Introduction to Psychology with Virtual Labs and Sims
Price
TBA
Duration
2 Quarters, 1 Semester
Table of Contents
COURSE OBJECTIVE
Psychology studies human behavior and mental processes and typically involves experiments using the scientific method to describe, explain, predict and change the behavior of animals and humans. While there are countless benefits to the study of psychology and many applications to all areas of life, it has faced a significant amount of criticism for not being as rigorous as other sciences.
Psychology is a young science that emerged as a scientific discipline distinct from its philosophical roots. While psychology has roots in the ancient Greek philosophies of Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle, psychology as we know it today did not emerge until the second half of the 1800s CE. Today there are several different branches or subfields in psychology:
Biological (Physiological) psychology focuses on the influence of the body and the brain on behavior.
Psychodynamic psychology explores the unconscious drives and childhood experiences that influence behavior.
Cognitive psychology emphasizes mental processes, thinking, language and cognition.
Behavioral psychology looks at outward and observable behaviors, and how those behaviors can be modified.
Humanistic psychology focuses on human self-actualization, potential, and free will.
Developmental psychology is concerned with the stages of development throughout the lifespan.
Evolutionary psychology applies the theories of Charles Darwin's theory of natural selection and evolution to human behavior and functioning.
The objective of this course is to demonstrate an understanding of human psychology and behavior, including common mental health disorders. You will connect this knowledge with current treatment methodologies and with the work of notable psychologists in fields ranging from developmental psychology to social psychology. You'll learn about how the scientific method is applied to psychology.
COURSE FORMAT
The class meets 90 minutes twice a week (M/W or T/Th) for 20 weeks. Like all other courses in our curriculum, Introduction to Psychology with Virtual Labs and Sims consists of two components: asynchronous and synchronous learning.
We use the Psychology 101: Introduction to Psychology course for the asynchronous flipped classroom portion of the course. This makes up 30% of your overall grade.
Your academy instructor will facilitate the virtual in-person synchronous portion of the course. This makes up 60% of your overall grade.
Asynchronous Learning
Psychology 101: Introduction to Psychology course on Study.com was created by a panel of expert instructors who break down concepts with bite-sized, animated video lessons organized into topical chapters that improve comprehension and retention, making learning fun and engaging. Each video is approximately 5-10 minutes long and comes with a quick quiz to help you measure your "first exposure learning" during the pre-work phase before the actual class. At the end of each chapter, you will complete a chapter test to see if you're ready to move on or have some material to review.
You should expect to spend 50-70 minutes per week on these homework assignments. The academy intentionally schedules no classes on Fridays to provide dedicated time for homework assignments and out-of-class projects.
Synchronous Learning
Our academy instructor, who will also serve as your Gamemaster, will facilitate the live, virtual classroom sessions, which will supplement and build upon the Psychology 101: Introduction to Psychology course. Additionally, they will answer any questions you may have about the asynchronous material.
Our in-person sessions are designed to make learning fun and interactive! Here's what you can expect:
Interactive discussions: We will delve deeper into key concepts from the asynchronous material and address any common misconceptions.
Team-based activities: You'll work collaboratively with your fellow students to earn points and badges, and climb the leaderboard as you embark on scientific edventures!
Labs and Simulations: We will conduct virtual labs and simulations to provide hands-on experience with key psychology concepts, like human behavior, emotion, cognition, and motivation.
Exams
There will be a comprehensive mid-term exam over all content covered during the first quarter and a comprehensive final exam over all content covered during the second quarter. Both of these exams are weighted equally, and the combined average will count as 10% of your course grade.
COURSE TOPICS
Chapters: 14; Lessons: 121
INTERACTIVE DISCUSSION BOARD
Each chapter features an interactive discussion board powered by Discussion Hero, a gamified platform developed by Northwestern University. Students choose between "hero" and "villain" roles and avatars, earning points for their contributions. This fosters a sense of competition and engagement, making discussions even more rewarding.
Benefits of Participating in Discussions:
Develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills: Go beyond memorization and passive learning by analyzing information, evaluating different perspectives, and forming your own conclusions.
Enhance communication skills: Practice clear communication, learn to articulate your ideas effectively, and develop respectful listening and rebuttal skills.
Fosters a collaborative learning environment: Learn from each other, share knowledge, and collaborate on problem-solving, creating a dynamic and enriching learning community.
Deepen your understanding of the content: Actively engaging with the course material through discussion solidifies and expands your understanding beyond lectures and readings.
Provides diverse perspectives: Discussions expose you to different viewpoints and interpretations, encouraging critical thinking and broadening your understanding of the subject matter.
Offers opportunities for self-reflection: Examining your own thoughts and arguments in response to prompts and engaging with others' perspectives helps solidify your learning and identify areas for further exploration.
Apply knowledge to real-world scenarios: Apply course concepts to real-world situations through discussions, enhancing the material's relevance.
Build a digital learning portfolio: Discussions serve as a reference for your learning journey, allowing you to revisit key concepts and track your progress.
