PSY 2012 - Taube - 1208

DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHOLOGY COURSE SYLLABUS
INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOLOGY, FALL 2020

PSY 2012-B51-1208
INSTRUCTOR & COURSE INFORMATION
Instructor: Professor Taya Taube Email: ttaube@fiu.edu
Course Prerequisites & Co-Requisites: None
Course Modality: Remote Learning
Class Meetings: Tu/Th (12:30 PM – 1:45 PM) Room: Zoom Meetings
Office Hours: Virtual & By Appointment ONLY (Email your instructor to schedule an appointment)
SYLLABUS & COURSE AGREEMENT

This syllabus will serve as your guide for the course and provides you with important course information,
resources, textbook requirements, assignment details and due dates. Therefore, you will need to continually
interact with this document and the resources it provides throughout the semester. Students are required to read
the syllabus carefully. If you have any questions regarding the information in this syllabus, please ask me.
Note: In order to access link embedded within the syllabus, press Ctrl + Click link.
COURSE DESCRIPTION AND PURPOSE

What is the purpose of this course?
This course will provide an overview of psychological principles underlying the basic processes of sensation,
perception, cognition, learning, memory, life-span developmental, social behavior, personality, abnormal behavior,
and psychotherapy as well as how you can use this knowledge to become a critical consumer of information
around you, to understand and manage your relationships, to overcome challenges, and to become a better
student and person.
Why should I take this course?

Principles learned in this course can help you become a better student, better friend, better parent to your
(perhaps yet unborn) children, better child to your parents, better owner to your pet(s), better consumer of goods
and information, and a better thinker. Learning how your brain and other parts of yourself function, how people
interact with each other, how memory works, how learning happens, how nature and nurture influence who you
are (to name just a few!) can all help you better understand yourself and thus improve your life.
How will you succeed in this course?

This course has been modified to accommodate fully remote learning which may be challenging and requires a
high level of self-motivation, self-discipline and computer skills which can make these courses more demanding for
some students. However, you are all capable of completing the assignments required to succeed in this course as
you will be provided with the information, material, and support necessary to be successful. Everyone in this
course will be successful if you:
 Communicate: Your success and enjoyment in this course are important to me, so please let me know as soon
as possible if there are aspects of this course that prevent you from learning or exclude you. Also, ask
questions on anything that seems unclear and ask for help early.
 Plan Ahead: Plan on spending 9-12 hours each week working in this course depending on your academic
pace. Be organized and manage your studying. DO NOT try to complete all the readings and assignments the
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day they are due. Instead, read the book early in the week or ahead of schedule and complete all assignments
on time. There is a lot of information covered in this course and cramming will not work.
 Participate: You will get the most out of this course when you actively engage in learning activities. As you will
learn throughout this course and your college career, rote memorization does not help you to retain
knowledge and become a critical thinker. Learning requires that you actively engage with the material,
integrate new knowledge with what you already know and apply this knowledge to the world around you. You
are part of a learning community and will be well supported with resources and people to help you every step
of the way.
 Take Risks: Approach class with an open mind and be willing to take some risks. Hopefully, you will challenge
your fears and push yourself to become an active and involved participant.
 Have Fun: While we will work hard in this course, have fun with your peer-to-peer and student-to-instructor
interactions as you actively learn in this course.
COURSE OBJECTIVES & DIMENSIONS OF LEARNING

1. Identify basic concepts and research findings, and give examples of psychology's integrative themes.
Psychological science relies on empirical evidence adapting as new data develop.
Psychology explains general principles that govern behavior, while recognizing individual differences.
Psychological, biological, social, and cultural factors influence mental processes and behavior.
Our perceptions filter experience of the world through an imperfect personal lens.
Applying psychological principles can change our lives in positive ways.
2. Apply psychological principles to everyday life.
3. Draw appropriate, logical, and objective conclusions about behavior and mental processes from empirical
evidence.
4. Evaluate misconceptions or erroneous behavioral claims based on evidence from psychological science.
5. Design, conduct, or evaluate basic psychological research.
6. Describe ethical principles that guide psychologists in research and therapy.
COURSE PRE/CO-REQUISITES
There are NO pre/co-requisites for this course.
COURSE MODALITY & TEACHING APPROACH

What is a Hybrid Course?
This is a remote learning course in which the face-to-face meetings will take place virtually via Zoom. How to
Prepare: You will need good time management skills to make sure that you can keep up with virtual class meetings
and out-of-class assignments. Some tasks must be completed prior to class and some after class. Paying attention
to how the materials are connected is also very important.
What is an Active Learning?

