HARFORD COMMUNITY COLLEGE

SYLLABUS - EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY

PSYCHOLOGY 207-04 CRN: 41170

T 7:00-9:50 Fallston 203

Fall 2009

INSTRUCTOR: Mr. Chuck Conjar

OFFICE: Fallston 250 / OFFICE HOURS: T 6-6:50 PM

PHONE MAIL: 443-412-2000, ext. 7868

FAX: 410-704-4019

E-MAIL: cconjar@harford.edu

WORLD WIDE WEB: http://pages.towson.edu/conjar

REQUIRED TEXT: Slavin, R. E. Educational Psychology, Ninth Edition. Allyn and Bacon, 2009.

COURSE DESCRIPTION: Educational Psychology (3 Credits, Lecture/Discussion) focuses on the learning process and related ideas such as development, individual differences, cognition, effective learning environments, motivation and exceptionalities. Emphasis is placed on studying the development of effective teaching-learning relationships in the American school environment. Connections among a variety of disciplines are stressed, as well as links to the real world beyond the classroom. Prerequisite: Psy 101.

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

1. Students will examine the major concepts of Educational Psychology and develop skills necessary to analyze and evaluate the claims of researchers. (Academic Outcomes: Critical Thinking)

2. Students will develop teaching skills applicable to a variety of educational settings. (Academic Outcomes: Communication)

3. Students will apply teaching principles and utilize research techniques through writing assignments, class exercises, and out-of-class experiences. (Academic Outcomes: Communication and Information Literacy)

4. Students will employ new methods in technology and communication to gather information related to the topics covered in class. (Academic Outcomes: Information Literacy and Communication)

5. Students will apply communication skills, both oral and written, to demonstrate knowledge of concepts studied in the course. All written assignments are to be completed using a computer word processing application. (Academic Outcomes: Communication and Information Literacy)

GRADING:

Your final grade will be based on the number of points you earn during the semester. Grades will be determined as follows:

A 540-600 points.

B 480-539 points.

C 420-479 points.

D 360-419 points.

F 359 and below.

ASSIGNMENTS:

1. TESTS - 400 POSSIBLE POINTS (100 points per test)

There will be four unit tests during the semester. The first three will consist of 40 multiple-choice items and one essay question. Test 4 will consist of multiple-choice items based on Unit 4 and a cumulative review of Units 1-3. Tests will be administered during the first half of class on the dates listed in the schedule. Make up tests will be offered only if specific criteria are met. (See Make Up Test Policy)

2. ASSIGNMENT 1: BRIEF ARTICLE - 40 POSSIBLE POINTS (See Brief Article Handout)

Students will complete a 2-page homework paper based on material from one of the units. The paper must include in-text references and a list of works cited. The paper must be typed, double-spaced using a computer word processing application.

3. ASSIGNMENT 2: RESEARCH PROJECT-100 POSSIBLE POINTS (See Research Project Handout)

Each student must complete a project due near the end of the semester. Students may either write an article (5-6 pages) or do an oral presentation (10-15 minutes). Some components will be submitted for feedback prior to completion of the project. The final project (or presentation outline if oral) must include an accurate list of all cited references that matches the in-text citations and must be typed, double-spaced, using a computer word-processing application.

4. ATTENDANCE AND PARTICIPATION - 50 POSSIBLE POINTS.

Active participation in class will facilitate learning and improve grades. Students can earn points by arriving on time, being prepared, sharing ideas and questions, and participating in class demonstrations. Students who are absent more than once or do not participate constructively will lose points. (See Attendance Policy). Occasional in-class writing assignments will also count toward the class participation grade.

5. IN-CLASS BRIEF PAPER - 10 POSSIBLE POINTS

Students will write a short assignment in two parts. The parts will be completed at the end of class on two consecutive weeks. Each part will take approximately 15 minutes to complete.

MAKE UP TEST POLICY

1. If you will not be able to attend class on the evening of a test, notify the instructor the week before the scheduled test date. The instructor will leave a copy of the test in the TEST CENTER and you will be permitted to take it anytime BEFORE the test is administered to the rest of the class.

2. If you intend to take a test in class, but are unable to attend due to illness, car trouble, etc., the instructor may make an exception and allow you to take the test under the following conditions:

- You must have a valid excuse.

- You must notify the instructor within two days following the test.

- You must complete the test in the Test Center PRIOR to the beginning of the next class.

- You will not be permitted to take any part of a make up test during class time.

3. All make up tests must be completed in the Test Center (443-412-2352). Test Center personnel have instructions to collect incomplete exams at 7:00 pm on the Tuesday after the test was administered in class.

