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Psychology 101: Understanding Human Behavior and Mental Processes

Explore human behavior and mental processes in this 20-week self-paced Psychology course for high school students. Gain a deeper understanding of psychological concepts and their real-life applications.
Erin Lavonne Bennett
Average rating:
4.5
Number of reviews:
(4)
Class
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What's included

20 pre-recorded lessons
20 weeks
of teacher support
1 year access
to the content
Assignments
1-2 hours per week. The course consists of weekly modules that include instructional videos, multimedia presentations, reading assignments, vocabulary flashcards, and unit assessments.
Assessment
Unit quizzes. Each unit culminates with a quiz, and a final exam consisting of 100 multiple-choice questions. The final exam is worth 20% of the final letter grade.
Letter Grade
included
Certificate of Completion
included

Class Experience

US Grade 9 - 11
Intermediate - Advanced Level
Dive into the scientific study of behavior and mental processes in this 20-week course. Students will explore psychological concepts through interactive lessons, critical thinking, and data analysis from research studies.

Skills You’ll Learn:

	•	Applying psychological theories to real-life scenarios
	•	Interpreting and understanding data
	•	Analyzing psychological research

Course Features:

	•	Weekly modules with instructional videos, multimedia presentations, and vocabulary 
                flashcards
	•	Quizzes at the end of each unit
	•	Final exam with 100 multiple-choice questions, worth 20% of the final grade

