Course Syllabus
Mind and Brain
Morning Module 1, 2005-2006
Syllabus
Introduction
Right now you are using your mind. It affects everything you do, and every experience you have. We think of the mind as being located in the brain, but people have not always thought that. In this course we will examine both the mind and the brain, and their relationship with each other. We will study physical aspects of the brain, as well as qualities and powers of the mind. Our study will include such aspects as perception, memory, imagination, learning, and consciousness.
Focus Skill
Solving problems and Effective Research are the focus skills for this course. We will undertake various activities designed to improve and practice problem-solving skills and to develop your research abilities. Your final exhibition will include problem-solving and research elements, which will figure highly in your final grade. This will include designing your own cognitive studies experiment and using a spreadsheet to analyze your results, doing background research, and analyzing subject literature
Essential Question
What are the physical roots of behavior?
Activities
This course will include a great deal of problem-solving and experimental activity. Students will see demonstrations, participate in experiments, and do hands on activities. These activities will be supported by lecture and video instruction.
Assessment
The grade in this course will be determined by a combination of assignments as follows:
Write-up Notebook
Every time students participate in a demonstration or in-class experiment, they will add a write-up to their notebooks. This notebook should be kept separately from other notes. Write-ups will follow a specified format. The Write-up Notebook is worth 15% of your final grade. The write-up notebook is due October 18th.
Brain Test
A test will be given on brain structure and location of various functions. This test will include written and oral/modeling elements. The Brain Test is worth 10% of your final grade. The Brain test will be held September 15th .
Mind Test
A test will be given on mind function and the theories and proposals around the processes of mental activity. This test will come directly from class notes and from your write-up notebook. The Mind test will be held October 7th .
Literature Review
In order to create a successful experiment, and in order for that experiment to be placed into its proper context, it is important to always do a literature review. For this course, students will write a lit review on the general area of their topic in preparation for their experiment. As part of this review, students will develop an essential question for the class related to their experiment. Students will begin with a general question, and then use subquestions to hone that topic to a specific essential question. Thus, a student doing an experiment on creating false memories would prepare a literature review on false memories, examining the current thinking on the topic and detailing important experiments that have already been performed in that area. Out of that review of the literature they will then develop an essential question that will guide their cognitive experiment. Some samples of a literature review will be provided in class. The literature review provides evidence and support for your ideas, and thus is crucial in preparing the exhibition. The literature review is due October 14th.
Cognitive Experiment
As part of, and in preparation for, their exhibition students will develop and perform a cognitive experiment similar to the ones we will be doing in class. Each student must submit a written proposal for approval by February 28th. Students will perform their experiments, using their classmates and peers as test subjects. A pilot study will be performed around the time of Spring Break in order to test out procedures and to fine-tune your design. In reporting their experimental results, all students will use spreadsheet software to organize and analyze their data, and to produce visuals showing those results. All experimental results are due by April 1st. A final paper detailing results (and presented in the specified format) is due on October 27th.
Exhibition
The exhibition for this class will be the culmination and combination of all the work students have done in their various assignments. The two key elements for the exhibition are the Mistakes Essay and the Cognitive Experiment. The results and analysis of these assignments will be combined and enhanced with visual aids to create a presentation. Exhibition presentations may use a variety of formats, including computerized elements, interactive elements, and lecture elements. All exhibitions must include a run through of the student's experiment, demonstrated just as we have done in class with other experiments. Students MUST be prepared for rehearsals on November 2nd and 3rd . Your rehearsal presentation is worth 5% of your final grade. Exhibitions are given on November 3rd and 4th.
In summary, the assignments and values of the assignments in this class are as follows:
Write-up Notebook 15%
Brain Test 10%
Mind Test 10%
Exhibition 50%
Literature Review 15%
Cognitive Experiment 20%
Pilot Study 5%
Experiment Paper 15%
Content Exhibition 10%
Exhibition Presentation 5%
Discussion and Participation 20%______________
TOTAL 100%
Mind and Brain
Schedule
Week 1 (Sep 7-9)
Course Introduction
Basic Concepts
Brain Development
Brain Structure
Week 2 (Sep 12-16) Sep15 Brain Test
Brain Structure
Perception
Object Recognition
Mental Imagery
Week 3 (Sep 19-23) Sep 23 Experiment Proposal Memory
Emotion
Week 4 (Sep 26-30)
Cognition / Executive Function
Consciousness
Learning
Week 5 (Oct 3-7)) Oct 7 Mind Test
Language
Week 6 (Oct 11-14) (no class Oct 10) Oct 14 Literature Review
Lit Review Procedure
Experimental Design
Week 7 (Oct 17-21) Oct 18 Write-up Notebook
Experiment Trials
Spreadsheets
Week 8 (Oct 24-28) 10/24 Experiment Data
Course Summary and Review
10/27 Experiment Report
10/28 Abstract
Week 9 (Oct 31-Nov 4) 11/2-3 Exhibition Rehearsals
Exhibition Week 11/3-4 Exhibition