This course utilizes an Active Learning approach during virtual class meeting times. Active Learning is a general
term that refers to all classroom activity where students engage with the course content through challenging, in-
class problem solving, experimentation, student-to-student discourse and debate, role-playing, designing/using
simulations, in-class writings, and/or practice exercises. How to Prepare: If you take an active learning class, you
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will need to interact with your peers in ways that you may not have done before. You will also need to become
comfortable with work designed to challenge you and redefine what you think it means to learn. Classroom
exercises can include group brainstorming, peer teaching, case studies, and concept maps. Active learning classes
are designed so that students do more of the thinking, analyzing, problem-solving, evaluating, and reflecting.
FIU & COURSE POLICIES

Please review the FIU Policies Webpage as it contains essential information regarding guidelines relevant to ALL
courses at Florida International University. Further, as a member of the FIU community you are expected to be
knowledgeable about the behavioral expectations set forth in the FIU Student Code of Conduct.
ACADEMIC MISCONDUCT
Florida International University is a community dedicated to generating and imparting knowledge through
excellent teaching and research, the rigorous and respectful exchange of ideas, and community service. All
students should respect the right of others to have an equitable opportunity to learn and to honestly demonstrate
the quality of their learning. Therefore, all students are expected to adhere to a standard of academic conduct,
which demonstrates respect for themselves, their fellow students, and the educational mission of the University.
As students at Florida International University, you are trusted to maintain the highest standards of ethics,
integrity, and personal responsibility. Since you have joined this community of trust to prepare for your future
career, you are expected to adhere to the FIU Student Code of Academic Integrity. Please visit the FIU Academic
Integrity page online for resources and details on the policy and procedures related to academic integrity.
By taking this course, you pledge that you have neither received nor given aid on any individual assignment,
knowingly represented your own opinions or ideas that are attributable to another author in published or
unpublished work or webpages, or completed work for someone other than yourself in this course. For example,
you must not copy and paste from anywhere for all written assignments (simply changing the order of words or
using synonyms is still copying and pasting), look at anyone test of someone else, use your cell phone or any other
unauthorized materials or devices in any way during the exam, have someone else do your assignments for you or
do the work for someone else, or complete online assignments with others. You are responsible for understanding
all forms of plagiarism, including self-plagiarism (i.e. reusing your own work from another class or the same class
from the previous semester). In this class, self-plagiarism will be considered the same as plagiarizing another
source. Thus, the same penalties for plagiarism will apply for self-plagiarism. Breaking this trust agreement will not
only result in zero credit for the assignment in question and referral to the Honor Committee, but also will
jeopardize your future as an FIU student. Do not let yourself down. As a member of the FIU community you are
expected to be knowledgeable about the behavioral expectations set forth in the FIU Student Code of Conduct.
Academic Misconduct includes:

 Cheating - The unauthorized use of books, notes, aids, electronic sources; or assistance from another person
with respect to examinations, course assignments, field service reports, class recitations; or the unauthorized
possession of examination papers or course materials, whether originally authorized or not.
 Plagiarism - The use and appropriation of the work of another without any indication of the source and the
representation of such work as the student’s own. Any student who fails to give credit for ideas, expressions
or materials taken from another source, including internet sources, is responsible for plagiarism.
Statement of Understanding between Professor and Student:

Every student must respect the right of all to have an equitable opportunity to learn and honestly demonstrate the
quality of their learning. Therefore, all students must adhere to a standard of academic conduct demonstrating
respect for themselves, their fellow students, and the educational mission of the University. In addition, unless
explicitly stated otherwise, all course materials are the property of their respective copyright holders and the
sharing or redistribution of these materials to third parties is strictly prohibited. Any student found sharing or
redistributing proprietary course materials will be subject to academic misconduct proceedings.
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As a student taking this class:
 I will not represent the work of someone else as my own.
 I will not cheat, nor will I aid in the cheating of another person.
 I will be honest in my academic endeavors.
 I understand that if I am found responsible for academic misconduct, I will be subject to the academic
misconduct procedures and sanctions as outlined in the Student Handbook.
Failure to adhere to the guidelines stated above may result in one of the following:
 Expulsion - Permanent separation of the student from the University, preventing readmission to the
institution. This sanction shall be recorded on the transcript of the student.
 Suspension - Temporary separation of the student from the University for a specific period of time.
All students are deemed by the University to understand that if they are found responsible for academic
misconduct, they will be subject to the Academic Misconduct procedures and sanctions, as outlined in FIU Student
Handbook.
EQUITABLE TREATMENT OF STUDENTS

