Human Learning and
Performance
Course: PSY 4935 BD
Fall 2003, Mon/Wed
Dr.
Office: Bldg 39: 4066, Hrs: Mon and Tue:
Homepage: http://www.unf.edu/~iiversen/
email: iiversen@unf.edu
This course is a new preparation. It will count as a 4-hr credit
experimental course even though it is not yet in the catalog as such. It is
equivalent to the other 4-hr credit experimental courses offered at the
Psychology Department. If the course is a success, the Department will add it
permanently to the curriculum so as to offer more choices to students regarding
experimental courses.
Prerequisite for this class:
Having passed both Research
Methods and Research Methods Lab
I. Course Material:
1) Various articles and chapters
from different books
2) APA style manual, 5th
Edition (recommended)
3) Class presentations by students
(see below).
4) Lectures and handouts by
instructor (plus material placed on Blackboard)
5) Your own research data obtained
in the lab and at home
II. Purpose of the course:
The main
purpose is to acquaint you with basic methodology used in research on human
learning and performance. Part of this methodology is analysis of actual data
and graphical presentation of such data. The main source of this learning will
be direct interaction with the material on computers in the lab. You will be
the subject in the experiments, and you will be analyzing your own data as well
as the data from the other subjects. You will also learn various methods of
presenting results form experiments. For the course, UNF has acquired a Tablet
PC computer that can be used for highly interactive data analysis. For example,
you can draw graphs on it that other students can see on the projector screen.
A second
purpose is for you to learn about basic principles of learning and performance from
selected texts and class presentations. We will read various texts from
different sources about basic learning principles and application of these
principles in both everyday and clinical domains. The main emphasis will be on
an experimental, rather than a theoretical, approach to learning research.
This class is a 4-hr credit
experimental psychology course. Therefore, you should expect to spend quite a bit
of time interacting with the material we cover, including the actual hands-on
experience in the laboratory and the report writing. Most of the research you
will conduct takes place in the computer laboratory during class time.
The class meets twice each week (Mon/Wed)
for lectures and/or for laboratory sessions. Sometimes we will lecture first
for about 30 minutes and then run laboratory sessions for the remainder of the
class period. You will also be conducting a research project at home throughout
the semester (about 5-10 min each day).
III. Teaching methods:
In each class period, the
instructor will highlight certain issues from the assigned reading, present
additional material, and lead discussions with the class. The instructor will
expect students to have read the text before class starts so that an actual discussion
can take place. Also, to supplement the information from the texts, students
will give presentations in class on assigned literature.
An important source of information
and learning will be your direct interaction with the computer assignments in
the laboratory. A series of experiments have been designed specifically for
this class. You will work on a project on your own with your computer in the
class, and we will analyze the results collectively. You will learn a variety
of methods and techniques of analyzing and presenting material from
experiments. For example, we will cover preparation of Power Point presentations,
preparation of documents where images, graphs, and text are integrated, as well
as generation of graphs both on a pad and in software.
The course will not place any
particular emphasis on inferential statistics. Instead we will focus on
descriptive statistics (drawing graphs to analyze data as opposed to computing t-tests and Analyses of Variance).
Relevant class material will be placed
on Blackboard such as some of the material the instructor has presented on the
overhead projector and additional information.
Because
this course is a new preparation, you will be asked to evaluate the course by
the middle of the term. The Instructor will prepare an anonymous evaluation
form. The remainder of the course may change direction to some extent, based on
constructive feedback from students.
IV. Planned Course Activities:
1) Class Experiments: We will conduct a series of experiments with the
computers in the lab. The topics for the experiments serve to introduce you to basic
research issues in human learning and performance. Each experiment is designed
so that you can complete it in one class period and also analyze the results
during that time.
2) Home Experiment: You will be conducting an experiment at home, which
extends through the entire semester. You should spend 5 – 10 minutes on it each
day. Hopefully it will be a fun thing to do each day. Essentially, you will
learn to juggle first two, then three and maybe more objects, and you will take
data so that you can analyze how you are learning it. The home experiment will
be completed by submission of a report and participation in a class contest. (An
added benefit of the assignment is that with some effort on your part you may
generate a relaxing and entertaining skill that will stay with you for the rest
of you life.)