This course offers a comprehensive understanding of psychology, equipping students with the knowledge and skills to excel in future academic pursuits.
Learning Goals
•Recognize how philosophical and physiological perspectives shaped the development of psychological thought. (I.A)
• Identify the research contributions of major historical figures in psychology. (1.B)
• Describe and compare different
theoretical approaches in explaining behavior. (1.C)
• Recognize the strengths and limitations of applying theories to explain behavior. (1.D)
• Distinguish the different domains of psychology. (I.E)
•Differentiate types of research with regard to purpose, strengths, and weaknesses. (1.F)
• Predict the validity of behavioral explanations based on the quality of research design. (1.K)
• Discuss the value of reliance on operational definitions and measurement in behavioral research.
(1.G)
• Apply basic descriptive statistical concepts, including interpreting and constructing graphs and calculating simple descriptive statistics.(1.L)
• Identify independent, dependent, confounding, and control variables in experimental designs. (1.H)
• Distinguish the purposes of descriptive statistics and inferential statistics.(1.M)
• Describe how research design drives and the reasonable conclusions that can be drawn, (1.1)
• Identify how ethical issues inform and constrain research practices.
(1.N)
• Distinguish between random assignment of participants to conditions in experiments and random selection of participants, primarily in correlational studies and surveys. (1.J)
• Describe how ethical and legal guidelines protect research participants and promote sound ethical practice. (1.0)
•Discuss psychology's abiding interest in how heredity, environment, and evolution work together to shape behavior. (2.A)
• Identify key research contributions of scientists in the area of heredity and environment. (2.B) )
• Predict how traits and behavior can be selected for their adaptive value. (2.C)
• Discuss the effect of the endocrine system on behavior. (2.D)
• Describe the nervous system and its subdivisions and functions. (2.E)
• Identify basic processes and systems in the biological bases of behavior, including parts of the neuron. (2.F)
• Identify the basic process of transmission of a signal between neurons. (2.G)
• Discuss the influence of drugs on neurotransmitters. (2.H)
• Describe the nervous system and its subdivisions and functions in the brain.
(2.1)
• Identify the contributions of key researchers to the study of the brain.
(2.J) )
• Recount historic and contemporary research strategies and technologies that support research. (2.K)
• Identify the contributions of key researchers to the development of tools for examining the brain. (2.L)
• Discuss the role of neuroplasticity in traumatic brain injury. (2.M)
• Identify the contributions of key researchers to the study of neuroplasticity (2.N)
• • Identify the contributions of key researchers in the psychology of learning. (4.A)
• Interpret graphs that exhibit the results of learning experiments.(4.B)
• Describe the essential characteristics of insight learning, latent learning, and social learning. (4.C)
• Apply learning principles to explain emotional learning, taste aversion, superstitious behavior, and learned helplessness. (4.D)
• Provide examples of ow biological constraints create learning predispositions. (4.E)
• Describe basic classical conditioning phenomena. (4.F)
• Distinguish general differences between principles of classical conditioning, operant conditioning, and observational learning. (4.G)
• Predict the effects of operant conditioning (4.H)
• Predict how practice, schedules of reinforcement, and motivation influence quality of learning. (4.1)
• Suggest how behavior modification, biofeedback, coping strategies, and self-control can be used to address behavioral problems. (4.J)
•Compare and contrast cognitive processes. (5.A)
• Describe and differentiate psychological and physiological systems of memory
(5.B)
• Identify the contributions of key researchers in cognitive psychology (5.C)
• Outline the principles that underlie construction and encoding of memories.
(5.D)
• Outline the principles that underlie effective storage of memories. (S.E)
• Describe strategies for retrieving memories. (S.F)
• Describe strategies for memory improvement and typical memory errors. (5.G)
• Describe and differentiate psychological and physiological systems of short- and long-memory (5.H)
• Identify problem-solving strategies as well as factors that influence their effectiveness. (5.1)
• List the characteristics of creative thought and creative thinkers. (5.J)
• Identify problem-solving strategies as well as factors that create bias and errors in thinking. (5.K)
• Synthesize how biological, cognitive, and cultural factors converge to facilitate acquisition, development, and use of language.(S.)
• Identify and apply basic motivational concepts to understand the behavior of humans and other animals. (7.A)
• Discuss the biological underpinnings of motivation, including needs, drives, and homeostasis. (7.E)
• Compare and contrast motivational theories, including the strengths and
• Compare and contrast major theories of emotion. (7.F)
weaknesses of each. (7.B)
• Describe classical research findings in specific motivations. (7.C)
• Describe how cultural influences shape emotional expression, including variations in body language. (7.G)
• Identify contributions of key researchers in the psychological field of motivation and emotion. (7.D)
• Discuss theories of stress and the effects of stress on psychological and physical well-being. (7.H)
•Explain the process of conception and gestation, including factors that influence successful neo-natal development. (6.A)
• Discuss the interaction of nature and nurture (including cultural variations), specifically physical development, in the determination of behavior. (6.B)
• Discuss maturation of motor skills. (6.C)
• Describe the influence of temperament and other social factors on attachment and appropriate socialization. (6.D)
