free-Response Questions. Give yourself 50 minutes at home to read, outline, and write each essay. This is exactly like you will do the free-response essays on the AP Psych test.
February 20: Test Review and Personality Intro
Class Activities:
1) Neuron Note/Psych News. You wrote a new question. 2B heard the news presentatio from Stephanie. 3B heard the news presentations from Brett.
2) We reviewed the test on Motivation, Emotions, Stress.
3) We graded the free-response about Development with the rubric.
4) We started talking about Personality and what personality theorists do. We also took a survey to establish our own theory of personality.
1) Read and take notes over chapter 15 pages 587-600.
Thursday, February 14, 2008
February 14: Test on Ch. 12, 13, 14
Class Activities:
1) Neuron Note/Psych News. You read last time's responses and you didn't need to write a new question. There were no news presentations in 2B. 3B heard the news presentations from Lauren Doyle.
2) Multiple Choice Test on Motivation, Emotions, Stress. 100 questions from chapters 12, 13, and 14.
3) Pick up Personality Outline This next unit will be a bit wacky with the junior testing schedule February 25 & 26 and March 3 & 4.
4) Pick up Free-Response Assignment.
Write in black ink, use paragraphs, be thorough but concise, sound like a psychologist not a layman, figure out how many points there are, create a rubric before you write to organize your thoughts. Good Luck!
1) Read and take notes over chapter 15 up to page 568.
2) Free Response essay is due next class.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
February 12: Stress
Class Activities:
1) Neuron Note/Psych News. You read last time's responses and you write a new question. There were no news presentations in 2B. 3B heard the news presentations from Burgandy Brock.
2) Pop Quiz on chapter 14.
3) Statistics Free-Response. We talked about free-response essays and then we
"graded" them using the rubric from the AP Readers. Things to consider:
Write in black ink, use paragraphs, be thorough but concise, sound like a psychologist not a layman, figure out how many points there are, create a rubric before you write to organize your thoughts, use all of your time.
4) "Worried Sick" Video. Awesome Scientific American Frontiers video with Alan Alda on stress. Great research! Don't get stressed!
Assignments:
1) Study with someone for the test over chapters 12, 13, 14 on Thursday!!!!
February 8: Happiness and Stress
Class Activities:
1) Neuron Note/Psych News. You read last time's responses and you write a new question. Then you heard the news presentations from Jason Grider in 2B but no one presented in 3B.
2) Emotions/Stress Activity. We shared and I collected your summary of your experience with detecting deception, or monitoring your anger, or recoding your daily mood, or meditating.
3) Happiness notes and conversation. We looked concepts from the textbook and talked about being happy.
4) We completed some surveys of stress. How vulnerable are you? How does your body respond? How many stressful events have you had? Are you Type A personality?
Assignments:
1) Read chapter 14. Finish it.
2) Statistics Free-Response. This is your first attempt to complete a free-response essay question. We are starting to practice these in preparation for the AP exam. It is due on Tuesday.
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
February 6: More on Emotions
Class Activities:
1) Neuron Note/Psych News. 2B read last time's responses and you wrote a new question. Then you heard the news presentations from in 2B and Cassandra in 3B.
2) Reviewed last class activity. We talked about the extra readings together.
3) Fear and the Amgydala notes and discussion.
4) Anger and Road Rage notes and discussion.
Assignments:
1) Read chapter 14 pp.531-555
2) Emotions/Stress Activity due on Friday, February 8th.
Monday, February 4, 2008
February 4: Desirability for Control and Emotions Intro
Class Activities:
1) Neuron Note/Psych News. You read last time's responses and you write a new question. Then you heard the news presentations from Joseph Stradling in 2B and Shedong Chen and Chloe Kuntz-Phillips in 3B.
2) Desirability of Control. We completed a survey and talked about internal vs. external locus of control.
3) Emotions readings/surveys. You worked quietly to read supplemental material that related to the chapter reading. Since it was a snow delay today, you need to finish this a home tonight.
Assignments:
1) Read chapter 13 pp. 512-529
2) Emotions/Stress Activity. Continue working on one of the four activities for this assignment: video taping deception and asking people to detect the lies, recording your daily mood, monitoring your anger, and meditating. It is due on Friday, February 8th.
1) Neuron Note/Psych News. You read last time's responses and you write a new question. Then you heard the news presentations from Joseph Stradling in 2B and Shedong Chen and Chloe Kuntz-Phillips in 3B.
2) Desirability of Control. We completed a survey and talked about internal vs. external locus of control.
3) Emotions readings/surveys. You worked quietly to read supplemental material that related to the chapter reading. Since it was a snow delay today, you need to finish this a home tonight.
Assignments:
1) Read chapter 13 pp. 512-529
2) Emotions/Stress Activity. Continue working on one of the four activities for this assignment: video taping deception and asking people to detect the lies, recording your daily mood, monitoring your anger, and meditating. It is due on Friday, February 8th.
January 31: Achievement Motivation
Class Activities:
1) Neuron Note/Psych News. You read last time's responses and you write a new question. Then you heard the news presentations from Amanda Stephens in 2B and Brian Neff in 3B.
2) Sexual Orientation. We read the FAQ on sexual orientation from the American Psychological Association.
3) Motivation in the Workplace. We talked about Flow, I/O Psychology, Birth order and achievement.
Assignments:
1) Read chapter 13 pp. 499-512
2) Emotions/Stress Activity. You can choose between four activities for this assignment: video taping deception and asking people to detect the lies, recording your daily mood, monitoring your anger, and meditating. It is due on Friday, February 8th.