It is a requirement of FIU that all students receive equitable treatment. This means that the professor may not give
students preferential treatment by applying the policies outlined in the syllabus to some students and not others,
such as allowing certain students to retake exams, turn work in late, or complete extra work. Irregularities in the
implementation of university and/or course policies and procedures along with the arbitrary and capricious
awarding of grades violates academic integrity and professional conduct standards. Reasonable accommodation of
disabled students is not considered inequitable treatment. If anyone has additional concerns related to their final
grade, please contact FIU One Stop for assistance or you can pursue the FIU Undergraduate Academic Grievance
Procedure found online at: http://integrity.fiu.edu/grievances.html.
LATE SUBMISSION OF COURSEWORK

Course work is expected to be completed no later than the due date and time provided in the course calendar. It
may be submitted early, but will not be accepted after the due date unless prior arrangements have been made
directly with and approved by the professor.
MAKE-UP POLICY
There will be NO make-up opportunities for missed assignments in this course for any reason. Students are all
provided with several opportunities to complete extra credit in order to assist with hardships that present during
the semester.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Technical difficulties will not be accepted as valid excuses for missed or incomplete
assignments. Therefore, it is extremely important to not wait until the last minute to complete and submit
required coursework in order to mitigate these issues.
RELIGIOUS HOLY DAYS POLICY

The FIU policy on Observance of Religious Holy Days states that instructors reasonably accommodate students who
wish to observe religious holy days of their religious faith and notify their instructor preferably upon receipt or
access to the syllabus, and no later than two weeks before the religious holy day. Students shall be given a
reasonable amount of time to complete coursework and/or assignments missed during their approved absence.
The approved make-up assignment must be equivalent in content, type, and grading scale to the missed
coursework and/or assignment.
SYLLABUS MODIFICATION
It may be necessary to make some adjustments in the syllabus during the semester in order to respond to
unforeseen or extenuating circumstances. Adjustments that are made will be communicated to students both
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verbally in class and in writing via “Announcements” in Canvas. In accordance with FIU Faculty policies, instructors
retain the right to modify the course syllabus for any reason throughout the semester provided that:
 Fair and adequate notice is given to enrolled students either by e-mail, in writing, or through online publishing.
 Modifications to the syllabus are not arbitrary or capricious.
 Students are not unfairly disadvantaged by mid-semester changes to grading standards, attendance standards,
or performance measures.
DISABILITY RESOURCE CENTER ACCESSIBLITY & ACOMODATIONS

The Disability Resource Center collaborates with students, faculty, staff, and community members to create
diverse learning environments that are usable, equitable, inclusive and sustainable. The DRC provides FIU students
with disabilities the necessary support to successfully complete their education and participate in activities
available to all students. Students with special needs must notify the FIU Disability Resource Center to arrange for
any accommodations including testing accommodations. An official confidential letter is required to be sent from
the Disability Resource Center to the professor, specifying the condition and necessary accommodations for the
student. If you have a diagnosed disability and plan to utilize academic accommodations, contact the Center at
either campus below:
 GC 190 (Modesto Maidique Campus) or contact at (305) 348-3532

 WUC 131 (Biscayne Bay Campus) or contact at (305) 919-5345
Please visit the FIU Disability Resource Center and ADA Compliance webpages online for additional information.
STUDENT RESOURCES
CENTER FOR EXCELLENCE IN WRITING

The Center for Excellence in Writing (http://PanthersCare.fiu.edu/) offers individual consultations to students
about writing assignments such as: papers, reports, projects for any course in any department, honors theses,
master's theses, dissertations, proposals, resumes and applications for fellowships and employment, personal
statements, group projects, PowerPoint presentations, and other non-print projects. Students who struggle
with writing skills may be referred to this center for personalized attention from trained peer consultants.
Locations are at MMC in GL 125, at BBC in Glenn Hubert Library 2nd floor, and at the Engineering Center in EC
2780.
THE UNIVERSITY LEARNING CENTER

The University Learning Center (ULC) offers supplemental instruction in reading, writing, and mathematics. Its staff
not only assists students in acquiring study skills, but the Center also provides personal computers and some
instructional software for students. A student may call for an appointment or simply walk in. You view the ULC
resources online at: https://learningcenter.fiu.edu/
FIU LIBRARIES
The FIU University Libraries system includes four individual libraries and several service centers. Access to many
of the databases and electronic books offered by the FIU Libraries is restricted to currently registered students,
staff, and faculty of the University. When connecting to these services from home you are required to let the
system know you are currently affiliated with FIU. The EZ-Proxy server (http://login.ezproxy.fiu.edu/login) will
verify you as a member of the FIU community and allow access to these resources.
PANTHER CARES
If you are looking for help for yourself or a fellow classmate, Panthers Care encourages you to express any
concerns you may come across as it relates to any personal behavior concerns or worries you, for the well-being
of your classmate or yours; you are encouraged to share your concerns with the FIU Panthers Care website:
http://PanthersCare.fiu.edu/.
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COUNSELING AND PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES
Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) offers free and confidential help for anxiety, depression, stress,
and other concerns that life brings. Learn more about CAPS at caps.fiu.edu. Professional counselors are
available for same-day appointments. Do not wait to call 305-348-2277 to set up a time to talk or visit the online
self-help portal online at: https://studentaffairs.fiu.edu/health-and-fitness/counseling-and-psychological-
services/.
TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS & SKILLS