• Identify the contributions of major researchers in developmental psychology in the area of social development in childhood. (6.E)
• Discuss the interaction of nature and nurture (including cultural variations), specifically social development, in the determination of behavior. (6.F)
• Explain how parenting styles influence development. (6.G)
• Explain the maturation of cognitive abilities (Piaget's stages, Information process).
(6.H)
• Identify the contributions of major researchers in cognitive development in childhood. (6.I)
• Discuss maturational challenges in adolescence, including family conflicts. (6.J)
• Characterize he development of decisions related to intimacy as people mature. (6.K)
• Predict the physical and cognitive changes that emerge through the lifespan, including steps that can be taken to maximize function. (6.L)
• Identify the contributions of major researchers in the area of adulthood and aging.
(6.M)
• Identify the contributions of major researchers in the area of moral development. (6.N)
• Compare and contrast models of moral development. (6.0)
• Describe how sex and gender influence socialization and other aspects of development. (6.P)
• Describe and compare research methods that psychologists use to investigate personality. (7.1)
• Identify the contributions of major researchers in personality theory. (7.J)
• Compare and contrast the psychoanalytic theories of personality with other theories of personality. (7.K)
• Compare and contrast the behaviorist and social cognitive theories of personality with other theories of personality. (7.L)
• Compare and contrast humanistic theories of personality with other theories of personality. (7.M)
• Speculate how cultural context can facilitate or constrain personality development, especially as it relates to self-concept. (7.N)
• Compare and contrast trait theories of personality with other theories of personality. (7.0)
• Identify frequently used assessment strategies, and evaluate relative test quality based on reliability and validity of the instruments. (7.P)
•   Recognize the use of the most recent Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental
Disorders (DSM-5) published by the American Psychiatric Association as the
primary reference for diagnostic judgments. (8.A)
•   Describe contemporary and historical conceptions of what constitutes psychological
disorders. (8.B)
•   Discuss the intersection between psychology and the legal system. (8.C)
•   Evaluate the strengths and limitations of various approaches to explaining
psychological disorders.(8.D)
•   Identify the positive and negative consequences of diagnostic labels. (8.E)
•   Discuss the major diagnostic categories, including neurodevelopmental
disorders, neurocognitive disorders, schizophrenia spectrum, and other psychotic
disorders,and their corresponding symptoms. (8.F)
•   Discuss the major diagnostic categories, including anxiety disorders, bipolar
and related disorders, obsessive-compulsive and related disorders,and their
corresponding symptoms. (8.G)
•   Discuss the major diagnostic categories, including dissociate disorders, somatic
symptoms and related disorders, and trauma- and stressor-related disorders,and
their corresponding symptoms. (8.H)
•   Discuss the major diagnostic categories, including feeding and eating disorders,
personality disorders, and their corresponding symptoms. (8.I)
  Recognize the use of the most recent Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental
Disorders (DSM-5) published by the American Psychiatric Association as the
primary reference for diagnostic judgments. (8.A)
•   Describe contemporary and historical conceptions of what constitutes psychological
disorders. (8.B)
•   Discuss the intersection between psychology and the legal system. (8.C)
•   Evaluate the strengths and limitations of various approaches to explaining
psychological disorders.(8.D)
•   Identify the positive and negative consequences of diagnostic labels. (8.E)
•   Discuss the major diagnostic categories, including neurodevelopmental
disorders, neurocognitive disorders, schizophrenia spectrum, and other psychotic
disorders,and their corresponding symptoms. (8.F)
•   Discuss the major diagnostic categories, including anxiety disorders, bipolar
and related disorders, obsessive-compulsive and related disorders,and their
corresponding symptoms. (8.G)
•   Discuss the major diagnostic categories, including dissociate disorders, somatic
symptoms and related disorders, and trauma- and stressor-related disorders,and
their corresponding symptoms. (8.H)
•   Discuss the major diagnostic categories, including feeding and eating disorders,
personality disorders, and their corresponding symptoms. (8.I)
  Recognize the use of the most recent Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental
Disorders (DSM-5) published by the American Psychiatric Association as the
primary reference for diagnostic judgments. (8.A)
•   Describe contemporary and historical conceptions of what constitutes psychological
disorders. (8.B)
•   Discuss the intersection between psychology and the legal system. (8.C)
•   Evaluate the strengths and limitations of various approaches to explaining
psychological disorders.(8.D)
•   Identify the positive and negative consequences of diagnostic labels. (8.E)
•   Discuss the major diagnostic categories, including neurodevelopmental
disorders, neurocognitive disorders, schizophrenia spectrum, and other psychotic
disorders,and their corresponding symptoms. (8.F)
•   Discuss the major diagnostic categories, including anxiety disorders, bipolar
and related disorders, obsessive-compulsive and related disorders,and their
corresponding symptoms. (8.G)
•   Discuss the major diagnostic categories, including dissociate disorders, somatic
symptoms and related disorders, and trauma- and stressor-related disorders,and
their corresponding symptoms. (8.H)
•   Discuss the major diagnostic categories, including feeding and eating disorders,
personality disorders, and their corresponding symptoms. (8.I)
learning goal