3) Class presentation: Based on outside reading of original research
reports on some aspect of human learning, each student will give one class
presentation for the class for a 10-minute period. You must write a 1‑page
summary of your presentation so that the other students can have some material
about your presentation (class presentation material appears on exams). The instructor
early in the semester will provide the topics for the class presentations. Class
presentations are distributed over the semester such that each student has
sufficient time to prepare for the presentation. The presentation should be
prepared in Power Point (the basic method of generating a PowerPoint
preparation will be covered in class). The presenter is expected to be able to
answer questions about the material he/she presents. Class presentations are
graded.
4) Group Presentation: Groups of three students will select a topic to
research and explore outside of class. The idea is that the group examines
various databases for material on the given topic and then late in the semester
presents for class the results of the research. Each presentation should last
about 20 minutes and should be prepared in Power Point. The group will not
conduct any actual experiments but will search literature relevant to some
topic about human learning. Many of the topics for the group presentations are
in applied psychology. The group should prepare a 2-3 page summary (no APA
style requirement) of the main points of the presentations. This summary is to
be handed out to the other students on the day of the presentation (as for
class presentations); material from group presentations will appear on the last
exam. Group presentations are graded by the whole class and by the instructor.
Each student in the group must actively participate in the presentation and the
following discussion. The assumption is made that each student in a group will
receive the same grade. However, the instructor will decide if a given student
is not eligible for the group grade in case he/she is not present or does not
show solid evidence of knowing the material the group presents.
5) Reports: You will prepare four reports. Report 1 is a very informal and brief 1-2 page description of the
very first “warm up experiment” on preparation for juggling that you perform at
home; there is no requirement regarding format other than it has to be typed. Reports 2 and 3 are reports about
experiments we conduct in class. These reports must be prepared according to
the guidelines of the APA style manual, 5th edition. Report 2 will cover Experiments 1 and 2
that we conduct in class on reaction times and duration estimates. Report 3 will cover Experiments 3 and 4
that we conduct in class on aiming and movement accuracy. Take note of the fact
that you will be preparing all the graphical material for the reports while you
are in class. You will be conducting some literature search outside of class
and you will be writing the reports outside of class. However, given available
time, some of the literature search and report preparation can be done during
class time at the discretion of the instructor. Some minimal requirements
regarding the APA style will be covered in class as well. The length of each
report is expected to be about 5-8 typed text pages (not including front page,
abstract, references, figure captions, tables, and figures). Report 4 is about your home project on
juggling and is prepared in “free style” – any way you want (however, it must
be typed and have illustrative material and references). The expected length is
at least 10 typed pages.
For Reports 2 and 3 there is a source of extra credit in this course.
First, you can earn up to 10 points for each paper by showing excellent
comprehension of the APA style requirements beyond the minimal requirement that
will be covered in class. Second, you can earn 5 points if you show a completely finished report personally to
the instructor at least one class period before it is due. You will get quick
feedback on the report and you can then fix possible mistakes before turning it
in at the due date. In addition, for Reports 2, 3, and 4, if they are handed in
personally at the beginning of the class period on the due date, you will receive an additional extra credit of 3
points.
For all four reports: If you turn
in your report after the class period on the day it is due, 5 points will be
subtracted for each calendar day it is late, with the first day beginning when
class ends on the due date. Thus, if you turn in your report on the same day
that it is due, but after class is over, 5 points will be subtracted from your
credit; if you hand in the report on the day after the due date, 10 points are
subtracted, etc.
6) Exams: Two exams consist of multiple‑choice questions, short‑answer
questions, and questions related to graphical presentation of data. Exams will
cover selected material from the assigned readings, lecture material, class
presentations, group presentations, homework, lab experiments, etc. It is a good idea to bring a calculator and
a ruler to the exams. Remember to practice some of the material we have
done on the lab computer on pen and paper because that will be the medium
during testing!
7) Research Summaries: Each student should prepare three one‑page summaries of
actual research articles. The articles are available in journals in the UNF
library. You select them from a list supplied by the instructor. This task
serves to acquaint you with locating and reading experimental literature. Each
summary earns 5 points. (APA style is not required).
8) Homework: During the semester there will be some homework and in-class
assignments. The material is primarily library assignments, abstract writing,
Table formatting, data analysis, drawing of graphs, and some computer exercises,
etc. Due dates will be announced in class.
9) Assigned
V. Grading. Final grade is based on the following points:
1: Report 1 10
2: Report 2 20
3: Report 3 30
4: Report 4 50
5: Exam I 50
6: Exam II 50
7: Class presentation 30
8: Group Presentation 30
9: Three Summaries (5 points each) 15
10: Homework (in total) 15
Total Points: 300
Extra Credit:
APA style extra credit: Total 20
points.
