PSYCH 742 : Neuroscience of Awareness
Science
2020 Semester One (1203) (15 POINTS)
Course Prescription
Course Overview
Capabilities Developed in this Course
| Capability 1: | Disciplinary Knowledge and Practice |
| Capability 2: | Critical Thinking |
| Capability 3: | Solution Seeking |
| Capability 4: | Communication and Engagement |
Learning Outcomes
- Explain and critically evaluate the leading contemporary approaches to the neuroscience of awareness, including areas of unresolved controversy. (Capability 1 and 2)
- Describe and discuss the strengths and weaknesses of contemporary research methods in human neuroscience as they are applied to the study of awareness. (Capability 1, 2 and 3)
- Communicate and debate the theoretical and methodological contributions contained in assigned readings from the contemporary human neuroscience literature. (Capability 3 and 4)
Assessments
| Assessment Type | Percentage | Classification |
|---|---|---|
| Integrative Essay | 35% | Individual Coursework |
| Research Review and Critique | 25% | Individual Coursework |
| Final Exam | 40% | Individual Examination |
| 3 types | 100% |
| Assessment Type | Learning Outcome Addressed | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | ||||||||
| Integrative Essay | ||||||||||
| Research Review and Critique | ||||||||||
| Final Exam | ||||||||||
Students will submit two pieces of original writing during the semester – a Research Review and Critique and an Integrative Essay.
Essay (35 marks). Students will submit an original, integrative essay on an assigned topic. The topic and guidelines for this essay will be made available during the first two weeks of the semester. There are no set word- or page-limits, but aim for 3000 - 5000 words.
Research Review and Critique (25 marks). Students will lead the discussion of assigned articles, with a common theme for each session. Each discussion leader will prepare a brief presentation summarizing one or more assigned articles, which will then be used to guide the discussion. Following this presentation, the discussion leaders will then each prepare a critical written review of the research they presented (including, where appropriate, a discussion of debates or controversies relating to this work). There are no set word- or page-limits for this review, but between 3000 - 5000 words seems appropriate.
Students must complete BOTH pieces of coursework and obtain a passing mark overall to pass this course. It is also expected that all students attend class and contribute to discussion.
Final Examination (40 marks): This will be a three-hour written examination. Students will be expected to complete three short essays, drawn from a larger selection of essay topics. These topics will reflect the major themes and research topics discussed during the semester.
Key Topics
Learning Resources
Workload Expectations
This course is a standard 15-point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.
For this course, the class meets once a week for two hours. This leaves roughly four hours per week of reading and thinking about the content, and up to four hours of work on assignments and/or test preparation per week.
Digital 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.
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.
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 against online source material using computerised detection mechanisms.
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 at 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.
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.
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 you may be asked to submit your 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. The final decision on the completion mode for a test or examination, and remote invigilation arrangements where applicable, will be advised to students at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the assessment, or in the case of an examination when the examination timetable is published.