AP Psychology Semester 1

Enrollment Message

Indiana Online cannot administer the AP Exam. Students need to register with their school of record to take the AP Exam. See Required Textbook

Course Description

Psychology didn’t just pop out of nowhere. In AP Psychology 1, we’ll trace its evolution from a philosophical curiosity to a full-fledged science. You’ll meet some of the big thinkers who shaped the field and learn about the different ways psychologists study human behavior and mental processes. We’ll also explore the ethical considerations that guide psychological research and practice.

Ever wonder how your brain and body work together to make you, you? Here, we’ll dive into the incredible biological systems that drive your thoughts, emotions, and actions. You’ll discover how neurons communicate, what different parts of the brain do, and how hormones play a role in shaping behavior. By the end, you’ll see just how connected your biology is to everything you do.

How do we make sense of the world around us? We’ll explore how our senses gather information and how our brain processes it to create the perceptions we experience. From the way light turns into vision to why we sometimes hear what we want to hear, you’ll learn about the fascinating interplay between sensation and perception. We’ll also talk about how factors like attention and culture shape the way we interpret the world.

• Counts as an elective for all diplomas

Required Textbook

• AP Psychology OpenStax

Course Goals

Upon completion of the course, students will…

• describe the historical development of psychology and identify key theoretical perspectives.
• explain various research methods used in psychology, including their strengths and limitations.
• understand ethical considerations in psychological research and practice.
• identify the major structures of the nervous system and their functions.
• discuss the role of neurotransmitters in neural communication.
• explain how the endocrine system influences behavior.
• differentiate between sensation and perception and understand the processes involved in each.
• analyze how attention, motivation, and cultural factors influence perception.
• apply knowledge of sensory and perceptual processes to real-world situations.
• evaluate the impact of biological factors on behavior and mental processes.

College Board and Exam Description

• AP Psychology

Units of Instruction

• Unit 0 Introduction to AP Psychology
• Unit 1 Biological Bases of Behavior
• Unit 2 Cognition
• Unit 3 Development

Grading/Evaluation

Indiana Online does not assign letter grades, grant credit for courses, nor issue transcripts or diplomas. A final score reported as a percentage of total points earned will be sent to students upon completion of a course. Your school of record can also access this score within the Student Information System, Genius. The final score will be shown as a percentage in Canvas and Genius. The student’s school of record will determine the letter grade based on their specific grading scale.

Students must complete at least 70% of the course and take all parts of the final exam(s) to have a score reported to their school of record. Failure to meet these requirements will result in a score of 0 reported to the school of record.

Assessments

Online assessments consist of formative and summative assessments represented by computer-graded multiple choice, teacher-graded writing assignments including hands-on projects, model building and other forms of authentic assessments. The course includes the following assessments

• 6 Discussions
• 5 Assignments
• 38 Quizzes

The assessments for this asynchronous course are weighted as follows

Teacher Contact Response Time

Students can use email or the private message system within Genius or Canvas to access highly qualified teachers when they need teacher assistance. Students will also receive feedback on their work inside Canvas. The Teacher Information page of their course may describe additional communication options.

The teacher will respond to student inquiries (email, text, call) within one business day. Assignments will be graded and posted within two business days.

Expectations for Academic Conduct 

Student Handbook 

It is your responsibility to read the student handbook to understand all aspects of taking an online course including expectations for academic conduct. Contact your teacher if you have any questions. 

Assistance for Students with Accommodations

Indiana Online supports an inclusive learning environment for all students. If there are aspects of the instruction or design of this course that hinder your full participation, such as inaccessible web content, or the use of non-captioned videos and podcasts, reasonable accommodations can be arranged.

Technology

Technology Requirements 

Students will require a computer device with headphones, a microphone, webcam, up-to-date Chrome Web Browser, and access to YouTube. Please review the Indiana Online’s Technology Requirements.

Technical Skills Needed 

Basic technology skills necessary to locate and share information and files as well as interact with others in a Learning Management System (LMS), include the ability to

• download, edit, save, convert, and upload files
• download and install software
• use a messaging service similar to email
• communicate with others in online discussion or message boards, following basic rules of netiquette
• open attachments shared in messages
• create, save, and submit files in commonly used word processing program formats and as a PDF
• save a file as a .pdf
• copy and paste and format text using your mouse, keyboard, or an html editor’s toolbar menu
• insert images or links into a file
• search for information within a document using Ctrl+F or Command+F keyboard shortcuts
• work in multiple browser windows and tabs simultaneously
• activate a microphone or webcam on your device, and record and upload or link audio and/or video files
• use presentation and graphics programs
• follow an online pacing guide or calendar of due dates
• use spell-check, citation editors, and tools commonly provided in word processing tool menus
• create and maintain usernames and passwords

Technical Questions?  Please contact the Indiana Online Helpdesk.