AP Psychology Learning Coach Guide

AP® Psychology

Learning Coach Guide

Contents

Biological Bases of Behavior Unit12

Cognition Unit13

Development and Learning Unit14

Social Psychology and Personality Unit15

Mental and Physical Health Unit16

Part A

Welcome to AP® Psychology

Part A: Welcome to AP® Psychology

Welcome Letter

Dear Learning Coach,

Thank you for partnering with CCA and investing in your learner’s education. This Learning Coach Guide is intended to help you support your learner in their AP® Psychology course.

Within this guide, you will find the goals, components, and features of the online course.

Please take time to read and review this information so you understand how to help your learner interact with all the course’s elements.

The Learning Coach Guide also includes information about each of the units in this course.

On each page of unit information, you will discover the following.

The Unit Overview will tell you what the focus, content, and skills of the unit will be.

The Unit Assessment section is a place for you and your learner to preview the graded work in the course. At the start of each unit, work with your learner to look at the unit in edio and find out which types of graded work are in this unit. Write them in the box and use it as a checklist. You can check off each one as your learner completes it.

The Unit Materials section tells you the materials your learner will need to complete the activities in this unit. You will also find the materials list repeated within each lesson so that your learner has exactly what they need at the right time.

The Unit Discussion Questions are optional questions that you may want to ask your learner during the unit to increase home and school connections about what your learner is studying.

In the Unit Notables section, you may find optional activities, literature connections, career connections, technology tips, ideas to help your learner if they get stuck, or safety tips.

CCA wishes you and your learner a terrific school year!

Supporting Your Learner

Your role as a Learning Coach is very important. Here are a few ways you can help your learner do their very best in the course.

Help your learner know what time guided or live class instruction is scheduled for, and prompt them to attend sessions or watch recordings.

Remember, it is okay for your learner to get stuck. Learning new material takes time. Encourage them to take breaks, keep trying, and even ask the teacher for help.

Help your learner navigate technology. That may mean helping them type information or upload work into edio.

Always encourage your learner to do their very best.

Review the course syllabus for your learner’s course.

Maintain communication with your learner’s teacher.

Part B

Course Information

Part B: Course Information

Course Goals

In AP® Psychology, your learner will develop an advanced understanding of behavior and mental processes, as well as the methods psychologists use in their science and practices. By the end of the year, your learner will be able to:

conduct inquiry-based investigations into the systematic and scientific study of human behavior and mental processes;

explore the biological bases of behavior, sensation and perception, learning and cognition, motivation, developmental psychology, testing and individual differences, treatment of abnormal behavior, and social psychology;

investigate the ideas, theories, and methods related to the scientific study of human behavior and processes within the brain;

apply psychological theories, key concepts, and studies associated with each aspect of psychology covered throughout the course; and

utilize psychological research methods to analyze bias, and evaluate claims and evidence.

explore how the study of psychology addresses issues relating to physical health and wellness, and how physical health and wellness applies to behavior and mental processes

examine the concept of positive psychology and how specific factors can lead to well-being, resilience, positive emotions, and psychological health.

explain various approaches used to define behaviors and mental processes as well as psychological disorders that influence behaviors and mental processes.

Course Format

Lesson Components:

Each day, your learner will spend 45 to 60 minutes completing an AP® Psychology lesson. Some days may take less time, while other days may take a little more time. The lesson does not need to be completed in one sitting. Encourage your learner to take short breaks as they need.

Lesson Bundling:

Within the lesson bundles, there are different components your learner will interact with. These components will not be used every day.

1. Getting Started Lesson: There is one Getting Started lesson in this course. It can be found on Day 1 of Unit 1. This lesson includes important information about the course and contact information for your teacher.

2. Unit Overview: Each unit will include a unit overview. This describes what your learner will learn in the unit and how many assessments the unit will have.

3. Prep for Success: At the beginning of each unit, your learner will find a Prep for Success. This component offers learners tips to be successful in the course, such as study tips, important software information, safety reminders, and more.

4. Knowledge Check: There will be one Knowledge Check in each unit. The Knowledge Check is designed to check prior learning and understanding of key skills and concepts that will be taught in the unit. The Knowledge Check is not a graded assessment.

The first lesson in every unit is often a bundle of lessons that introduce your learner to a new unit. See the example below.

Additionally, quizzes and knowledge checks in this course often come in a lesson bundle with another lesson.

