Lesson Plans

The reading worksheet file can be found here.

The participation form can be found here.

If you want to use one of the textbooks that I sometimes use to guide our discussions of material, you can find the Cog Psych textbook here and the Cog Neuro textbook here.

To navigate to individual lesson plans:

  • Week 1: May 15-May 17, 2019
  • Week 2: May 20-May 24, 2019
  • Week 3: May 28-May 31, 2019
  • Week 4: June 3-June 7, 2019
  • Week 5: June 10-June 14, 2019
  • Week 6: June 17-June 21 + June 24, 2019
  • Week 1: May 15-May 17, 2019

    In our first module, we will examine what constitutes engaging story-telling and scientific knowledge (Science Communication), why some methods are better for investigating specific research questions than others as well as current methodological issues within psychology (Cognitive Methods), and how you construct the world you see and feel around you (Perception). We will begin to critically consume academic journal articles and science communication pieces.

    See the week 1 lesson plan for more information.

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    Week 2: May 20-May 24, 2019

    Next we will consider how our brain prioritizes and processes information in a world that bombards our senses (Attention), in addition to how we feel and construct emotions (Emotion) and how these constructs shape and are shaped by perception.

    See the week 2 lesson plan for more information.

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    Note that there is no class on Monday, May 27th - i.e., Memorial Day!

    Week 3: May 28-May 31, 2019

    The third module will consider how we communicate (Language), remember information over varying durations (Working Memory), conjure possible and impossible scenarios as well as past events (LTM: Structure, Processes & Mechanisms). We will evaluate how to convey these core cognitive psychology concepts to a broad audience with science communication pieces.

    See the week 3 lesson plan for more information.

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    Week 4: June 3-June 7, 2019

    We will then apply our theories and skills to understanding more complex feats of the human mind, such as how we construct our own life stories (Autobiographical Memory) and make decisions (Decision-Making, Motivated Reasoning).

    See the week 4 lesson plan for more information.

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    Week 5: June 10-June 14, 2019 & Week 6: June 17-June 21 + June 24, 2019

    In our final modules, we will think about how we take shortcuts when making choices (Cognitive Biases), how our memory and mind can be tricked and shaped by external events (False Memory, Misinformation, Collective Memory), how our mind processes information (Imagery) and solves problems (Creativity & Problem-Solving), and what factors promote better learning (Education, Learning & Motivation).

    See the week 5 lesson plan for more information.

    See the week 6 lesson plan for more information.

    The first half of the course is primarily focused on basic science concepts within cognitive psychology, while the second half considers how these concepts are interlinked and directly applicable to other aspects of life (e.g., policy, education, history).

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