You can earn up to 10 points for
each of Reports 2 and 3. Although it is required that you
prepare these reports according to some minimal adherence to the APA style, you
can still earn extra credit for showing very good comprehension of the APA
style by adding features we have not covered in class. It is expected that you
adhere to a minimum requirement regarding the APA style, which will be part of
the regular grade for the report (to be described later in the semester in
class and on handouts). Adding additional correct features not covered in class
enable you to receive the extra credit points, with up to 10 points for each of
Reports 2 and 3.
Additional extra credit: Total 19
points
You can earn 5 points for showing Report
2 and 3 to the instructor before they are due (5 points each). You can earn 3 points by personally handing
in Report 2, 3, and 4 at the beginning of class when it is due (3 points each).
Final extra credit: Total 10
points.
On one of the last class periods
of the semester we will conduct a juggling contest. The class as a whole will
decide who has become the best juggler during the semester. The student at
first place will earn 10 points; second place will earn 6 points; and third
place 2 points.
Thus, one very active student may
earn as many as 49 points in extra credit! Even if you don’t become a great
juggler (as judged by other jugglers!), you may still earn as many as 39 extra
points.
Final Grade:
Excluding the extra credit, a
total of 300 points can be earned. The final grade is calculated based on the
following criteria:
A: 300 ‑ 270
B: 269 - 240
C: 239 - 210
D: 209 ‑ 180
F: 179 ‑ 0
Notice
that this point system allows for each and every student to earn an A as a
final grade. An additional requirement for
earning a final grade of C or higher, is that you must hand in all Four Reports.
Attendance:
There is
a formal laboratory attendance requirement. If you come late, leave too early,
go in and out of the lab during class, or fail to come at all, it makes the
research task more difficult for the class as a whole, and the research projects
may suffer from such problems. The instructor therefore takes attendance.
Points will be subtracted from the final grade for students who consistently
come late, leave too early, or repeatedly fail to appear in class for the lab
segments, which will be announced ahead of time. A maximum of 30 points can be
subtracted. Legitimate reasons for occasionally failing to appear in the lab, such
as accidents, arrests, disease, etc., that can be documented from authoritative
sources, will not result in point deductions.
Notice: No paperwork such as Research
Summaries, Class Presentation handout, Reports or homework will be accepted as
submitted to the instructor via email. Exceptions to this basic rule may be
announced in class as the course unfolds during the semester.
Notice.: Any form of Plagiarism (using
other people’s material as if it is yours) or cheating during exams will result
a final grade of F and a formal letter submitted to the Dean.
VI. Course Plan:
AUGUST
25 Mon Syllabus
and Introduction
27 Wed Juggling
Experiment Start - Baseline Handout A
SEPTEMBER
1 Mon Holiday
3 Wed Library visit. Meet in the library Assignment
8 Mon Discuss Library Assignment,
Computer
Use, Juggling Data Analysis
Library
Assignment Due
10 Wed Learning I, Law of Effect Reading
I
Report 1 Due
15 Mon Learning
II, Operant Conditioning Reading II
Research Summary 1 due
17 Wed Learning Continued
Experiment
1, Reaction Time Handout B
22 Mon Data
Analysis, Graphs,
Report
Preparation, APA style APA Manual
Research Summary 2 due
24 Wed Experiment
2, Time measurement Handout C
Report
Preparation
29 Mon Graphs,
Excel, Word processing
Research Summary 3 Due
OCTOBER
1 Wed Behavior Modification Reading
III
Report
2 due
6 Mon Behavior Modification
8 Wed Stimulus Control Reading IV
13 Mon Exam I
15 Wed Motor Learning Reading
V
20 Mon Motor
Learning Handout D
Experiment
3, Aiming
22
Wed Motor
Learning
27 Mon Motor
Learning Reading
VI
Experiment
4, Drawing Handout E
29 Wed Data
Analysis, Preparation for Report 3 APA Manual
NOVEMBER
3 Mon Data Analysis, Preparation for
Report 3
5 Wed Visit
Animal Laboratory, Shape Rat Behavior
Report 3 Due
10 Mon Learning in Rehabilitation Settings Reading
VII
Demonstration
Experiment
12
Wed Learning
in Educational Settings Reading VIII
Demonstration
Experiment
17 Mon Group Presentations
19 Wed Group Presentations
24 Mon Juggling Contest
Report 4 Due
26 Wed Memory
and Learning Reading
IX
DECEMBER
1 Mon Memory and Learning
3 Wed Exam 2