Class Rules and Conduct (Syllabus)

Revised: 2025-07-02 11:33 AM CDST

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• Online classes are different than traditional face-to-face classes so your approach to them must be different too.
• The fact that the class does not meet routinely in a regularly scheduled time and place is one of the main differences.
• Thus, you must schedule your own study time and strive not to fall behind. In this class, testing is different too.
• Quizzes are OPEN BOOK/OPEN NOTES.
  • Before you cheer, realize that unlike traditional tests, the tests in this class will not directly sample your memory.
  • See "Where's Waldo" below
• I will allow quizzes to be turned in until the last day of the course. BUT! You should strive to turn them in much sooner.
• Instead, success on these tests will require you to FIND the answers from the Text, the PowerPoints, and the Notes that I provide for each chapter.

Communication and "Office Hours"

• I will use e-mail as the main method of communication between us.
• My e-mail address is: ekardas@tamut.edu I also monitor epkardas@saumag.edu, use it if you do not get a quick response on the TAMUT email.
  • I will monitor my e-mail from 8:30 am to 8:30 pm during the work week
  • I will monitor less routinely during the weekends
• Social Media
  • I am not a big social media user so don't contact me using FaceBook (even though I have an account)
    • Funny story: I once responded to my wife's posting of our wedding anniversary only to discover her post was three years old!
  • Adopted a new dog about a year ago, Icy. Now I'm a regular poster on FB's Carolina Dog Association pages, basically all I do on FB.

  

  Icy

• "Office Hours"

• As noted above, I'll be in my "office" 12 hours a day on email
• I'm happy to schedule individual or group Zoom sessions as needed
• I'm happy to schedule phone conversations as well

Tests and Grading

• Here is the Number One hint I can provide you for taking quizzes in this class:
  • FIND the answer! (as opposed to REMEMBER the answer)
  • So, here's a good plan for you:
    • Study the text along with the PowerPoints, and the Notes I provide online
    • When you are ready, open the quiz in Canvas
    • Answer all of the questions you can
    • For the ones you cannot, LOOK FOR the answers and record them
    • Think of taking these tests as akin to finding Waldo in the Where's Waldo books :-) (Only not as hard)

  

• I will post your tests on Canvas early in the week. Quiz 1 will be posted on July 7, 2025 at 9:00 am
• That will give you plenty of time to study and to FIND the answers
• Quizzes will be due by the following Sunday at 11:30 pm
• Late quizzes will be accepted but you should strive to get them in on time
• Tests will consist of objective and essay items
  • Objective items may be: T-F and Multiple Choice. These will count one point each.
  • Essay items will be short-answer items. These will count five points each.
    • You may answer the essay items using available course materials OR materials you discover elsewhere
    • BUT, in both cases you must provide the source you used. Examples:
      • Found on page 52 of text
      • Found on course's PowerPoint for chapter 11
      • Found on the webpage: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Five_personality_traits
  • FYI, I consider Wikipedia pages on psychology acceptable sources
    • See APS Wikipedia Initiative
      • "The APS Wikipedia Initiative makes information about psychological science on Wikipedia as complete and accurate as possible."
  • There will be five quizzes
  • Each quiz will be worth 100 points
  • I will drop your lowest quiz score at the end of the term
  • There is no "Final Exam"
  • Grades are based on the TOTAL number of points, so the maximum score is 400 points
  • Your grades will appear on Canvas
• I will grade your tests promptly.

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