Introduction to Psychology 1/IPSY103/About

Welcome to the OERu micro-course, Consciousness, Thinking & Memory. This is the third of three micro-courses that jointly constitute the OERu Introduction to Psychology I course. In this micro-course you will learn about different states of consciousness, definitions and measures of intelligence, and more complex forms of memory and thinking.

This micro-course is intended for students who are interested in gaining foundational knowledge about basic psychological processes, including those who wish to pursue a Baccalaureate degree in Psychology. It can also be useful to anyone interested in the Social Sciences and can contribute to a Bachelor of General Studies.

What will I learn
By the end of this micro-course you will be able to:
 * Define change blindness and recognize new examples
 * Define consciousness
 * Summarize the easy problem of consciousness
 * Summarize the hard problem of consciousness and how it relates to “correlation is not causation”
 * Define blindsight
 * Explain the importance of Libet’s study on voluntary movement
 * Explain the principle of dual processing
 * Describe the different stages of sleep and their typical characteristics
 * Describe the purpose of sleep and the evidence for that conclusion
 * Describe some of the characteristics of hypnosis
 * Explain the evidence that hypnosis affects confidence rather than accuracy of recall
 * Summarize the two theories to explain hypnosis
 * Describe the benefits of meditation
 * Define cognitive psychology
 * Distinguish concepts and schemas
 * Identify problem-solving strategies, including algorithms and heuristics
 * Recognize some common roadblocks to effective problem solving including five types of decision bias
 * Define language and describe the components of language
 * Explain the relationship between language and thinking
 * Discuss the three basic functions of memory
 * Describe the three memory stores and recognize new examples of each
 * Distinguish between the different kinds of long-term memory
 * Explain the brain areas involved in memory
 * Compare and contrast the two types of amnesia
 * Discuss the unreliability of eyewitness testimony
 * Identify some of the ways in which memory fails us in predictable ways
 * Compare and contrast the two types of interference
 * Recognize and apply memory-enhancing strategies to improve your studying
 * Summarize the different intelligence theories
 * Define emotional intelligence and creativity
 * Describe the history of the use of IQ tests
 * Describe the purposes and benefits of intelligence testing
 * Explain the different variables that contribute to and influence IQ scores
 * Describe the difference between a learning disability and a developmental disorder

What's involved

 * Completing readings
 * Watch videos
 * Completing elearning activities
 * Writing an exam (for learners taking the course for academic credit)

What prequisites should I have, if any?
Anyone is free to participate in this course; however, it is designed for those who meet Kwantlen Polytechnic University’s English Language Proficiency Requirement. In addition, an internet connection and basic web browsing skills are recommended with the ability to create a blog and microblog account (instructions and self-study tutorials provided.)

What micro-courses are required for course credit?
Learners are required to complete three micro-courses to gain credit for Introduction to Psychology 1:
 * 1) Foundations of Psychological Science
 * 2) Evolution, Behaviorism & Sensation and Perception
 * 3) Consciousness, Thinking & Memory