Videos for States of Consciousness Flip Book

If you need a visual guide on how to fold the Flip Book Pages for today's activity, here's a quick video.

Here's the video on Sleep Deprivation:



Here's the video on Addiction:

Absolute Threshold Demo

Today in class we'll be exploring basic principles of sensation, including absolute thresholds.

When prompted, check out this interactive demo on absolute thresholds in order to build your understanding of this concept.

Eyewitness Memory

When prompted by your instructor, enter your responses to the photo lineup using this form.

To avoid biasing the responses of others, please do not share your responses with others until data collection is complete.

Cognition Demo

When prompted by your instructor, enter your results from the Cognition Demo here.

Then, close up your Chromebook to show you are ready for the next activity.

Practice: Correlation Coefficients and Scatterplots

Today in class you will be learning about how correlation coefficients and scatterplots are used to report outcomes of correlational research.

Your teacher will likely give you some time to practice identifying scatterplots and their associated correlation coefficients using this website.

If you find that you are having trouble visualizing how these two related concepts align, this website allows you to adjust a correlation coefficient to see how the scatterplot changes as a result.

Example Survey

Hi, AP Psych Students!

When prompted, please take a moment to complete this 3-question survey. We will be discussing the results in class today as we explore how psychologists use surveys in their work.

Back to School Shopping for AP Psych

Greetings, AP Psych Students and Parents!

I hope this message finds you enjoying a pleasant Wisconsin summer. However, according to virtually every retail establishment I’ve visited during the past two weeks, it’s time for back-to-school shopping. Whether that thought excites you or makes you cringe, I figured I’d give you the heads up about what you’ll need for AP Psych. That way, we can streamline your shopping trip (whenever it happens).

Required:

• Be sure to pick up a 3-ring binder for use throughout the year in AP Psych. You’ll need this to keep your notes and handouts organized by topic area. Look for one 1.5 to 2.5 inches in width (3 in is usually too unwieldy to carry in a backpack daily). Note: I do have some free binders generously donated by the parent of a former student (her workplace was discarding them). I’ll have them available at textbook pick-up on a first-come, first-served basis. If you want to save some cash, you are welcome to take one at no cost!
• You’ll also want paper for note-taking (loose-leaf or notebook, your choice). Student preference is the key here: some folks like to use loose-leaf paper so they can insert notes into the binder by topic area, others like keeping their notes all in one notebook (post-it tabs to mark chapters/units can be helpful if going that route). If you like notebooks, be aware that many students fill up their notebooks by spring in AP Psych, so having more than one on hand will help. Also, some students prefer to keep their book notes and class notes separate (not a bad idea), so you’ll want to think about your “system” when shopping.
• Pens and pencils are going to be necessary. Perhaps this is obvious, but I thought I’d be thorough.

Optional:

Some students like to purchase these items to assist with their studying and test preparation throughout the year (and prior to the AP Psych Exam). However, they are not required. (Tip: Parents sometimes purchase these as very practical gifts at birthdays and holidays, so you may want to hang on to this for future reference).

Additional test-prep book(s). There are a lot of these on the market (and you can find them online or at large book stores in the test-prep section), and are not many differences from one brand to another. Cost is usually $17-20. Some students like using them (especially the practice tests usually found in them) as the AP Exam approaches in the spring, but this is completely a matter of personal preference. If purchasing one of these, be sure to look for the 2014-2015 version or later, since our curriculum changes slightly this year (and previous versions will not be up to date). I’ve got examples of these for viewing (or classroom use), so feel free to take a look at them when you come in for textbook pick-up if you want to see what they are like.
• Strive for a 5 Study Guide (cost $30; accompanies the textbook). This workbook helps students process what they read in the text and practice skills in preparation for unit tests and the AP Psych Exam. The district provides each student with a copy; HOWEVER (and this is a big drawback, I think), because the district’s copies will be reused from year-to-year, students cannot write in them. That is a bummer, because they are set up like workbooks and would be much easier to use if students could write in them. If you are interested in purchasing your own copy, which you could write in as much as you like, you've got some options. I have a limited number of these (from a publisher order) that I can sell directly when students pick up their book (first-come, first-served until they are gone). Or, you can easily order one from an online retailer like Amazon or a similar websites. Just be sure you're looking for the 2nd edition (that's our textbook), as a 3rd edition was recently published.
• Flash card sets. Like the test-prep books, it’s easy to find these online or at large book stores, and some students appreciate not having to print/make 1000+ flashcards on their own. (Note, however, that online flashcards are linked up to the class website for free;  this would be for folks who like having physical versions on hand for study.) However, if you wait until March or April to buy them, you may have trouble, since they tend to be in high demand as the AP Exam approaches (when, suddenly, 260,000 AP Psych students decide to simultaneously purchase them). Like the test-prep books, I’ve got sample sets for classroom use, so you can peruse them before deciding if it’s worth buying your own.

