AP Psychology Semester 2

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

When it comes to learning and remembering, there’s more going on in your brain than you might think. In AP Psychology 2, we’ll break down how we acquire new skills and knowledge, and why some memories stick while others fade away. You’ll learn about the different ways we learn—like classical conditioning, operant conditioning, and observational learning—and the fascinating systems our brain uses to store and retrieve information. By the end, you’ll have a better understanding of what helps us learn and what gets in the way.

Our minds constantly process information, solve problems, and make decisions, but how does it all work? Here, we’ll dive into the world of thinking and language. You’ll explore how we solve problems, develop strategies, and sometimes fall into cognitive traps. We’ll also closely examine how language shapes our thoughts and helps us communicate. From decision-making to the ways we use words, this part of the course is all about the incredible power of the human mind.

• Counts as an elective for all diplomas

Required Textbook

• AP Psychology OpenStax

Course Goals

Upon completion of the course, students will…

• explain different research methods used in psychology, such as experiments, surveys, and case studies, and discuss their strengths and weaknesses.
• describe how the brain and nervous system influence behavior, including the roles of neurons and neurotransmitters.
• differentiate between sensation and perception, and explain how sensory information is interpreted by the brain.
• summarize key concepts of classical and operant conditioning, and provide examples of each in real-life situations.
• describe the stages of human development from infancy to adulthood, focusing on cognitive and social changes.
• compare major theories of personality, such as Freud's psychoanalytic theory and the Big Five trait theory.
• identify common psychological disorders, including their symptoms and potential causes.
• describe various approaches to treating psychological disorders, such as psychotherapy and biomedical therapies.
• explain how individuals are influenced by social factors, including conformity, group dynamics, and prejudice.
• discuss the importance of ethics in psychological research and practice, and identify key ethical principles.

College Board and Exam Description

• AP Psychology

Units of Instruction

• Unit 4 Learning
• Unit 5 Social
• Unit 6 Personality
• Unit 7 Mental and Physical Health

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

• 5 Discussions
• 4 Assignments
• 30 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.