Each lesson has its own components to help guide your learner through the lesson.

1. Lesson Overview: At the beginning of every lesson, your learner will see the lesson overview. This section contains lesson objectives, lesson vocabulary, materials your learner will need for the lesson, and the suggested lesson length.

2. Engage: The first section of the lesson is Engage. In this section, learners will be introduced to the lesson by making a connection to past and present knowledge and will get ready for the lesson’s instruction.

3. Discover: New content and instruction is presented in the Discover section. Your learner will interact with the lesson content through defined vocabulary terms, videos, audio, and Pause and Think activities. Your learner will be able to practice and answer questions as they work through the lesson.

4. Show: Learners will demonstrate what they have learned in the lesson through a series of practice questions.

5. Summary: This section recaps the day’s objectives and prepares learners for a future lesson or assessment.

The course includes assignments and projects. These graded assignments allow your learner to show what they have learned and apply their new skills. All CCA assignments and projects include these components.

1. Assessment Overview: At the beginning of each assessment, your learner will see the assessment overview. This section contains the goals of the assessment, materials your learner will need, the length of the assessment, and directions for completion.

2. Plan: In the Plan section, learners will be introduced to the assignment or project. Learners may be provided with a review of content from the previous lessons, strategies for completing the activity, graphic organizers, and grading rubrics.

3. Do: Learners will put their plan into action and work to complete the assignment or project successfully. This section also provides the grading expectations and/or rubric the teacher will use to grade the work.

4. Reflect: In Reflect, learners will think about the work they completed. They will reflect upon the experience and analyze how well they completed the task. These moments of reflection are important and allow learners to think about their learning and their work habits.

In addition to assignments and projects, this course also includes quizzes, tests, and exams.

Quiz: A quiz may be given at the end of a topic or the end of a unit. A quiz will usually be worth 10–15 points.

Test Review: Before a test, learners will have the opportunity to review the content they will be assessed on in the test.

Test: A test will assess learning across topics or at the end of a unit. A test is usually worth 25–50 points.

Exam Review: Before an exam, learners will have the opportunity to review the content they will be assessed on in the exam.

Exam: An exam assesses learning over multiple units. Exams are usually seen as midterm and final exams in Advanced Placement® courses.

Course Features

This course includes and uses unique features such as:

Free response questions, which mirror the types of assessment questions your learner will see on the AP exam. Free response questions are open-ended questions where learners will type their answers into a text box. Learners may be asked to explain specific treatment methods for certain mental health conditions, scientific methods utilized by psychological researchers, different psychological perspectives regarding the root causes of mental health disorders, and the impact of social influences on an individual’s thoughts and behaviors. These free response questions will be accompanied by summarized versions of psychological research studies that will require learners to employ science practice skills and interpret the results and inferences of these studies. They will also be asked to relate associated psychological terms and concepts to these studies.

Stimulus practice, which asks learners to evaluate information from a textual source. Stimuli usually include research data, charts, and graphs regarding psychological processes. Stimulus practice prepares learners for the AP exam, because several free response and multiple-choice questions will include stimuli of some sort on the AP exam.

Research laboratories, which apply the psychological concepts covered in the course to real-world applications that the learners will analyze. These laboratories will include both text and video information regarding specific aspects of psychology that impact individuals’ daily lives.

Part C: Unit Information

Biological Bases of Behavior Unit

Unit Overview

In this unit, learners will explore the biological bases of behavior and how local environments interact with human behavior. They will investigate the heredity of biological traits, as well as the processes of the various nervous systems and their impact behavior and mental processes. Learners will explore parts of the brain and how they are responsible for different behaviors and mental processes. Learners will examine the mental processes associated with sleep, dreaming, and consciousness.

Unit Assessments

Quiz _________________________

Test _________________________

Assignment ________________

Project _____________________

Exam _______________________

Have your learner identify which assessment type they see in their unit. Check all that apply.

Unit Discussion Questions

What are the major biological systems that influence behavior, thoughts, and emotions?

How does the environment interact with human biology to influence mental processes?

What was the most interesting biological process that you learned about in this unit?

Unit Notables

In this unit, your learner will have the opportunity to explore and exercise science practice skills that are used to interpret the results and inferences of psychological research studies. Additionally, your learner will explore research topics associated with sleep and consciousness. Finally, your learner will be introduced to the writing process for the article analysis free response question on the final exam and complete a practice writing assignment.

