Psychology of Learning 3225
Fall, 2015
John G. Cope, Ph.D.

Office: 110 Rawl Building (328-6497)

e-mailcopej@.ecu.edu

Office Hours:Fall, 2015,110 Rawl; 01:30 to 02:30, Monday- Thursday and by appointment.

Text:Lutz, J. (2005). Learning and memory (2nd. Ed). Waveland Press, Long Grove, Illinois.

Home Page:

Syllabus Download:

Supplemental Reading:TBA

Course Objectives:

Content: Students will learn the subject matter of psychology as it relates to theories of learning. Specifically, the course will concentrate on the understanding of human and animal learning, with an emphasis on applications in community and organizational settings. The focus will be on the theoretical underpinnings and practical implications of the “major” models, such as Classical, Operant, and Social Learning theories, as well as some of the more basic areas of research concerning habituation, sensitization, and the law of effect. Coverage will also include information-processing models of memory.

Methods: The course will focus on research-based (empirical) methods and information typically found in refereed publications, books, and on the web. Students will gain theoretical and practical information about the subject matter through an understanding of the research methods used in studying the various topics. Many of the examples used in class involve actual case studies and antidotal information taken from real-world settings.

Broader Impact: Theories of Learning deal with real-life topics (such as studying) and can have broad implications for student’s lives while in school and later in the world of work, by focusing on how information is retained, stored and retrieved.

Course Requirements: The course will be structured around one hour and fifteen minutes of class on Tuesday and Thursday and assigned readings from the text and the internet.

Your final grade will be determined on the basis of performance on three tests (each counting for 33% of the total requirements), covering 12 topic areas (see below). Specifically, each test will consist of 50 multiple-choice items which will represent information provided in class, in the text and from the power points. Scores from the three tests will be averaged at the end of the semester and a curve (if any) will be added to that average and then the resulting grade will be entered into One-stop as your final grade for the class.

The following grading scale will be used to compute final grades:

Grade / Quality Points / 10-Point Scale
A / 4.0 / 94-100
A- / 3.7 / 90-93
B+ / 3.3 / 87-89
B / 3 / 83-86
B- / 2.7 / 80-82
C+ / 2.3 / 77-79
C / 2 / 73-76
C- / 1.7 / 70-72
D+ / 1.3 / 67-69
D / 1 / 63-66
D- / .7 / 60-62
F / 0 / Below 60

There will be no comprehensive final; yet, the third exam will be given during the regularly scheduled exam period. The final will occur from 8:00 – 10:30a, Tuesday, December 15th, 2015. The other two tests will be announced no latter than one week prior to the proposed exam date.Classes will run Tuesday and Thursday at 8:00 to 9:15 in Rawl 105.

Attendance is expected (in that it will be difficult to pass this class without regular attendance) but not required.

Syllabus

Topic ListChapter

Learning is…1

Tactics of Behavioral ResearchNotes

Simple Forms of Learning02

Classical Conditioning03

Test #1 TBA

Operant Conditioning04

Punishment05

Reinforcement06

Generalization and Discrimination07

Test # 2 TBA

Social Learning TheoryNotes

Verbal Learning10

Models of Memory11

Processing and Remembering13

Test #3 (Tuesday, December 15th, 2015; 8:00 – 10:30a)

University Emergency Information: In the event of a weather emergency, information about ECU can be accessed through the following sources:
ECU emergency notices:
Emergency Information Hotline: 252-328-0062

If BlackBoard Continues to be Available. The class syllabus and all of the class materials are available online, in BlackBoard. You are expected to complete readings in your text and review the power point materials provided via BlackBoard.

If All Internet Access Fails. You may be expected to have prepared for this. You were given a hard copy of the class syllabus at the beginning of the semester. It is also recommended that you download this agenda from BlackBoard and refer to it if internet access fails for an extended period of time. In addition to assigned readings in your text book, you should download course Power Point materials for the next month or two so ahead so that you can continue to work in the event of a prolonged period without internet access.

ECU seeks to fully comply with the Americans with Disability Act (ADA). Students requesting accommodations based on a covered disability must go to the Department for Disability Support Services, located in Brewster A 114, to verify the disability before any accommodations can occur. The telephone number is: 252-328-6799.