Instructor: Dr. Lisa D. Blalock
Office: Building 41, Room 232
Email: lblalock@uwf.edu (preferred method)
Phone: 857-6205 (office), 474-2363 (department)
Office Hours: T 10 am-12 pm, W 10 am-12 pm
Course Websites: http://elearning.uwf.edu, http://digital.wwnorton.com/cognition6
Required Textbook
Reisberg, D. (2016). Cognition: Exploring the Science of the Mind (6th ed). New York, NY: W.W.
Norton.
• The eBook is highly recommended for this course, however if you buy a physical copy you will
get access to the eBook as well.
• Purchase of eBook or new book will come with access to the required ZAPS 2.0 online labs. If
you purchase a used book you will have to purchase access to the ZAPS 2.0 labs separately
for $35 (http://digital.wwnorton.com/cognition6)
.• All textbook resources, including the ZAPS 2.0 Labs, can be found here:
http://digital.wwnorton.com/cognition6.
• The textbook for this course is available on Reserve at the Circulation Desk at the John C.
Pace Library for a 2-hour loan period (books must stay in the Library). Please take advantage
of this resource, but keep in mind that copies of textbooks for each course are limited and may
be in use by another student, particularly right before an assignment or reading is due. Plan
your textbook use accordingly.
Prerequisites
Students must first successfully complete PSY 3213 (Research Methods in Psychological Science I).
Catalog Course Description
Will survey theory and literature related to the study of human memory and cognition. Topics will
include attention, memory, imagery, language and bilingualism, problem solving, metamemory,
expertise, and the development of language and cognitive processes.
Course Overview & Objectives
This course will acquaint the student with the history, philosophy, and research surrounding selected
issues in the psychology of cognition. We will look at major topics such as learning, perception,
attention, and memory and discuss their history, their current status, and their future directions. A
great deal of emphasis will be placed on research and its value and implications in everyday life.
Student Learning Outcomes
At the end of this course, you should be able to:
1) Describe the major theories that represent the biological, cognitive, emotional, behavioral,
and/or sociocultural factors that are crucial to understanding memory and cognition. This will
be assessed by quizzes, exams, discussion posts, lab reports, and final paper.
2) Demonstrate effective and efficient application of those theories to critically analyze, evaluate,
and/or plan solutions for the challenges that are commonly encountered in memory and
cognition. This will be assessed by quizzes, exams, discussion posts, and the final paper.
3) Engage in effective communication of one’s understanding of the major theories that are
commonly encountered memory and cognition. This will be assessed by exams, discussion
posts, lab reports, and the final paper.
4) Understand how information is acquired, retained, and utilized. This will be assessed by
quizzes, exams, ZAPS labs, and lab reports.
5) Identify the key characteristics of proposed major memory systems. This will be assessed by
quizzes and exams.
6) Describe the key role cognitive processes play in everyday life. This will be assessed by
discussion posts and the final paper.
Course Format
This is a fully online course. Although we will not meet face-to-face, we do follow a detailed schedule.
Each week there will be numerous readings and assignments/quizzes that have to be completed by
the closing date each week. Thus, while we don’t meet face-to-face, allowing some flexibility on when
you complete your assignments, you cannot proceed at your own pace. You are responsible for
completing all assignments, quizzes, and exams online by the posted deadline. All assignments,
quizzes, and exams will be submitted in eLearning.
Each week I will post an overview of what we will cover including what you need to do online each
week. Use this to help you stay on top of online assignments/activities. Expect to spend a minimum
of 12 hours in this class each week to earn a passing grade.
