To:                   Psychology 101-900 Telecourse students.

 

From:               Donald Bowers,  Course instructor

 

Topic:               Welcome to the psychology 101 telecourse

 

Date:                January 21, 2004

 

            Welcome to the Psychology 101 telecourse.  This is a fifteen week course based on the TV programs presented on Whyy on Monday nights at 2 AM.  Each program is one-half hour in length.   They broadcast 2 programs back to back each Monday night.  The first broadcast is on Monday, February 2nd.  To help students be more successful in the course  I would like to give you some guidelines and advice.

 

1.         Course syllabus.         A copy of  the syllabus is enclosed.   It describes the basic requirements for the course.  Please review it carefully.  The syllabus is also on the CCP distance learning website and on my own faculty website.

 

2.         Faculty website.         I have a faculty website where I have posted a copy of the syllabus.   I will post additional information about the course as the semester continues.  Please check the website for material   The address of the website is:

 

            htpp://faculty.ccp.edu/faculty/dbowers

 

3.         Orientation.                There will not be a formal orientation for the course. Our experience is that many students can’t make the session.  I hope that the material that I e-mail and send you will help answer most questions.

 

4.         E-mail and phone no.  The following are my e-mail and phone number for where you can reach me at the College.   E-mail works the best because many students work and are not available.   In addition, please send me your e-mail number so that I can e-mail the class.

 

                        e-mail              dbowers@ccp.edu

                        phone              215-751-8448

 

5.         Textbook        Please note that the telecourse uses a special text designed to match the TV programs.  Do not buy any other text.  The correct text is;

 

Gerrig and Zimbardo    Psychology and Life.

 

6.         Mid-term and Final.    Please note the dates for the Mid-term and final on the syllabus.   There is a special review session on the week prior to the exams.  Try to make every effort to attend these review sessions.   Students typically find them very helpful in preparing for the exams.

 

7.         Concluding advice.     Television courses can be very difficult for students.  They require an independent learner who has the discipline to keep up with both the tapes and the reading.  It is essential that you keep up with the reading.  Call/e-mail me if you have problems and I will try to help.   The exams will be taken from both the programs and the text.  Keep in mind that the text has much more information in it than does the TV programs.  You won’t be able to pass the course by simply watching the programs.

 

 

Good Luck!