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
January 23: Motivation, Maslow, and Hunger
Class Activities:
1) Neuron Note/Psych News. You read last time's responses and you write a new question. For 2B, Jeremy presented an article on new research of caffeine and prenatal development.
2) Discovering Psychology: Motivation/Emotions. Don't you love Philip Zimbaro? We watched this 30 minute summary of the unit and took notes.
3) Notes on Maslow and More. I also introduced Glasser's Needs.
4) Alive. We watched 12 minutes of the movie "Alive" based on the true story of the 1972 plane crash survivors who had to resort to cannibalism in order to survive. WOW...our motivation to eat is huge! We'll talk more on Friday.
Assignments:
1) Read chapter 13 pp. 481-498
2) Maslow Assignment. Record events in your life that fulfill each level of Maslow's Hierarchy and whether or not you think you have achieved this level.
Saturday, January 19, 2008
January 18: Test Review and Taking Sides Discussion
Class Activities:
1) Neuron Note. Your wrote a question for the first section chapter 12.
2) Test Review. First you wrote me a little summary of what you do to read the textbook and take notes. Then, we went over the test questions that were most missed by the class. It is really important that you guys study with others to hear someone else's explanation of concepts.
3) Taking Sides Discussion. After reading the two articles about multiple intelligences, you talked with your neighbor and then we talked as a class about the article. We'll try to do this a few more times this semester. You got a list of the other hot topics and you voted for the ones that you'd like to discuss.
Assignments:
1) Read chapter 12 pp. 432-441
2) I'll be checking your notes and notecards on Wednesday.
1) Neuron Note. Your wrote a question for the first section chapter 12.
2) Test Review. First you wrote me a little summary of what you do to read the textbook and take notes. Then, we went over the test questions that were most missed by the class. It is really important that you guys study with others to hear someone else's explanation of concepts.
3) Taking Sides Discussion. After reading the two articles about multiple intelligences, you talked with your neighbor and then we talked as a class about the article. We'll try to do this a few more times this semester. You got a list of the other hot topics and you voted for the ones that you'd like to discuss.
Assignments:
1) Read chapter 12 pp. 432-441
2) I'll be checking your notes and notecards on Wednesday.
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
January 16: Chapter 11 Test
Class Activities:
1) Neuron Note. You read answers from the Neuron Note. You do not need to write a new question on test days.
1) Neuron Note. You read answers from the Neuron Note. You do not need to write a new question on test days.
2) Test. Since we only had 80 minutes for class with the late start, we immediately started the 100 multiple choice test on chapter 11. If you were absent, you can take the test on Friday while we go over the correct answers.
3) Handouts. You picked up the outline for the next unit on Motivation, Emotions, and Stress. You also got the Multiple Intelligences debate articles with a sheet to summarize the two arguments. Please have this completed by Friday.
Assignments:
1) Read chapter 12 up to p. 467
2) Taking Sides articles due on Friday.
Monday, January 14, 2008
January 14: Test Bias/Multiple Intelligences
Class Activities:
1) Neuron Note. You wrote a new question or comment for the reading and read the answers. Keep up your reading!
2) Announcements.
1. Lunch Today: Review of chapter 11 vocabulary
2. Sign the card for Mrs. Brown
3. Bring food on your psych news day
4. Test on Wednesday
3) Definition of Intelligence. I passed out a handout on the different views of intelligence...is it a general ability or specific abilities or how we process information?
4) Chitling Test. You took this IQ test to start our discussion on cultural bias in IQ testing. This test was put together by Adrian Dove, a black sociologist, to challenge the IQ tests of the 1960s and 1970s.
5) "The Mismeasure of Me" Video. Summarizes the problems with IQ testing and the history of the Eugenics. Are there any good ways to measure a human being?
6) Class discussion of Test Bias.
7) Multiple Intelligences. You completely a survey on Howard Gardner's Multiple Intelligences and we discussed this theory.
Assignments:
1) Finish Chapter 11
2) Chapter 11 Test in on Wednesday.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
January 10: Psych News and Assessing Intelligence
Class Activities:
1) Neuron Note. You wrote your first NN for second semester.
2) Feedback from 1st Semester. I shared your comments about first semester. You want more discussions, more connection to the material. Some of you love the videos, some of you don't. Some of you love the Neuron Notes, some of you don't. Some of you love the class notes, some of you don't. Most of you are going to keep up with the reading more and study more each day and cram less.
4) Discovering Psychology Video on Testing. Another Philip Zimbardo video summarizing the main concepts of the unit. You were able to complete the video guide, clarify validity and reliability, and see major researchers (Howard Gardner and Robert Sternberg).
5) Mensa Tests. You completed two tests of intelligence. 1) Analogies 2) Remote Associations. The goal was not to determine your IQ but to analyze these tests asking, "What are these tests measuring? Is that intelligence?"
Assignments:
1) If you haven't, email me one topic that interests you for this semester (chapters 11-18)
2) Read Ch. 11 pp.432-441.
3) Chapter 11 test is on Wednesday.
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
January 7: Start of New Semester
SNOW! Two-hour delay shortened our time together today.
Class Activities:
1) No Neuron Note.
2) Assess 1st Semester. You took the time to give me feedback on what worked for you first semester in AP Psych and what you would like to see being done differently.
4) Chapter 11 Outline. This unit is on intelligence and testing individual differences.
5) What is intelligence? We made a list of characteristics of smart people we know and considered what is the true definition of intelligence.
Assignments:
1) Email me one topic that interests you for this semester (chapters 11-18)
2) Read Ch. 11 pp.419-432.
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