PS200: Introduction to Cognitive PsychologyUnit1: IntroductionProf. Abby Ngwako, M.Ed.

Objectives

•Introductions •Highlights of course expectations &

policies•Introduction to Cognitive Psychology•Brain Structures•Senses•Perception•Cognitive Processes•Reminders for Unit 1 Assignments

Introductions: A little bit about me

• Born and raised in Chicago• Teaching for Kaplan for about 4

years• Background in Communication,

Political Science and Educational Psychology

• Worked in Special Education, both as an instructor and School Psychologist

Contact Information:Email: angwako@kaplan.edu AIM login: angwako (available by appointment)

Introductions: Let’s get to know each other…You will have a chance to introduce yourself

in more detail under the “Introductions” link located in Unit 1 with your class, but let’s do some brief introductions…

If everyone can tell me…

Where you are from?What interests you about cognitive

psychology?Why did you choose to go into the field of

Psychology?

Flex seminars• 4 seminars offered

weekly• Can choose which

seminar you want to attend

• All seminars are recorded so can review at any time

• Attendance is graded for this class, but you only have to attend 1 seminar or do option 2 for credit

• Further info on flex seminars included in “Flexible Seminar Student User Guide” located in Doc Sharing

1. PS200-01Prof. Abby NgwakoTuesday 8PM ET

2. PS200-03Prof. Kathryn HartnettMonday 9PM ET

3. PS200-04Prof. Erin Hunt-Carter Wednesday 8PM ET

4. PS200-16Prof. Lani GilbertThursday 7PM ET

Late Policy• I do understand life happens but it is also important to follow due

dates since they are set for a reason. However if something comes up please let me know and I will work with you the best I can. Depending on the extenuating circumstance late penalties may apply.

• Late projects 1 letter grade/week that it is late (Units 1-5 not accepted more than 3 wks late and Units 6-8 late projects not accepted after Unit 8)

• Late Discussion boards 1 letter grade/week that it is late (max. 3 weeks) Units 1-4 will not be accepted after Midnight on Tuesday of Unit 5 and Units 5-8 will not be accepted after Midnight on Tuesday of Unit 9

• Late Seminar Option 2 0.5 points /week late (max. 2 pts.)Late postings for units 1 - 4 will not be accepted after midnight Tuesday of Unit 5. Postings for units 5 - 8 will not be accepted after midnight Tuesday of unit 9.

• Please email me once you have submitted any late assignments. The email should include what type of task you submitted late for which unit. (i.e. Discussion for Unit 1)

Plagiarism:• Plagiarism is an offense that is taken seriously at

Kaplan. If it is determined that you are plagiarizing it can not only earn a 0 for the assignment, fail the class or even permanent dismissal from the University.

• Students are expected to be the sole authors of their work. Use of another person’s work or ideas must be accompanied by specific citations and references (see details in syllabus)

• APA is required for this course, so please make sure to cite your sources in correct format (if you need help check out the resources on APA available in KU Writing Center)

• Kaplan University subscribes to a third-party plagiarism detection service, and reserves the right to check all student work to verify that it meets the guidelines of this policy.

Grade Breakdown

 

Assessments Number Points each

Total Points

Seminars 9 5 45Discussions 9 50 450Projects 1 175 175Exam 1 150 150Final Project 1 180 180Total Points 1000

Points

Introduction to Cognitive Psychology

•What is cognition?

•Why would we need to study cognitive processes?

Brain structures (Caswell, 2007)

How does the Brain know what to do?• Involves 5 senses• Information from all senses are received by

thalamus (except for sense of smell) and sent to cerebral cortex (analyze data like a main processing unit of computer)

•Sensory AdaptationReflection:Why is it important for your senses to work

properly?What happens when you lose one or more

senses?

What is perception?•Perception-Making sense of information from senses•Relate past knowledge & past experiences to choose what action you

take•Can be affected by attention, environment, emotions

What examples can you think of where perceptions affect how we learn?

Consider the following examples…• Radio station has a lot of static, but you can still

understand song despite static .Why is this the case? 1. Vision-can see candle flame from 30 miles away (dark & clear night)2. Hearing-can hear ticking clock 20ft. away (quiet conditions)3. Smell- can smell1 drop perfume diffused in 3 rooms4. Taste- can taste 1 tsp. Sugar in 2 gallons of water5. Touch-can feel wing of fly falling on cheek from 1cm(Santrock, 2004, p.127) Why is this the case?

How much control do we have over our cognition?

1----2–----- 3–----- 4---- 5mostly unconscious mostly conscious

Perception

Attention

Working Memory

Long-Term MemoryLanguag

e

Problem Solving

Decision Making

Reminders for Unit 1 Assignments•Please take some time to post your

introduction on the Discussion Board (under “Introductions” in Unit 1). 

•Please respond to both Unit 1 Discussions▫The Basics of Thinking▫The Curious Case of Phineas Gage

•Respond to at least 2 peers to advance and further the discussion.

•Seminar Option 2 if you did not attendany of the seminars live

ReferencesCaswell, J. (2007). A Tour of the Brain: A user-

friendly guide to the components of the Human Brain and how they function. Stroke Connection, July/August, 19-22.

Kaplan University. (2008). Chapter One Introduction To Cognition.

Robinson-Riegler, G. & Robinson-Riegler, B. (2008). Cognitive Psychology: Applying the Science of the Mind, Second Edition. Boston: Pearson Education.

Santrock, J. (2004). Psychology Essentials (Updated 2nd ed.). New York, NY: McGraw Hill Co.