If you have any questions, feel free to shoot me an email (wellevk@chipfalls.org) or ask when you come in to pick-up your textbook in August. Enjoy the rest of your summer, and happy shopping!

Congrats and Thanks

[I sent out this message via Infinite Campus to 2017-18 AP Psych students today, but am posting it here for the benefit of those who no longer have access to their school email/IC accounts.]

Greetings, 2017-18 AP Psych Students and Parents!

It is a bittersweet exercise to send out the last message to this mailing list. While I am happy to report some fantastic news about outcomes from our 2017-18 crop of AP Psych students, this may be the last time many of you receive any communication from me, and that comes with a pang of nostalgia (for me, anyway).

So, first, the good news. Well, GREAT news. AP Score reports for students became available (at apscore.org) last week, so I hope you all have had an opportunity to check your results. I've waited until today to send out this message because I didn't want to spoil the joy you may feel when checking your own score, because as a group we've got a LOT to be joyful about.

As I look at my Instructional Planning Report today, here the big victories that spring to mind:

1. 91 Chi-Hi students took the AP Psych exam this year and all 91 of them passed. To my knowledge, that's the first time we've achieved this impressive feat. While we've had higher exam volume in previous years (and thus, higher total numbers of passing students), a 100% pass rate is pretty remarkable, given that the nation-wide pass rate this year was about 65%.
2. 2017-18 AP Psych students did far more than "just" pass this test. Scores of 3 or higher on AP exams are always to be celebrated, since they indicate mastery of course material on par with college-level performance. Yet, the bulk of our scores fell in the 4 and 5 range, indicating our students knew the material well. As a group, our average score on the AP Psych exam was 4.473, an impressive achievement.

The graph in the image linked below illustrates what I mean. In it, the green bars represent score percentages for all AP Psych students globally, while the blue bars represent Chi-Hi AP Psych students. 

So, as you celebrate your impressive achievements, remember what your score reflects. It reflects a LOT of hard work over the past year: doing reading modules and quizzes when you were tired and could have chosen otherwise, going to countless study sessions and practice exams (sometimes during snow storms), developing your study skills, and not giving up even when things weren't easy. And, you did this DESPITE a lot of obstacles, including substantially reduced instructional time and multiple snow days. Some of you were reluctant to even sign up for this exam because you worried that you might not pass, but I hope you now appreciate that it was worth the shot! In addition to some college credit, you've earned a heck of a lot of knowledge about psychology that I hope you'll put to good use in your future academics, your career, and your relationships.

So, with that accomplishment in mind, it's time for me to turn my attention to preparing for the arrival of a new crop of AP Psych students. I'll be at school for the next couple of weeks developing next year's pacing guide and planning out a curriculum that (hopefully) will bring success for 2018-19 students. This means, later today, I'll be purging my Remind list from last year. If you wish to contact me from this point forward, email will be your best choice (wellevk@chipfalls.org).

Congratulations on your accomplishments, and best wishes as you continue your journey.

Sincerely, 

Mrs. Welle

Summer Textbook Pick-Up for AP Psych

Greetings, 2018-19 AP Psych Students!

I know you are probably in the midst of enjoying a beautiful summer, and the fall may be (understandably) far from your mind, but the beginning of AP Psychology will be here before we know it!

AP Psychology students do not have a “summer assignment” like some other AP courses, but we do have early textbook pick-up in August. At that time, you’ll get your AP Psych textbook, course materials, and directions for your first reading assignment. You also get to meet me in person, and start talking about the great adventure that is AP Psych!

This year, I was able to schedule textbook pick-up dates and times concurrently with registration week at the high school. I’m hoping this will be convenient for students and their families, since you’ll probably be making a trip to the high school that week anyway. I’ll be meeting students and handing out textbooks in rm 136 (my classroom) during the following times:

Monday, August 20th; 9 AM - 5 PM

Tuesday, August 21st; 5 PM - 7 PM*

Wednesday, August 22nd; 9 AM - 5 PM

Thursday, August 23rd; 9 AM - 5 PM
Friday, August 24th; 9 AM - Noon

*Please note the limited hours on Tuesday (8/21). I will be attending the Chippewa Valley Youth Mental Health Summit that day, so I'm only available in the evening.

If, for whatever reason, you will not be available to come in during those times, please feel free to contact me via email to arrange some other time to meet.

Have a great summer, and see you soon!

Sincerely,
Mrs. Welle

2018 AP Psych Exam Data

Waiting for your AP Exam Score to be ready is an exercise in patience. You worked hard for a whole year and it's hard to endure two months of waiting for results. While Wisconsin students will still have to wait until July 6th to see their individual results, some information just out today might help hold you over until then.