Syllabus

Curriculum
Follows College Board Advanced Placement Curriculum
Standards
Aligned with Advanced Placement (AP) Standards
9 Units
20 Lessons
over 20 Weeks
Unit 1: Scientific Foundations of Psychology
Lesson 1:
Historical Foundations of Psychology
 In this initial module, we'll delve into the historical origins of this multifaceted discipline and its evolution into the modern, diverse field we know today. 
Lesson 2:
Research Methods & Statistical Analysis
 We'll explore the diverse techniques psychologists use to study the mind and behavior, understanding how these methods shape our insights. 
Unit 2: Biological Bases of Behavior
Lesson 3:
Biological Psychology Part 1
 We're diving deep into the fascinating world of biological systems and their roles in psychology 
Lesson 4:
Biological Psychology Part 2
 We'll venture into the realm of behavioral genetics 🧬, uncovering how our genes and environment interact to shape our personality and behavior. 

Other Details

Parental Guidance
Psychology explores various aspects of human behavior, emotion, and cognition, and may touch on sensitive topics like mental health disorders, aggression, and social issues. While we aim for a respectful and educational approach, parents should be aware that some content could be emotionally triggering for certain learners. It is advised to discuss the course topics with your child and assess their comfort level before enrolling. This high school Psychology course will cover various sensitive topics with care and respect. Here is how each of the following topics will be handled: Conception and Gestation (6.A): The process of conception and gestation will be explained factually and scientifically, with a focus on understanding biological development. Factors influencing successful neonatal development will be discussed in the context of maternal health and prenatal care. Physical and Cognitive Changes Through the Lifespan (6.L): We will explore the physical and cognitive changes that occur from infancy through old age. The course will include discussions on strategies to maximize physical and cognitive function, such as healthy lifestyle choices and mental exercises. Sex and Gender Influence on Development (6.P): The impact of sex and gender on socialization and development will be examined with an emphasis on understanding diversity and promoting inclusivity. Students will learn about gender roles, identity, and how these factors influence individual development and societal expectations. Research Methods in Personality (7.1): The course will describe and compare various research methods used by psychologists to study personality, including case studies, surveys, and experimental methods. Emphasis will be placed on understanding the strengths and limitations of each method. Contributions of Major Researchers in Personality Theory (7.J): Students will be introduced to major figures in personality psychology, such as Sigmund Freud, Carl Jung, and Abraham Maslow. Their contributions will be discussed to provide a historical perspective on personality theory development. Comparison of Psychoanalytic and Other Personality Theories (7.K): We will compare and contrast psychoanalytic theories of personality with other theories, such as trait theory, humanistic approaches, and social-cognitive theories. This comparison will help students understand the evolution and diversity of thought within the field of personality psychology. All reflection, analysis, and discussion will be conducted in a respectful and age-appropriate manner, ensuring a safe learning environment for all students. The class will utilize the following third-party resources: - Students will need access to Google Slides or PowerPoint for certain assignments. I recommend students use Google Slides, because it is free and also provides Google Drive as a place to organize and save their work. https://docs.google.com/presentation/u/0/?tgif=d - Kahoot for review activities: https://kahoot.com/schools-u/ - Edpuzzle for interactive multimedia instruction and and instructional videos. (Note that students will need to create their own free account) https://edpuzzle.com/ - Padlet will be used to create virtual gallery walks and class discussions https://padlet.com/ - Instructional resources will be created and organized with Canva and Articulate 360 https://www.canva.com/ https://rise.articulate.com/
Supply List
Course Textbook: 

AMSCO®
Advanced Placement® Edition Psychology
Copyright Year: 2021
Charles D. Schallhorn
Publisher: Perfection Learning
https://a.co/d/7mcAj1U

Weekly reading excerpts will reference this text. Reading excerpts provided through the course are intended for instructional reference only and can't be read by screen readers or other assistive technology features.
 1 file available upon enrollment
External Resources
In addition to the Outschool classroom, this class uses:
Joined April, 2023
4.5
4reviews
Profile
Teacher expertise and credentials
Utah Teaching Certificate in Social Studies/History
North Carolina Teaching Certificate in Secondary Education
Master's Degree in Education from Lesley University
Bachelor's Degree in Psychology from University of Colorado at Boulder
Bachelor's Degree in History from Metropolitan State University of Denver
Currently hold a Professional NC Teaching License for Secondary Social Studies
Former public high school AP teacher 
ME in Educational Technology
BA Psychology
BA History 
Micro-Credential in Inclusive Teaching for Equitable Learning | ACUE 2021
Currently an eLearning Developer for the NC Community College System. 

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Ages: 12-17

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