Canvas is the online Learning Management System (LMS) used at FIU. Effective Fall 2018 all academic courses are
required to utilize this LMS regardless of modality and will have a Canvas course automatically created. Canvas is
where you will access course content, assignments and other resources. Thus, it is expected that students’ login to
Canvas regularly. In addition, students are expected to have at least a moderate proficiency in using a computer in
order to participate in this course. Please visit our Technical Requirements webpage for additional information.
Technical course requirements include:

 A reliable Internet connection.
 Regular access to a laptop or desktop computer with an updated operating system and web browser.
 An active FIU email account that is checked daily (or forwarded to an email that is checked daily).
 Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.) (Privacy Policy)
 The use of Canvas.
 The use of Zoom.
FIU Technical Support Services:

Students must contact FIU Support Services (not the professor) if you encounter technical difficulties with Canvas
at (305) 348-3630 or by visiting the Support Service Webpage online at: http://lmshelp.fiu.edu/
IMPORTANT NOTE: The professor CANNOT provide technical assistance to individual students. Please contact FIU
Online Support Services for assistance with technical issues.
TEXTBOOK & CENGAGE MINDTAP COUNSELING (REQUIRED COURSE MATERIALS)
Psychology in Your Life with access code, 3rd Edition
By Sarah Grison & Michael Gazzaniga
Norton • Publication Date: Textbook Date
ISBN-13: 9780393423365
What is the First Day Program?
The most affordable option for the W. W. Norton course materials required for this course section will be available
under the “First Day” program. The FIU Bookstore and the publisher have directly negotiated the best price
possible under the “First Day” program, which results in an average 40% discount on these course materials.
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Don’t wait! The First Day Program discounted course materials are only available during the first 3 weeks of class.
This rate will expire at 11:59 pm on Friday, September 11th.
Everyone will have automatic access to their W. W. Norton account on the first day of class in their Canvas course.
To retain access, you will need to pay through the FIU Bookstore’s website. Please visit fiu.bncollege.com or access
the site through your Canvas course by clicking on the “Purchase Course Materials” link.
Purchase on or before Friday, September 11th, 2020:
Purchase your course materials at the FIU Barnes and Noble store ONLINE ONLY and pay using your FIU OneCard
or any other traditional payment method. You WILL NOT need to pickup a code from the bookstore. You WILL NOT
need to activate a code – you’ll just continue to use the platform. *If anyone is making a payment online on your
behalf, such as a parent, please be sure that YOUR name, as the student, is still used in the order*
o “First Day” course materials price = $64.40
o Psychology In Your Life, 3rd edition ebook w/ InQuizitive
o ISBN -13: 9780393423365
Purchase after Friday, September 11th, 2020 [MORE EXPENSIVE]:
Purchase your course materials at the FIU Barnes and Noble store ONLINE or IN PERSON and pay using your FIU
OneCard or any other traditional payment method. You WILL need to activate a code to continue using the
platform. If ordering online after 9/13, you must either have the code shipped to you or pick up the code in-person
at the bookstore.
o National course materials price = $92.85
o Psychology In Your Life, 3rd edition ebook w/ InQuizitive
o ISBN-13: 9780393673852
FAQs:
1. What if I want to buy the “First Day” discounted material after September 11th? The “First Day” offer expires
on September 11th – no exceptions will be made.
2. What if I also want a print copy of the book? Most students find that their eBook is sufficient but after your W.
W. Norton account is activated, you will be able to purchase a discounted loose leaf copy in the FIU bookstore.
3. What if I drop the course? If you drop before the official add/drop date, you can contact the bookstore for a
reimbursement until September 22nd [you’ll need your purchase receipt]. Returns cannot be processed after
September 22nd, 2020.
For students who purchase after September 11th:
1. My free access to the W. W. Norton platform expired. How do I reconnect to my W. W. Norton account? If
your complimentary First Day access has expired, the next time you click on any ebook or InQuizitive assignment
link, you will be prompted to activate access for your materials using the full price purchased code.
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2. What happens to the InQuizitive assignments/grades I’ve already completed? Your work is saved, but you
must purchase and register an access code using the SAME email address that you used when you set up your
account.
What if I still have questions?
Contact FIU Bookstore Textbook Department:
fiubook@fiu.edu / 305-348-2691
Contact W. W. Norton customer support for help activating your code:
https://wwnorton.com/tech-support
COURSE COMMUNICATION
How can you contact your professor outside of face-to-face class meetings?
The best way to contact your professor is via FIU or Canvas email as this will be the most efficient method of