Trevor Packer, head of Advanced Placement programs for the College Board, tweeted out aggregate results from all AP Psych test takers today. This annual ritual is always a good sign that score reports will soon be out!

Note: The info below concerns all AP Psych Examinees worldwide, not Chi-Hi students specifically.

Submit Link for Progress Monitoring

Hi all,

As we head into our final week of work time on your Final Projects, I'll be checking in on the progress teams are making on their final papers and providing feedback.

Please submit the (shared) link to your Research Paper using this form so I can access it easily.

Thanks!

Mrs. Welle

End-of-Course Survey

Today, I'm hoping you'll take the time to provide me with some feedback about study tools and strategies you used throughout the course. I use this information to develop and refine the supports I provide for students, so your honest responses are appreciated!

2018 Instructor Evaluation

Today in class you will be asked to complete an evaluation of your instructor. If you are willing, please take a moment to respond, as I use this feedback to help improve my practice.

Your responses will remain anonymous, and I do not review student submissions until after final grades have been posted.

Psych Meme Voting

After reviewing the Psych Memes in the Google Drive Folder, use this form to vote for your top three choices!

Preparing for Online Score Access

You took the AP Psych Exam on Monday. Hooray! You spent a LOT of time preparing for that test this year, so you're going to want to find out how you did as soon as possible! Unfortunately for you, AP Scores aren't available until July 6th (for Wisconsin students), so you'll have to practice some patience.

Also, scores are ONLY available online (you won't get a printed score report mailed to you), so you'll need to have a College Board Account in order to access them. Here are the steps you'll need to take to access your scores:

Students need to:

• Fill in AP answer sheets carefully and consistently during AP testing. Especially important are name, date of birth, sex, mailing address, and email address.
• Sign up for a College Board account at apscore.org. Students must have an account to access their scores. Some students may already have an account. Confirm this by signing in.
• Remember your College Board username and password and your 2018 AP number (or student ID number if they provided it on their AP answer sheet).
• Look for an email at the email address you put on your AP answer sheet reminding you how and when to access your scores.

Exam Day Info for CFHS Students

This Monday, you'll be taking the AP Psych Exam. I know you're ready to rock that test, so here's what Chippewa Falls AP Psych students need to know:

• The exam begins at 12:00 at the Korger Chestnut School Building. (See Map below) Arrive a few minutes early, if possible, to locate your testing room, as there will be more than one testing room for this exam. 
• You will be automatically excused from 2nd hour onward (10:40 AM) for testing. If you wish to use the earlier morning hours to prepare at home, your parents will need to call you in to excuse you.
• EAT BEFORE YOU TEST. You can't bring food into the exam rooms, so this means you'll need to get something to eat before you arrive (and since school lunch isn't served until noon, that's not an option). You may pack a snack in your backpack to eat during the break, though. 
• NOTE: If you are also taking the AP Chem exam in the morning you will DEFINITELY want to pack a lunch to eat quickly between exams. You will NOT have time to leave the test site to get food.
• You need to provide your own transportation to the test site. Arrange carpools ahead of time, if necessary. Don't wait until the last minute!
• Be sure to practice a solid pre-test regimen: get plenty of sleep the night before, eat healthful meals, and of course, review your course materials!
• In case you lost them, these directions were provided by Ms. Ebner during pre-registration.

BRING:

1. A couple of #2 pencils (for the MC part). Maybe your lucky pencil?
2. A couple of pens (blue or black) for the FRQs. Be sure to have a couple in case one runs out of ink!
3. A photo id (government issued or school id)
4. I recommend bringing a NICE eraser. You don't want to smear up your scantron form with a crappy, dry, ineffective one if you wish to change answers.
5. A watch (that does not beep!), in case you are seated in a place where the clock is not easy to see. NO smartwatches, or any type of watch that can communicate externally.
6. A sweatshirt? It's ideal to dress in layers so you can adjust if you're too hot/cold.

DO NOT BRING:

1. Cellular phones, smart watches, music players, or personal data assistants (PDAs)
2. Books, correction fluid, dictionaries, highlighters, or notes
3. Scratch paper (notes can be made on portions of the exam booklets)
4. Calculators
5. Watches that beep or have an alarm
6. Portable listening or recording devices (even with headphones) or photographic equipment
7. Clothing with psych-related information on it (e.g. sorry, even Psych Club shirts are a no-no)
8. Food or drinks

HOW TO GET THERE:

The Korger Chestnut School building is located at 140 W. Elm St. (See map below). Enter through the back doors (the parking lot entrance). Look for signs to direct you to your testing room. You will need to bring a picture ID.

Tips for Preparing for Your AP Psych Exam

There are SO many things you can do to help you review for your AP Psych Exam, and it can be hard to know where to start. Never fear! Here are some links and general tips, including some important "Do's" and "Don'ts" to help you out.

