PSY 322 : Learning and Memory

Course Description

This course will focus on exploring historical, traditional, and contemporary literature on learning and memory, as well as the biological basis of learning and memory. Areas of theory covered will include: classical/respondent conditioning, instrumental/operant conditioning, and social learning theory, with attention to clinical, counseling, and educational applications. (3 credits)

Prerequisites

  • ENG 101: English Composition 1
  • ENG 102: English Composition 2
  • PSY 101: Psychology (Recommended)

Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs)

Students who successfully complete this course will be able to:

  1. Evaluate and discuss basic facts and research findings, historic influences, terminology, principles, and theories essential to understanding the psychology of learning and memory.
  2. Analyze and discuss a basic understanding of the processes involved in the neurobiology of learning, attention and working memory.
  3. Compare and contrast behaviorist theories of conditioning and learning, including classical conditioning, and operant conditioning, and an understanding of the social learning theory.
  4. Compare and contrast cultural and gender differences in human behavior.
  5. Analyze and discuss current issues and controversies in the psychology of learning and memory.
  6. Analyze and discuss ways to apply psychological findings to everyday life, including school, work, relationships, and clinical settings.

Course Activities and Grading

AssignmentsWeight
Discussions (Weeks 1-15)

30%

Quizzes (Weeks 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 11, 12 & 13) [Note: lowest score is dropped, only the top 8/9 scores will be counted. Quizzes are on Chapters: 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11 & 12]

20%

Critical Reflection Essays (Weeks 1, 3, 5 & 9)

20%

Midterm Exam (Week 7)

10%

Learning Philosophy Statement (Week 14)

10%

Final Exam (Week 15)

10%

Total

100%

Required Textbooks

Available through Charter Oak State College's Book Bundle

  • Gluck, M.A. (2020). Learning and Memory: From Brain to Behavior. 4th ed. Worth Publishers. ISBN-13: 9781319207335

Course Schedule

Week

SLOs

Readings and Exercises

Assignments

1

1, 3

Fundamental Themes in the Psychology of Learning and Memory

  • Readings:
    • Chapter 1
  • Read the assigned chapter
  • Review the lecture materials
  • Participate in the Discussions
  • Submit Week 1 Quiz - Chapter 1 
  • Submit Week 1 Critical Reflection Essay - Behaviorist vs. Cognitive Approaches to Studying Language

2

1, 2, 5

The Neuroscience of Learning and Memory

  • Readings:
    • Chapter 2
  • Read the assigned chapter
  • Review the lecture materials
  • Participate in the Discussions
  • Submit Week 2 Quiz - Chapter 2

3

1, 4, 5, 6

Habituation, Sensitization, and Familiarization

  • Readings:
    • Chapter 3
  • Read the assigned chapter
  • Review the lecture materials
  • Participate in the Discussions
  • Submit Week 3 Critical Reflection Essay - Implicit Bias

4

3, 6

Classical Conditioning: Learning to Predict Significant Events

  • Readings:
    • Chapter 4
  • Read the assigned chapter
  • Review the lecture materials
  • Participate in the Discussions
  • Submit Week 4 Quiz - Chapter 4

5

3, 5, 6

Operant Conditioning: Learning the Outcome of Behaviors

  • Readings:
    • Chapter 5
  • Read the assigned chapter
  • Review the lecture materials
  • Participate in the Discussions
  • Submit Week 5 Critical Reflection Essay - Drug Addiction and Reinforcement

6

4, 5, 6

Generalization, Discrimination Learning and Concept Formation

  • Readings:
    • Chapter 6
  • Read the assigned chapter
  • Review the lecture materials
  • Participate in the Discussions
  • Submit Week 6 Quiz - Chapter 6

7

1-6

Review and Midterm Exam
  • Readings:
    • Review Chapters 1-6

  • Review assigned chapters
  • Participate in the Discussions
  • Complete the Midterm Exam

8

1, 2, 5

Episodic and Semantic Memory

  • Readings:
    • Chapter 7
  • Read the assigned chapter
  • Review the lecture materials
  • Participate in the Discussions
  • Submit Week 8 Quiz - Chapter 7

9

1, 2

Skill Memory

  • Readings:
    • Chapter 8
  • Read the assigned chapter
  • Review the lecture materials
  • Participate in the Discussions
  • Submit Week 9 Critical Reflection Essay - Skill Learning

10

1, 2, 5

Working Memory and Cognitive Control

  • Readings:
    • Chapter 9
  • Read the assigned chapter
  • Review the lecture materials
  • Participate in the Discussions
  • Submit Week 10 Quiz - Chapter 9

11

1, 5

Emotional Influences on Learning and Memory

  • Readings:
    • Chapter 10
  • Read the assigned chapter
  • Review the lecture materials
  • Participate in the Discussions
  • Submit Week 11 Quiz - Chapter 10

12

1, 3, 4

Social Learning and Memory

  • Readings:
    • Chapter 11
  • Read the assigned chapter
  • Review the lecture materials
  • Participate in the Discussions
  • Submit Week 12 Quiz - Chapter 11
  • Begin drafting the Learning Philosophy Statement

13

1, 3, 4

Development and Aging

  • Readings:
    • Chapter 12
  • Read the assigned chapter
  • Review the lecture materials
  • Participate in the Discussions
  • Submit Week 13 Quiz - Chapter 12
  • Continue drafting the Learning Philosophy Statement

14

1-6

Review and Learning Philosophy Statement
  • Readings:
    • Review Chapters 7-12
  • Review assigned chapters
  • Participate in the Discussions
  • Submit Learning Philosophy Statement

15

1-6

Final Exam
  • Readings:
    • Review Chapters 7-12

  • Review assigned chapters
  • Review the lecture materials
  • Participate in the Discussions
  • Complete the Final Exam

COSC Accessibility Statement

Charter Oak State College encourages students with disabilities, including non-visible disabilities such as chronic diseases, learning disabilities, head injury, attention deficit/hyperactive disorder, or psychiatric disabilities, to discuss appropriate accommodations with the Office of Accessibility Services at OAS@charteroak.edu.

COSC Policies, Course Policies, Academic Support Services and Resources

Students are responsible for knowing all Charter Oak State College (COSC) institutional policies, course-specific policies, procedures, and available academic support services and resources. Please see COSC Policies for COSC institutional policies, and see also specific policies related to this course. See COSC Resources for information regarding available academic support services and resources.