communication with the professor outside of class meeting times. The student should use their FIU email address
as opposed to personal email addresses that do not provide identification of the student. It is recommended that
students check their FIU email routinely to ensure up-to-date communication. The professor will check emails
regularly during the week with limited monitoring on weekends and holidays and respond to emails within 2
business days. Visit our Writing Resources page for more information on professional writing and technical
communication skills.
DO NOT TEXT YOUR PROFESSOR! IF YOU TEXT, YOU WILL NOT RECEIVE A RESPONSE.
What are the Netiquette requirements for communicating with my professor and classmates?
Keep in mind that when communicating through text in a course, your body language and tone cannot always be
taken into account by others. This makes the words you use even more important. While you should feel free to
express your ideas as you would in a face-to-face course, the following tips should help you as you communicate
inside your course:
 DO NOT SHOUT! Typing in all caps indicates shouting and might be offensive to others.
 Check your writing for grammar and spelling errors. Nobody is perfect, but a good writing style will make a
better reflection on you and your ideas. Use general systematic options to check your spelling before
sending/posting communication in an online course.
 Treat your classmates with respect in terms of their privacy and of their opinions. Ask for clarification if you
do not understand what another classmate means or if you feel there might be a conflict.
 Keep it polite and maintain all discussions in the context of a classroom where we are all learning from each
other in order to help each other achieve a positive and valuable learning experience.
 Think before you write. Words live for a long time on the Internet, including to some extent in an online class.
While you should feel free to express your opinions and participate in class discussions, it is a good idea to
think first about the consequences before posting.
 Use proper language and titles. Do not use slang or even profane words in an educational environment, even
if they are words you consider "not so bad," as they may sound offensive to the reader.
 Avoid Spam. Students are prohibited from posting advertisements or commercial solicitations in any area of
the course, including on the discussion board or through messages/email, without the express consent of the
instructor.
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COURSE EXPECTATIONS
Students are expected to attend ALL scheduled classes on time and participate in class discussions and activities.
This is a hybrid/remote course, which course work will be conducted online, and class meeting will take place via
Zoom. Expectations for performance in a remote course are the same for a traditional course. In fact, remote
courses require a degree of self-motivation, self-discipline, and technology skills which can make these courses
more demanding for some students. Students are responsible for completing the assigned readings prior to
completing assignments. Students are expected to pace their learning according to the posted course assignments.
It is further expected that you be an active learner, which includes verbally participating in the class discussions
and group discussions. If you are not willing to get actively involved in sharing/exchanging your ideas on issues
pertaining to this course, then you should consider not remaining in this class. Everyone is expected to be a
positive contributor to the class learning community, and students are expected to share the responsibility of
teaching and learning from each other.
Students are expected to:

 Review ALL content in the course syllabus.
 Pace their learning according to the course calendar.
 Review and follow the course calendar.
 Respond to emails within 2 business days.
 Submit assignments by the corresponding deadline listed on the syllabus.
The instructor will:

 Respond to emails within 2 business days.
 Return any calls made within 2 business days.
 Grade assignments within 5 calendar days of the assignment due date.
COURSE ASSIGNMENT
ZOOM IN-CLASS LEARNER CENTERED ACTIVITIES (10%)

Class meetings will take place via Zoom and will include In-Class Learner Centered Activities, each totaling 10
points. Learner centered activities focus on active learning or "learning by doing” to ultimately increase your skill
set and knowledge base of psychotherapy theories and practice that extends in the future post-course.
Furthermore, these activities allow students to engage in experiential application with their peers in applying the
concepts learned during the out-of-class assignments. In-class learner centered activities will be provided during
our face-to-face virtual classroom meetings via Zoom based on the chapter modules being covered that week. In-
class learner assignments will consist of attendance and participation in group case studies, discussions, role play,
peer reviews, video activities, etc. Students must enter the Zoom meeting room at the virtual class meeting time.
There are no make-up opportunities for missed assignments for any reason. If you miss a Zoom class meeting,
students can complete the extra credit assignment to make-up missed points.
INQUIZITIVE ASSIGNMENTS (15%)

