PSYCH 324 : The Behaving Brain
Science
2024 Academic Year Term (1241) (30 POINTS)
Course Prescription
Course Overview
This course focuses on the structure and function of minds, brains and behaviour. Students will be introduced to various theoretical perspectives: from experimental and cognitive psychology, evolutionary psychology, experimental analysis of behaviour, cognitive neuroscience and neuropsychology. It has been said that there is nothing so practical as a good theory, so we will also highlight how theory leads to application in various real-world contexts, from personal health to education, and how everyday questions can be approached scientifically.
Capabilities Developed in this Course
| Capability 1: | People and Place |
| Capability 2: | Sustainability |
| Capability 3: | Knowledge and Practice |
| Capability 4: | Critical Thinking |
| Capability 5: | Solution Seeking |
| Capability 6: | Communication |
| Capability 7: | Collaboration |
| Capability 8: | Ethics and Professionalism |
Learning Outcomes
- Understand and describe the basic structure and function of the central nervous system, including elements of its evolution and development, how they are modified by experience and social learning, and how they respond to disease, injury, and ageing. (Capability 3, 4 and 5)
- Describe the characteristics of fundamental mental functions, including sensory systems, memory and attention, language use, critical thinking, decision-making, and executive control; and their real-world application in, but not limited to, performance, education, health, creativity, and problem-solving. (Capability 1, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 8)
- Demonstrate a solid basic knowledge of cognitive neuroscience, neuropsychology and neuroimaging and the uses to which these may be put and their application to clinical populations. (Capability 1, 3, 5, 6 and 8)
- Understand the connections between theory and application, method and analysis; and appreciate how knowledge of statistical concepts and methods in psychological research are relevant to academia and industry. (Capability 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8)
Assessments
| Assessment Type | Percentage | Classification |
|---|---|---|
| Intervention Design | 25% | Individual Coursework |
| Essay | 25% | Individual Coursework |
| Report | 25% | Individual Coursework |
| Quiz | 25% | Individual Test |
| 4 types | 100% |
| Assessment Type | Learning Outcome Addressed | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |||||||
| Intervention Design | ||||||||||
| Essay | ||||||||||
| Report | ||||||||||
| Quiz | ||||||||||
Tuākana
Tuākana Science is a multi-faceted programme for Māori and Pacific students providing topic specific tutorials,
one-on-one sessions, test and exam preparation and more. Explore your options at
https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/science/study-with-us/pacific-in-our-faculty.html
https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/science/study-with-us/maori-in-our-faculty.html
Key Topics
Workload Expectations
PSYCH 324 is a 30-point course. It is divided into 12 modules. Each module aligns itself to a week, and students are expected to spend 25 hours per week on module material and learning activities. There is also a study break and quiz preparation period. It is expected that students will continue their studies during these periods.
Delivery Mode
Online
This course is 100% online. Attendance on campus is not required. You will be provided with active learning opportunities and activities that will scaffold into your assessments. You can study on a day and time that works with your schedule, however, it is highly recommended that modules are completed by the end of the corresponding study week.
Learning Resources
Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).
Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.
All course materials, readings and resources are made available via a digital learning tool called Canvas. Zoom, Panopto Video and Microsoft (MS) Teams are utilised for live sessions, recordings and communication.
Student Feedback
During the course Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the staff responsible for the course and staff-student consultative committees.
At the end of the course students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback.
Your feedback helps to improve the course and its delivery for all students.
- Marks for participation in prescribed module activities and Zoom Q&As
- Make Zoom sessions more interactive
- Redesign Assignments 2 (option C) and 3
- Increase the visibility of programme dates
- Consider alternative styles of assessment to counter the issue of having assignments due during the holiday season (e.g., fewer, but larger assignments)
- Consider introducing a statistics module to get students up to scratch with statistical methods required for postgraduate studies
Academic Integrity
The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed for potential plagiarism or other forms of academic misconduct, using computerised detection mechanisms.
Class Representatives
Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.
Copyright
The content and delivery of content in this course are protected by copyright. Material belonging to others may have been used in this course and copied by and solely for the educational purposes of the University under license.
You may copy the course content for the purposes of private study or research, but you may not upload onto any third party site, make a further copy or sell, alter or further reproduce or distribute any part of the course content to another person.
Inclusive Learning
All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.
Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz
Special Circumstances
If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.
If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.
This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.
Learning Continuity
In the event of an unexpected disruption, we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and course assessment continues to meet the principles of the University’s assessment policy. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator/director, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the university website for information about how to proceed.
The delivery mode may change depending on COVID restrictions. Any changes will be communicated through Canvas.
Student Charter and Responsibilities
The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.
Disclaimer
Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.
In this course students may be asked to submit coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.