4. If there are extreme circumstances (e.g., extended hospitalization), the instructor may allow you to take a special make up test. See the instructor before dropping the course.

5. Students who do not meet the above criteria for make up tests will receive a "0" for the missed test.

DISABILITY SUPPORT SERVICES

HCC is committed to serving students who have documented physical, learning, psychological, or other disabilities. Students who have a disability are responsible for contacting Disability Support Services at 443-412-2402 to discuss their needs for accommodations. All information shared with Disability Support Services will be held in confidence.

STUDENT CONDUCT

Students will be familiar with and adhere to the policies and sanctions governing student conduct as written in the HCC Catalog

POLICY ON ACADEMIC DISHONESTY

Students will be familiar with and adhere to the policy governing academic dishonesty and its sanctions as written in the HCC Catalog. Violations of this policy include but are not limited to copying the work of another student during an examination, submitting a writing assignment that is composed in whole or part by someone else, copying or paraphrasing material from any research sources without acknowledging them. Students guilty of violating this policy will receive a grade of "F" for the assignment and may be subject to disciplinary action by the college.

ATTENDANCE POLICY

Students can earn up to 50 points for attendance and participation. Over the semester, students may have one unexcused absence with no penalty, but points will be deducted at a rate of 1-4 points for missing part or all of a class after the first absence. See the class points breakdown for other factors that may impact the class participation grade.

POLICY ON LATE ASSIGNMENTS

Assignments submitted late will be accepted, but points will be deducted by one letter grade per week. Assignments that are emailed or faxed within two days of the scheduled due date will not be counted late, however, it is the student's responsibility to contact the instructor within the two-day window to make sure that the assignment was received. Exceptions to this policy include tests (see separate make-up test policy) and the In-Class Brief Paper (see note at bottom of class schedule).

INCLEMENT WEATHER POLICY

If a test is scheduled for the day a class is cancelled, the test will be administered during the next scheduled class. If class is cancelled the week before a test, come to the next scheduled class prepared to take the missed test. All tests will be administered as scheduled unless an announcement is given in class or on the web site.

Important Dates

September 8 - Refund deadline for 15-week classes

November 9 - Withdrawal Deadline for 15-week classes

December 1 - Deadline for May 2010 Graduation Application

December 14 - Semester Ends

HCC Students are bound by the academic policies outlined in the most current HCC Catalog. It is the student's responsibility to review these policies prior to the start of each semester.

The instructor reserves the right to modify and/or change the course syllabus with reasonable notification to students.

Fall 2009 Educational Psychology Class Schedule - Mr. Conjar

DATE	TOPIC	READING	PREPARATION
9/1	Introduction	NONE
9/8	Theories of Development	Chapter 1, 2
9/15	Development During Childhood and Adolescence	Chapter 3
9/22	TEST 1///Student Diversity	Chapter 4	REVIEW UNIT 1 (Ch. 1-3)
9/29	Behavioral Theories of Learning	Chapter 5	ASSIGNMENT 1: BRIEF ARTICLE DUE
10/6	Information Processing and Cognitive Theories of Learning	Chapter 6	ASSIGNMENT 2a: RESEARCH PROJECT TOPIC AND PRELIMINARY REFERENCE LIST DUE
10/13	Student-Centered and Constructivist Approaches to Instruction	Chapter 8
10/20	TEST 2///The Effective Lesson	Chapter 7	REVIEW UNIT 2 (Ch. 4,5,6,8)
10/27	Accommodating Instruction to Meet Individual Needs	Chapter 9	ASSIGNMENT 2b: RESEARCH PROJECT SAMPLE DRAFT AND UPDATED REFERENCE LIST DUE*
11/3	Motivating Students to Learn†	Chapter 10
11/10	Effective Learning Environments†	Chapter 11	ASSIGNMENT 2c: FINAL RESEARCH PROJECT AND REFERENCE LIST DUE
11/17	TEST 3/// Assessing Student Learning	Chapter 13	REVIEW UNIT 3 (Ch. 7,9,10,11)
11/24	Learners With Exceptionalities	Chapter 12 388-411
12/1	Special Education	Chapter 12 411-437
12/8	Final Exam		REVIEW UNITS 1-4 (Ch. 1-13)

* Students who opt for oral presentations for the research project must submit a rough outline instead of a sample draft on October 27.

† An in-class brief paper will most likely be completed on November 3 and 10. Students who are absent on either date must make special arrangements either before or within 48 hours after each class in order to be eligible for full credit on the assignment. Students who miss one of the two parts of the assignment will only be eligible for half credit.