Course Syllabus

Instructor Contact

Diya Dannu

• Email: adannu@ccsf.edu
• Office Hours: Fridays 2:45 pm  - 4:30 pm; By appointment via Zoom
• My Zoom Meeting Room:

  https://cccconfer.zoom.us/j/7671971617

• Office Location: Online for Fall 2020
• I will respond to all course emails within 48 hours Monday-Friday, exclusive of school holidays. Once the course begins, I prefer to get messages through the Canvas "Inbox". 

Communication Plan

• I will respond to your messages within 48 hours during the work week (Monday-Friday) excluding holidays or if you are notified otherwise. 
• Your work will be reviewed and I will comment on it within 48 hours of the due date unless you are informed otherwise. Please note that you will receive private comments on your discussion posts, your course journal entries [when applicable], and final exams. Your weekly quizzes also contain feedback for your own self-assessment. If you have questions that require in-depth responses or a discussion, you can either set a time for office hours or we can communicate through Pronto [our in-house chat function].
• I will participate in the weekly discussions, but will not respond to each individual student. You may receive private comments on your discussion posts, though not always.
• Office hours are: Fridays 2:45 pm  - 4:30 pm. If you are unable to attend on that day or during those times, we can meet via Zoom video-conferencing at a time best suited for both parties, during the workweek.
• I am also a student: I am completing my Ph.D. in Integral and Transpersonal Psychology at CIIS online as well; thus my timeframe of 48 hours to respond to your messages. Also, if you make an appointment, please be sure to keep it. If something comes up [because, you know, life happens] you need to communicate that to me via email, Canvas Inbox, or Pronto. 

Building Community

The heart of this class is the discussion forum. Each week you and your classmates will analyze and discuss the issues that come up in the material posted. Each time this class is offered, I am humbled by the thoughtfulness of all of you, your posts, and your responses to each other to inform my understanding of the topics. We learn from each other, from our varied experiences, from our different world views. I look forward to participating in discussions with you.

Instructor Announcements 

I  will post announcements on the “Announcements” page in Canvas throughout the semester. Canvas notifies students according to their preferred Notification Preferences (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. as soon as the instructor creates an Announcement. 

Please make sure you have your notifications set to receive any updates made to our course in Canvas. I will not email you personally for class updates. 

Q&A Discussion

• The “Q&A Discussion” is located in Module 0. This discussion is for you to ask for assistance from your classmates or instructor.

A scientific approach to the study of behavior and mental processes designed for both majors and non-majors. Topics include: research methods, the biology of behavior, sensory systems, learning, memory, life-span development, motivation, emotion, personality theories, social psychology, abnormal psychology, and psychotherapy.

COURSE OUTLINE OF RECORD

Prerequisites/Corequisites/Advisories

None/None/ENGL 88 or ESL 188 or readiness for college-level English

Student Learning Outcomes

1. Interpret the major historical and current psychological perspectives.
2. Define the methods and goals of psychological research.
3. Analyze basic psychological concepts.
4. Evaluate the applicability of psychological concepts to current issues.
5. Critically apply psychological principles to examine real-life situations.

Class Meetings

Due to the online nature of our class for the Fall 2020 semester, we will have one Zoom meeting as a group on Wednesdays, 12:10 pm - 1:00 pm. A Zoom link scheduled for this weekly time will not only be enclosed below but will also be posted in the Announcements and in a separate Module specifically for our meetings. Please try to set time aside for this day and time for us to "meet" virtually. 

Course Web Site

Students will use the Canvas Learning Management system for assignment instructions, submitting assignments, viewing classmates' work, sharing resources, and viewing grades.  While I am tech-savvy, and a doctoral student that also uses Canvas, I am not a Canvas expert. If you need help uploading an assignment or with the mechanics of Canvas, Canvas help is the number to call. This information is also in Module 0. Please make sure you spend time reviewing the how-to of Canvas.

For 24/7 help with Canvas call: 1-844-592-2198.

Textbooks

There are one main text for this course. Supplemental materials will be provided when necessary:

• OpenStax Psychology 2nd Edition
• This text is available online at OpenStax as an eText. Download the PDF in case you encounter internet difficulties.

• Exploring Psychology 10th Edition by David Myers and C. Nathan DeWall
• This text can be found in the CCSFBookstore

I will indicate which Modules will use which text.

***I do not have a hard copy of this text as of yet. I have a pdf version. There are some elements in the Myers/DeWall text that is not in the OpenStax version which I feel is necessary to explore and engage. Therefore, I recommend purchasing this text from the CCSF bookstore and using the online version of the OpenStax to save some money.

Field Trips

None

Canvas

You will be using the Canvas Learning Management system for all things General Psych related: assignment instructions, submitting assignments, viewing classmates' work, sharing resources, and viewing grades.  While I am tech-savvy, I am not a Canvas expert. If you need help uploading an assignment or with the mechanics of Canvas, Canvas help is the number to call. You can also refer to Module 0 for more helpful tips and information.

For 24/7 help with Canvas call: 1-844-592-2198.

Zoom Video Conferencing

Here is the link to my Zoom room:

https://cccconfer.zoom.us/j/7671971617

Here is the Module area where our weekly discussions will take place: Weekly Discussions. 

***Always keep an eye out for Announcements. The Zoom link for our live Wednesday classes will also be placed there.

Required Software

• Adobe Reader (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.
• Update your browser (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.