What NOT to Do:
The following strategies have been shown by researchers to be ineffective (people using them don't do much better than people who hadn't studied at all), so DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME ON THEM.

• Re-reading your textbook. Skimming over previously read passages of your text is a terrible way to study, in part because 1.) it is time-consuming, 2.) you don't actually retain any more info after doing this, and 3.) (even worse) it fosters the "illusion of mastery,"  which leads to WORSE performance. For example, you may think you "know" something just because you think to yourself, "oh, sure, that seems familiar," when actually you aren't able to answer questions about it correctly. Of course, this tip assumes you read the textbook the first time. Also, note that there is nothing wrong with looking up a specific topic that you don't understand in order to get a question clarified or answered. Just avoid passive re-reading of whole chapters (or the whole book).
• Highlighting stuff in your notes. While it sure makes stuff look pretty, there is little processing going on when you highlight terms or ideas in your notes. Since memory is the product of thinking about something, you're better off doing something that forces you to think about the material.

What works?

• Distributed Practice. You may remember this being called "the spacing effect" in your textbook. Spacing out study of your material, rather than planning one giant cram session, leads to better memory. In fact spacing is most powerful once a little "forgetting" has set in. So, study a topic until you feel you've "got it," then come back to it in a day or two and quiz yourself. This strategy can also be a time-saver, since less overall time is needed to achieve the same result as cramming. However, it takes more planning, which is the hard part.
• Retrieval Practice or Self-Testing. There is NO BETTER way to prepare yourself for a test than to practice pulling information from memory. There are LOTS of online tools to help you do this, and I've included some of them below.
• Use what you've learned this year about memory! If you are continuously stumbling over the same term, researcher name, or list of things you need to recall, use encoding strategies to help you! Mnemonics, acronyms, chunking, and DEEP PROCESSING/ELABORATIVE REHEARSAL (thinking about connections between course concepts and what you already know.

So...where do I start?

1. Take a practice test. This will help you identify areas of strength and weakness and provide you with feedback about how "far" you have to go yet to achieve mastery. If you haven't already taken advantage of a weekend practice exam, here are some options to get you started:
• There are online full-length practice tests available for free.
• You have two full-length practice tests in the back of your Strive for a Five and one in the back of your textbook.
• The College Board also has publicly released two previously given tests, and you could print these for your own practice: the 1999 Released Exam and the 1994 Released Exam. Granted, these are pretty old, but they still aren't bad for practice purposes.
• I've also generated practice exam banks for CFHS students in Canvas.
2. Narrow your focus and make a plan. If you found out that you rock at Abnormal Psychology, but are not exactly comfortable with Developmental Psych, use that to plan your study sessions! 
• Write in "Study Time" on your calendar, and the topic you plan to work on each day.
• Plan to review your weakest areas more than once. You may need to go back and watch a video about a topic that is particularly confusing before testing yourself on it again. Some more tricky topics are explained here, too. 
• Brush up on the vocab for a topic by using Quizlet flashcards.
• Then, try out some practice multiple choice questions on a topic that has been troublesome. 
3. In the last couple of days before the test, plan time for "polishing." 
• Review Famous Psychologists to help practice many different areas of the course. Can you identify how these people are similar to each other? Different? 
• Use the "combine sets" feature on Quizlet to study multiple topic areas at once.
• Study with a friend: take turns quizzing each other on major course topics (using flashcards or term lists).

Want a helpful list of the NEED-TO-KNOW terms for the AP Psych Exam? This list won't probably get you a 5, but it will make sure you've got the absolute basics down.

Psychotherapies: Resources

Today in class you'll be exploring various approaches to psychotherapy. Because people are going to come to this topic with wildly different levels of background knowledge and different levels of mastery of the information from the textbook reading, I'm posting some resources here that you should feel free to use as you see fit.

First, here are the slides on Psychotherapies. Some of these I used in class already, but the final parts of this slide show may be helpful in filling in your Psychotherapy Grid.



If the text on the slides and what you read in your textbook doesn't cut it, I've recorded videos of lecture notes on each of the major approaches to psychotherapy, and you're welcome to view them if that helps.

Insight-Based Psychotherapies: Psychoanalysis, Interpersonal Therapy, and Humanistic Therapy


Cognitive Psychotherapies


Behavioral Therapies


Family and Group Psychotherapies

Brain Facts Link

Greetings, Psych Club members!

To access the shared Brain Facts document, click here. Be sure to highlight the facts you have "used" so we don't have a bunch of repeats!

Thanks for your help!

Links for Today's Exercises

If you'd like to complete a Type A/Type B indicator, use this Type A/Type B Inventory.

Later in the hour, we may have time to complete this emotion detection quiz from the NY Times.

Emotion Exercise

Today we'll be exploring various phenomena connected to emotion.

To complete the cartoon activity, please complete this form.