You will be required to complete 10 InQuizitive Assignments (1 for each chapter) to help you review concepts. Each
InQuizitive Assignment will be worth 15 points and will be due Mondays by 11:59pm. InQuizitive assignments are
adaptive, which means when you get questions correct, you can move onto the next section but if you miss
questions, you will be asked additional questions on that topic. The more questions you get correct, the quicker
you will finish your assignment. You are graded based on completion, and to complete the assignment you must
reach a certain level of proficiency. It is highly recommended that you read the textbook before attempting the
InQuizitive Assignment. Also, although you will have all week to complete the InQuizitive Assignment, it is
imperative that you complete it prior to taking the weekly quizzes.
DISCUSSION POSTS (25%)
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Discussion post topics are posted every week. These questions are meant to promote a virtual form of "class
discussion." Discussions serve as an excellent learning tool since they require application of what has been learned.
Discussions are graded based on the quality of responses and peer-to-peer interaction. The rubric outlines exactly
how discussions are graded (see rubric below). You can earn up to 25 points for each of 10 discussions for a total of
250 points. Keep in mind that your discussion forum postings will likely be seen by other members of the course.
Care should be taken when determining what to post. As always, proper grammar and spelling is expected.
Discussion Post Requirements:
1. Responses must be well thought out and well written, free of grammar and spelling errors.
2. Responses must include reference to the readings, videos, or activities assigned for the week.
3. Initial responses must be between 300 - 400 words and posted no later than Thursday at 11:59 PM ET,
responses posted after Thursday but before discussions close on Monday will be considered late and assessed a
late penalty.
4. Responses to classmates must include at least one substantive peer interactions (i.e., reply to one or more
classmates’ posts using 100 or more words in which you offer your own insight or ask probing questions).
5. Responses to classmates must be posted no later than Monday at 11:59 PM ET. No responses can be posted to
the discussion board once it closes.
Visit our Writing Resources web page for more information on professional writing and technical communication
skills. Reading both the “Discussion Board Rubric” and “Netiquette Guidelines” prior to posting a response will
provide you with an excellent framework of my expectations.
Tip: Although our experiences are valuable and insightful, psychology is a science requiring critical thinking and
empirical evidence. Make sure your responses are thoughtful and rooted in course material and referenced
accordingly.
Discussion Board Rubric
Category No credit 25% 50% 75% 100%
Initial post Initial post is

is related to related to
discussion discussion topic,
Initial post is topic. relates outside
not completed However, material to topic,
Initial post is Initial post is
Post by the due date they do not and prompts
vague and stunted with
Relevance or posts topics meet further
less than 150 a word count
which do not minimum discussion.
words in between 150-
(10) relate to the citation Includes a
length. 200 words.
discussion sources or citation from 2+
content. word count sources and
is 151-299 meets the 300
words in word count
length. requirement.
Peer Does not reply Reply to a Reply to a Replies to a Interacts actively

to a post by a post by a post by a post by a with classmates
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classmate,
in a substantive
but does
manner (i.e.,
classmate is not
classmate is with relevance
Interaction vague and stimulate
classmate by stunted and and insight about
less than 25 further
the due date. 26-50 words the topic and
(5) words in discussion
in length. meets the 100 +
length. or is 51-99
word count
words in
requirement).
length.
Poor spelling
and
Post grammar
Several (4-5) Few (2-3)
Delivery/ used Consistently uses
Post is not errors in grammatical
Quality throughout proper spelling
completed. spelling or or spelling
the post. and grammar.
grammar. errors.
(5) Post may
appear
hasty.
Initial post is
Post not completed Initial post is
Timeliness or completed completed by
N/A N/A N/A
after 11:59 11:59 p.m. on
(5) p.m. on Thursday.
Thursday.
UNIT EXAMS (30%)

