Psychology Assignment

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PSYC 8762/PSYC 6766: Teaching of Psychology

Course Syllabus Assignment Overview As an instructor on the first day of class, imagine the confusion that would arise if your supervisor handed you a course description and directed you toward a classroom where 30 students were waiting for class to begin. Even substitute teachers are left with teaching plans or notes for the day. How would you get through that first day of class? What would you do to salvage the rest of the term? A course conducted in this manner would create a chaotic environment where very little learning could take place. Therefore, you must invest time and devise effective teaching methods before a course is ready to be taught. As you progress in your psychology teaching career, it is likely that you will begin developing or contributing to the development of psychology course content. While the topic for development likely will be provided to you, you will have to determine how best to organize and present the learning of the topic in alignment with the program and for the benefit of the students taking the course. The purpose of this Assignment is to support the development of your course organization and design skills. Applying effective course design skills along with effective teaching skills will not only enrich the learning experience for students but also create a more enjoyable teaching experience for you. For this Assignment, develop an introductory psychology course syllabus that includes the following:

 APA cover page

 Classroom management rules and expectations regarding student participation

 Course description

 Course introduction that includes a rationale for the course

 List of prerequisites, if applicable

 Textbook* and readings (peer-reviewed journal articles, reputable websites, books); be sure to provide full reference for all textbooks and readings

 Title for each week of the course that reflects the topic(s) covered for that week o At least one discussion question each week

 At least six assignments over the course of the 12 weeks

 Tests (You may select the number of tests to administer and when to administer them, however, be sure to include the test-type you will use to assess learning)

 At least four activities that promote student engagement and facilitate rapport over the 12 weeks (apart from the other discussions and assignments)

 Grading criteria for discussions, assignments, and assessments

 Media (optional) * Please note that you may select any college-level introductory psychology textbook, including the Griggs text, as the required text for your course.

© 2013 Laureate Education, Inc. 2

Although the assignment is not to be submitted until Day 7 of Week 10, you should become familiar with the project requirements and have them in mind as you proceed through the course. Many of the Discussions and Assignments relate to and can be of use for this Assignment.

Information on scholarly writing may be found in the Essential Guide to APA Style and at the Walden Writing Center website. Also see the Code of Conduct and Academic Integrity in the Guidelines and Policies area. The Assignment is due on Day 7 of Week 10. See the Week 10 Assignment area for submission details.