Cognitive Psychology
In this unit, knowledge surrounding sensation, perception, and learning provides the foundation for an understanding of cognition. Cognitive psychologists focus their research on the complex nature of the brain, particularly the areas of memory processes and intelligence and the influence of mental processes on behavior. Understanding how this information is gathered and processed gives insight into how we make sense of and perceive the world. Some cognitive psychologists attempt to answer how and why cognitive processes fail despite (or because of) the complexity of our biological structures. Teachers can offer students opportunities to provide their own explanations for these phenomena. Other psychologists study intelligence and the reasons for individual differences. This cognitive perspective offers one way to understand how our thinking impacts our behavior, which can in turn provide insight into psychological disorders and their treatment.
Please refer to the CED for the unit here for specific information on what you will need to know as well as what you will need to be able to do with it on the exam.
Please refer to the CED for the unit here for specific information on what you will need to know as well as what you will need to be able to do with it on the exam.
Unit Resources
Powerpoint for Cognition (Memory, Problem solving, and Language)
Powerpoint on Intelligence and Testing Trippy Text for Cognition (including memory, language, and thinking) Trippy Text for Intelligence and Testing Practice MC questions for Memory Practice MC questions for Thinking and Language Practice MC questions for Intelligence and testing Guided Reading packets: Unit 7: Cognition Unit 11: Intelligence and Testing |
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Assignments:
Assignments as applicable will be in google classroom.
Daily Activities
Day one: Today we will introduce Memory and have a general discussion on the information processing model of memory. Most of this material was covered in our "How to study and be successful in school" section from the first week of the semester. We will also view the following TED talk on feats of memory. How can you apply this material to your life.
We will then begin to go over the powerpoint for the unit and will get into more specifics of memory and how we can help ourselves have a better memory. How can you apply the material from today's class to make yourself a better student and person.? As a part of our discussion on Deja Vu, We will view the following asap science video clip.
We will then move into the phenomenon of constructed memories and the impact they play on our lives. As a part of this discussion we will view the following TED talk. if you class does not get to it, you will need to view it on your own as we will discuss it Wednesday.
Day Two: Today we will wrap up our discussion of memory and review any lingering issues. We will then begin our discussion on cognition and the various ways we think about things and solve problems, most notably Algorithms and Heuristics.
We will then discuss Language and the role it plays in our thought processes, especially the concept of linguistic determinism. As a part of this discussion and to recap other aspects of thought, we will watch the following RSA Animate based on a lecture by Phillip Zimbardo.
We will then discuss Language and the role it plays in our thought processes, especially the concept of linguistic determinism. As a part of this discussion and to recap other aspects of thought, we will watch the following RSA Animate based on a lecture by Phillip Zimbardo.
We will recap any material you may still have any lingering questions on and as a general review of the unit, we will also view the following video clip. The question it poses should give you something to think about. Which is more important, our experiences, or our memories of those experiences? Just a note on this video, like the concept of something ending poorly, he does start to drag on a bit towards, the end, and while it is a cool talk, don't feel bad if you stop it when you want to. The main takeaway here is realizing the concept of the remembered self versus actual self.
Most People have a warped perspective on what intelligence is. We think about people that know a great deal of stuff as being intelligent. While being intelligent makes it easier to learn information, the amount of information you have isn't a measure of your intelligence.
What is intelligence and how it is assessed. What does it mean to be average? does anyone want to be average? Where do you want to be on the scale? What are the impacts of your intelligence on the world around you? What about on you?
As we look at intelligence, those with savant syndrome are a great way to see the power of intelligence from those that are extremely gifted in one area while being limited in others.
What is intelligence and how it is assessed. What does it mean to be average? does anyone want to be average? Where do you want to be on the scale? What are the impacts of your intelligence on the world around you? What about on you?
As we look at intelligence, those with savant syndrome are a great way to see the power of intelligence from those that are extremely gifted in one area while being limited in others.
What challenges do people of differing intelligences face in society? Who has it easier, lower, or higher intelligences?
We will look at the different levels of intellectual disability, noting the key characteristics of each and, going to the other extreme, what it means to be a genius.
How does intelligence limit/enable aspects of the lives of these two individuals? Which one do you think will be better able to fit in in normal society?
We will look at the different levels of intellectual disability, noting the key characteristics of each and, going to the other extreme, what it means to be a genius.
How does intelligence limit/enable aspects of the lives of these two individuals? Which one do you think will be better able to fit in in normal society?
Additional Resources and Videos: We do not have time to view the following videos in class, but you may want to view them on your own time, as the content, while not directly on the test, is tremendously important to understanding our thought processes, lives, and the world we live in.
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