There are three unit exams. The lowest of the three unit exam scores will be dropped from the final grade. The
other two exams scores will comprise 300 points or 30% of your final grade. Unit exam questions are taken from
material in the textbook, outlines, videos, lectures, and any other material posted by the Professor online. The best
way to prepare for exams is to read all the material ahead of time, complete the InQuizitive assignments,
participate in discussions, and participate actively in the course. Unit exams will consist of 50-70 multiple choice
questions.
For exams, students will be required to use Respondus Lockdown Browser. In order to mitigate any issues with
your computer and online assessments, it is very important that you take the "Practice Quiz" from each computer
you will be using to take your graded quizzes and exams. It is your responsibility to make sure your computer
meets the minimum hardware requirements.
All assessments will auto-submit when (1) the timer runs out OR (2) the closing date/time is reached, whichever
happens first. For example, if a quiz has a closing time of 5:00 pm but the student begins the exam at 4:55 pm, the
student will only have 5 minutes to complete the quiz. Assessments in this course are not compatible with mobile
devices and should not be taken through a mobile phone or a tablet. If you need further assistance please contact
FIU Online Support Services.
CUMULATIVE FINAL EXAM (20%)
Page 11 of 17
Exams are intended to assess your comprehension, retention and knowledge of the material covered in this
course. If you participate in classes and study on your own and with your new friends, you will ace the exams and
this course! There will be one cumulative final exam that will constitute 200 points or 20% of your final grade. It is
mandatory and different from the three unit exams given in class throughout the semester. This exam is meant to
promote better long-term learning and to improve students’ mastery of course content. In order to demonstrate
that you have learned and retained what we have covered in the course, each student is required to complete a
cumulative final exam covering all topics from the course. As we have extensively covered all of the material
previously and you have been tested on it several times, this exam should be fairly easy. It is on the “big picture”
concepts we have covered in a class. It will be administered online during the final exam period, during the last
week of class.
Policy for Missed Exams: Pursuant to university policy, requests to take make-up exams will only be granted under
the following situations: 1)illness or injury to the student, 2)death, injury, or serious illness of an immediate family
member or the like, *3)religious reasons, *4) jury duty or government obligation, and*5)University sanctioned or
approved activities. *These situations require the student to contact the instructor at least one week before the
scheduled day of the Exam as they are planned or scheduled activities. If deemed necessary, a SINGLE make-up
exam will be given at the instructor’s convenience and discretion. The instructor also reserves the right to create a
different, but comparable Exam to the one missed by the student. For medical or family emergency, students must
contact the instructor within 24 hours following the missed exam. You are required to submit documentation to
support your petition.
GRADING
REVISED GRADING SCALE

The Faculty Senate approved the new grading scale illustrated below, intended to reduce student confusion about
what constitutes a passing grade, align with the fact that many majors require students to earn a minimum grade
of “C” in prerequisite courses, and overall, minimize barriers to graduation.
Points/
Letter Grade Letter Grade Range Letter Grade Range
Credit Hour
A 4.00 B 3.00 C 2.00
A- 3.67 B- 2.67 D 1.00
B+ 3.33 C+ 2.33 F 0.00
FINAL GRADE CALCULATION
Total Points
Course Requirements Number Points Weight
Available
InQuizitive Assignments 10 15 150 15%
Zoom Class Meetings 10 10 100 10%
Discussion Posts 10 25 250 25%
Unit Exams 3–1=2 150 300 30%
Final Exam 1 200 200 20%
Sona Research (Extra Credit) 4 25 100 -
Total - - 1,100 100%
Letter Grade Range Letter Grade Range Letter Grade Range

A 93.0 or above B 83.0 – 86.9 C 70.0 – 76.9
Page 12 of 17
A- 90.0 – 92.9 B- 80.0 – 82.9 D 60.0 – 69.9
B+ 87.0 – 89.9 C+ 77.0 – 79.9 F < 60.0
CANVAS GRADEBOOK DISCLAIMER: The total grade columns shown in CANVAS may not reflect your overall
performance in the course due to limitations in functionality. Final grades are based on total points. Please follow
the final grade calculation above.
WEEKLY COURSE CALENDAR

Changes to the syllabus and course calendar may be made at any time during the semester within reason at the
discretion of the professor. Students will be notified by an announcement posted in Canvas of these changes when
they occur. The last day to add/drop courses without incurring financial liability is: Monday, August 31, 2020.
Week 1: August 24 – August 30
Zoom Class Meeting – Thursday, 08/27/20: Course Introduction & Overview
Out of Class Assignments:

Introduce Yourself Discussion Post (Extra Credit) – Due Monday, 08/31/20
Week 2: August 31 – September 6
08/31/20 - Last day to drop/add course without financial liability
No Zoom Class Meetings This Week/ Virtual Office Hours

-Read Chapter 1
-Discussion Posts
Post your answer to DQ1 – Due Thursday, 09/03/20
Reply to a post by a classmate – Due Monday, 09/07/20
-Complete Chapter 2 InQuizitive Assignment – Due Monday, 09/07/20
Week 3: September 7 – September 13
No Zoom Class Meetings This Week/ Virtual Office Hours

-Read Chapter 2
-Discussion Posts
Page 13 of 17
Week 1: August 24 – August 30
Week 4: September 14 - September 20
Zoom Class Meeting – Tuesday, 09/15/20: Chapter 1