Develop digital literacy: Discussions provide a platform to practice online communication etiquette, including respectful disagreement, constructive argumentation, and responsible information sharing.
To actively engage in meaningful learning and reap the benefits mentioned above, participation in each chapter's discussion board is expected and will contribute to your overall grade. Your instructor will provide a clear rubric within Discussion Hero outlining the expectations for participation and how your contributions will be evaluated. This ensures consistent and transparent assessment while allowing you to showcase your understanding and critical thinking skills throughout the course.
LABS AND DEMONSTRATIONS
To strengthen high school psychology curriculums, the American Psychological Association (APA), with the assistance of a dedicated group of high school and college teachers, created a series of lab exercises. Each of the exercises provides high school students with the opportunity to plan and carry out investigations utilizing laboratory procedures just as would occur in biology, chemistry, and physics courses, including suggestions for data analysis and preparation of lab reports.
The APA has also developed and made available an online psychology laboratory that includes dozens of interactive labs and demonstrations across several domains in psychology. These, too, present data for analysis.
Your instructor will select specific lab exercises and demonstrations from these resources to enhance your learning experience, utilizing them for individual and small-group assignments.
The APA lab exercises provide high school students with the opportunity to:
Develop critical thinking skills through designing, conducting, and analyzing research investigations using the scientific method.
Gain experience with the scientific method, including hypothesis development, data collection, and analysis.
Practice applying research methods and data analysis techniques.
Learn to interpret psychological findings and draw evidence-based conclusions.
VIRTUAL SIMULATIONS
The Sims 4: Your Virtual Behavioral Science Lab
Imagine exploring human behavior not just through lectures, textbooks, and case studies, but by creating virtual worlds and shaping the lives of the virtual people (Sims) who inhabit them! Our innovative virtual simulations, featuring the popular game The Sims 4, bring key concepts in behavioral science to life in a fun and effective way.
The Sims 4 isn't just a game – it's a life simulation powerhouse, with some role-playing game (RPG) elements, that caters to diverse learners. This open-world environment empowers you to create your own narratives and experiment with theories of psychology in a safe, controlled setting. Unlike traditional games, The Sims 4 has no set goals or win/lose conditions, allowing you to focus on maximizing your learning impact.
Throughout the course, you'll participate in various solo and team-based simulated challenges related to key themes and concepts in research methods in psychology. Your instructor will provide clear guidelines, including the theme, backstory, learning objectives, goals, rules, constraints, and scoring rubrics. Additionally, they may offer suggestions on other parameters such as storyline, Sim traits, or other demographic characteristics like age, marital status, profession, lifestyle, and socioeconomic background, to ensure a comprehensive and dynamic learning environment.
Ready to Dive Deeper?
If you're new to the game, you can explore specific aspects of The Sims 4 and how they contribute to our virtual simulations.
PEER-REVIEW CAPSTONE PROJECT
You’ve grasped an important and challenging scientific theory, concept or principle. Now it’s time to share your insight into this big breakthrough idea. In this project, you'll transform your scientific knowledge into an engaging video, honing your communication, creativity, and critical thinking skills. You'll also have the opportunity to compete in the Breakthough Junior Challenge (BJC), a prestigious global science competition for high-school students with exciting prizes!
As long as the subject of your video relates to Life Sciences and for example, discusses brain function and physiology as opposed to strictly behavior, you are encouraged to submit your final capstone project to the BJC! Below are branches of Psychology that would qualify.
If your video is selected as the Winner, you will receive:
If you’re looking for guidance, you can see some of the prior years’ top-scoring entries here and the playlist below. But remember, to show ‘creativity’ your film should be as original as possible.
COURSE OUTCOMES
After completing this course, you will be able to:
Describe the elements of the study and history of psychology, including how the scientific method applies to psychology
Differentiate sensation and perception
Categorize the states of consciousness
Differentiate between operant and classical conditioning and examine famous experiments that contributed to understanding of conditioning
Summarize how memory is stored and categorized
Interpret the contributions of developmental psychologists, including Piaget and Kohlberg
Analyze Freud's theories of psychosexual development and defense mechanisms
Evaluate concepts of social psychology, including stereotypes and attraction
Diagram and explain different types of psychological disorders, including anxiety and mood disorders
Outline the basics of statistics, tests, and measurement used in psychology
Apply the principles of ethical conduct in psychological research, including obtaining informed consent and ensuring confidentiality.
Analyze the influence of cultural factors on psychological processes and behaviors.
Evaluate the impact of psychological disorders on individuals and society, including stigma and treatment accessibility.
Explore emerging trends and interdisciplinary approaches in psychology, such as neuropsychology and environmental psychology.
Develop critical thinking skills through the examination of psychological theories and their practical applications in real-world scenarios.
PREREQUISITES
There are no prerequisites for this course.
COLLEGE OR DUAL CREDIT
Psychology 101: Introduction to Psychology has been evaluated and recommended by both ACE and NCCRS for 3 semester hours and may be transferred to over 2,000 colleges and universities. If you're seeking college credit, after completing this course, you can take the online proctored exam at any time for an additional fee.
Your Instructor
TBD