Kit Materials

none

Household Materials

Unit Overview

In this unit, learners will explore how the human brain interprets sensory information as perception by studying the processes associated with the processes that give sensory information meaning in the brain. Additionally, learners will examine the mental processes of memory, forgetting, thinking, problem-solving, creativity, and intelligence. They will explore how these cognitive processes impact behavioral patterns in a person’s daily lives.

Unit Assessments

Quiz _________________________

Test _________________________

Assignment ________________

Project _____________________

Exam _______________________

Have your learner identify which assessment type they see in their unit. Check all that apply.

Unit Discussion Questions

How do memory and cognition influence behavior?

What are the different models of intelligence and how do psychologists study intelligence?

What was the most interesting cognitive process that you learned about in this unit?

Unit Notables

This unit will involve an introduction to the second type of free response question on the final exam, the evidence-based question. Your learner will examine three different summarized sources relating to the topic of the question in this free response question. Additionally, your learner will explore cultural differences in perspectives of intelligence and how it is influenced by mental and behavioral processes.

Kit Materials

none

Household Materials

Unit Overview

In this unit, learners will explore concepts relating to developmental psychology and will focus on changes in cognitive and behavioral processes throughout life. They will examine different physical, social, and cognitive changes that are influenced by environmental and social interactions. Additionally, they will explore the mental processes of learning that are associated with social, classical, and operant conditioning principles. Learners will also review concepts from the previous units and complete a midterm exam.

Unit Assessments

Quiz _________________________

Test _________________________

Assignment ________________

Project _____________________

Exam _______________________

Have your learner identify which assessment type they see in their unit. Check all that apply.

Unit Discussion Questions

How do behavioral and mental processes change over the lifespan of an individual?

How has learning research influenced psychology as a science?

Which theory of learning covered in this unit do you think best explains how you learn new content?

Unit Notables

In this unit, your learner will complete a research laboratory focused on how social media companies utilize components of psychological theories of learning to gain and retain more users. This will involve real-world applications of psychological concepts from the unit. Your learner will also complete an article analysis question and a midterm exam to prepare them for the AP final exam. Support your learner by reminding them of good test-taking strategies and tips.

Kit Materials

none

Household Materials

Social Psychology and Personality Unit

Unit Overview

In this unit, learners will explore how differences in an individual’s motivation, emotions, and personality impact their behavior. They will examine various theories regarding human behaviors and how individuals adapt to stress in their environments. Learners will also explore how social interactions influence mental processes and behaviors. They will analyze concepts from previous units and how they are applied in social situations.

Unit Assessments

Quiz _________________________

Test _________________________

Assignment ________________

Project _____________________

Exam _______________________

Have your learner identify which assessment type they see in their unit. Check all that apply.

Unit Discussion Questions

How do different incentives change over time for individuals?

How does psychology demonstrate its influence over businesses, politics, and other disciplines?

What was the most interesting aspect of social psychology that you learned about in this unit?

Unit Notables

In this unit, your learner will examine psychological research regarding how businesses use aspects of social psychology to persuade consumers to purchase their products and services. Learners will also complete a second practice of the evidence-based free response question. You can support your learner by helping them to review the writing process and the rubric for the evidence-based free response question.

Kit Materials

none

Household Materials

Mental and Physical Health Unit

Unit Overview

In this unit, your learner will explore various behaviors and mental processes that are classified as mental health conditions or psychological disorders. These disorders stem from many different causes and numerous disorders will be covered throughout the unit. Diagnosis and treatment methods will also be explored in this unit, as well as how they are treated. Learners will also explore the impact of positive and health psychology on mental processes and behaviors.

Unit Assessments

Quiz _________________________

Test _________________________

Assignment ________________

Project _____________________

Exam _______________________

Have your learner identify which assessment type they see in their unit. Check all that apply.

Unit Discussion Questions

How does psychological perspective affect the choice of treatment for psychological disorders?

How are psychological disorders viewed in various cultures?

What was the most interesting aspect of psychological disorders that you learned about in this unit?

Unit Notables

Your learner will examine research regarding the representation of individuals with psychological disorders in media formats, as well as the biases that exist in psychological research and its impact on treatment methods. Learns will also complete a final exam that will simulate the types of questions they can expect to find on the AP® Psychology final exam.

Kit Materials

none

Household Materials