Important Dates

• Day Class Begins: AUGUST 17, 2020 [Find the following dates in the Instructional Calendar  or in the online Schedule of Classes by hovering over the deadlines link next to your class listing.]
• Day Class Ends: DECEMBER 18, 2020
• Last Day to Add without instructor's approval: SEPTEMBER 4, 2020
• Last Day to Drop with refund: SEPTEMBER 10, 2020
• Last Day to Drop without a 'W' symbol: SEPTEMBER 4, 2020
• Last Day to Opt for Pass/No Pass: SEPTEMBER 17, 2020
• Last Day to Drop with a W or apply for leave of absence: NOVEMBER 5, 2020
• Final Exam Date: DECEMBER 18, 2020

Dropping the Class

If you decide to discontinue this course, it is your responsibility to officially drop it to avoid getting no refund (after 10% of course length), a W symbol (after 20%), or a grade (after 60%). Also, you may be dropped from the class for several consecutive, unexplained absences.

Pass‐NoPass (P/NP)

You may take this class P/NP. You must decide before the deadline [Please See Above], and add the option online with WEB4 or file the P/NP form with Admissions and Records. With a grade of C or better, you will receive a P.

You must file for the P/NP option by the date listed above. Once you decide to go for P/NP, you cannot change back to a letter grade. If you are taking this course as part of a certificate program, you can probably still take the class P/NP. Please check with a counselor to be sure!

Attendance

Students who fail to attend the first class (face-to-face courses) or do not log-in to an online class after the second week and participate in a learning activity will be dropped from the class. It is strongly advised that if you need to miss more than one class/homework deadline in a row that you contact me to avoid being dropped from the class. 

You are allowed 2 unexcused absences, however, you will not receive credit for the discussion postings you've missed AND you will not receive an excuse for a missed quiz, mid-term, or final exam. 

Late Policy

All assignments are due at 11:59 p.m. PST on the due date. Late submissions will receive a 20% penalty. Submissions more than one week late are neither accepted nor graded without prior arrangement. Please do not email me your assignments. I will not upload them for you. Approved late assignments will be provided a specific upload link.

Methods of Evaluation

Each week you will complete graded assignments. There is a Discussion, and a Quiz each week. Quizzes may be taken two times. All of these assignments can be completed after reading the textbook assignments and the summaries in the content modules. 

Reflection Essays will be assigned three times throughout the semester: October, November, and December. Dates are TBD. This is in lieu of a Research Paper. These are short reflections that will help you to better integrate and demonstrate your understanding of the material. 

You will have a Midterm and a Final Exam. 

Exams

There will be online quizzes throughout the course and an online final exam. The material comes from the textbook, class lectures, and supplemental materials. If an exam is missed, a zero will be recorded as the score. It is your responsibility to take the online exams by the due date. 

Grading Policy

Visit the “Grades” in Canvas to keep track of your grades. I grade everything and post grades and comments on the online Canvas gradebook.

 How do I view my grades, teacher comments, and an assignment rubric as a student?

Grades will be assigned as follows: 

If taking Pass/No Pass you need at least 70% of the total class points and complete the midterm exam and the final exam to pass the class [basically, you still need to achieve a C in your coursework].

An “F” grade indicates that a student attended, participated and completed the course but failed to master the course curriculum.

An “FW” grade indicates the student stopped attending a course after the “last day to withdraw” deadline and subsequently did not submit any work or participate in any exams. Please check with your counselor and financial aid advisor for possible implications of the FW grade on residency and financial aid status.

If you need classroom or testing accommodations because of a disability, or have emergency medical information to share with me, or need special arrangements in case the building needs to be evacuated, please make an appointment with me as soon as possible. My office hours are on Fridays from 2:45 pm  - 4:30 pm via Zoom video-conferencing.

Students seeking disability-related accommodations are encouraged to also register with Disabled Students Programs and Services located in Room 323 of the Rosenberg Library (415) 452-5481. Please see the DSPS website (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. for more information and alternate locations.

Students who register in CCSF classes are required to abide by the CCSF Student Code of Conduct (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.. Violation of the code is basis for referral to the Student Conduct Coordinator or dismissal from class or from the College. See the Office of Student Affairs (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site..

Collaborating on or copying of tests or homework in whole or in part will be considered an act of academic dishonesty and result in a grade of 0 for that test or assignment. I encourage students to share information and ideas, but not their work. See these links on Plagiarism:

Encourage Academic Integrity and Prevent Plagiarism (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.

Citing Information Sources (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.

Student Expectations 

• Develop your time management skills. It is easy to fall behind. Be mindful of the time you have and the time you need.
• Complete what’s assigned on time. If you anticipate difficulties regarding the completion of your assignments [quizzes, discussions, reflections], you must contact me as soon as possible.  
• Complete the discussion posts and replies within the given window of time. The material to be covered will be more engaging if you participate in our discussions. It’s not a self-paced course, so please treat it as if you were coming to a face-of-face class.
• Think critically about the weekly topics. Critical thinking in an integral characteristic of the field of Psychology. Why is this information necessary for the study of human behavior? How does it contribute to the field? What’s missing?
• Treat everyone with respect. Including yourself!
• Do your own and your best work!

Instructor Expectations

• My response time is within 48 hours during the week, unless I inform you otherwise. I sometimes respond sooner; though not usually on the weekends.
• You, your ideas, and process will be treated with respect.
• I will grade your Discussion posts and replies most often by the end of the week or module. Late work will take longer. Grades on the self-reflections, mid-term, and final exam will be done within a week.
• Your grades will be viewable in the Canvas Gradebook.
• I will do my best to make this an informative and enjoyable class.