Zoom Class Meeting – Thursday, 09/17/20: Chapter 2

-Read Chapter 5
-Discussion Posts

Out of Class Assignments: Unit Exam 1 (Chapters 1, 2 & 5) – Due Monday, 09/28/20
Week 6: September 28 – October 4
Zoom Class Meeting – Tuesday, 09/29/20: Unit 1 Exam Review

Zoom Class Meeting – Thursday, 10/01/20

-Read Chapter 6
-Discussion Posts
Week 7: October 5 – October 11


-Read Chapter 7
-Discussion Posts
Page 14 of 17


-Read Chapter 4
-Discussion Posts

Out of Class Assignments: Unit Exam 2 (Chapters 1, 2, 5, 6, 7 & 4) – Due Monday, 10/26/20
Week 10: October 26 – November 1
Zoom Class Meeting – Tuesday, 10/27/20: Unit 2 Exam Review

Zoom Class Meeting – Thursday, 10/29/20

-Read Chapter 13
-Discussion Posts
Week 11: November 2 – November 8


-Read Chapter 12
-Discussion Posts
Page 15 of 17



-Read Chapter 14
-Discussion Posts

Out of Class Assignments: Unit Exam 3 (Chapters 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 4, 13, 12, 14) – Due Monday, 11/23/20
No Zoom Class Meetings This Week – Thanksgiving Break

-Read Chapter 15
-Discussion Posts
Week 15: November 30 – December 6

Week 16: December 7 – December 12
Page 16 of 17
Cumulative Final Exam - Due Thursday, 12/10/2020
Page 17 of 17

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DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHOLOGY COURSE SYLLABUS

INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOLOGY, FALL 2020

INSTRUCTOR & COURSE INFORMATION

Instructor: Professor Taya Taube Email: ttaube@fiu.edu

Course Prerequisites & Co-Requisites: None

Course Modality: Remote Learning

Class Meetings: Tu/Th (12:30 PM – 1:45 PM) Room: Zoom Meetings

SYLLABUS & COURSE AGREEMENT

COURSE DESCRIPTION AND PURPOSE

Why should I take this course?

How will you succeed in this course?

COURSE OBJECTIVES & DIMENSIONS OF LEARNING

COURSE MODALITY & TEACHING APPROACH

What is an Active Learning?

FIU & COURSE POLICIES

Academic Misconduct includes:

Statement of Understanding between Professor and Student:

EQUITABLE TREATMENT OF STUDENTS

LATE SUBMISSION OF COURSEWORK

RELIGIOUS HOLY DAYS POLICY

DISABILITY RESOURCE CENTER ACCESSIBLITY & ACOMODATIONS

 GC 190 (Modesto Maidique Campus) or contact at (305) 348-3532

CENTER FOR EXCELLENCE IN WRITING

THE UNIVERSITY LEARNING CENTER

TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS & SKILLS

Technical course requirements include:

FIU Technical Support Services:

TEXTBOOK & CENGAGE MINDTAP COUNSELING (REQUIRED COURSE MATERIALS)

Psychology in Your Life with access code, 3rd Edition

By Sarah Grison & Michael Gazzaniga

Norton • Publication Date: Textbook Date

What is the First Day Program?

Purchase on or before Friday, September 11th, 2020:

o “First Day” course materials price = $64.40

o Psychology In Your Life, 3rd edition ebook w/ InQuizitive

o ISBN -13: 9780393423365

Purchase after Friday, September 11th, 2020 [MORE EXPENSIVE]:

o National course materials price = $92.85

o Psychology In Your Life, 3rd edition ebook w/ InQuizitive

For students who purchase after September 11th:

What if I still have questions?

Contact FIU Bookstore Textbook Department:

Contact W. W. Norton customer support for help activating your code:

Students are expected to:

The instructor will:

ZOOM IN-CLASS LEARNER CENTERED ACTIVITIES (10%)

INQUIZITIVE ASSIGNMENTS (15%)

DISCUSSION POSTS (25%)

Discussion Post Requirements:

Discussion Board Rubric

Category No credit 25% 50% 75% 100%

Initial post Initial post is

Peer Does not reply Reply to a Reply to a Replies to a Interacts actively

UNIT EXAMS (30%)

CUMULATIVE FINAL EXAM (20%)

REVISED GRADING SCALE

Letter Grade Range Letter Grade Range Letter Grade Range

WEEKLY COURSE CALENDAR

Week 1: August 24 – August 30

Zoom Class Meeting – Thursday, 08/27/20: Course Introduction & Overview

Out of Class Assignments:

Week 2: August 31 – September 6

08/31/20 - Last day to drop/add course without financial liability