S105--This is Your Brain on Media
How TV, Computer Games, and Radio Capture Your Attention and Play with Your Emotions
Intensive Freshmen Seminar--August, 2011
Professor
Dr. Robert Potter
rfpotter [at] indiana [dot] edu
Phone
856-2546
Course Meeting Time
Daily 9am-Noon, FA 005 and occasionally at the Institute for Communication Research (ICR)
Office Hours
Student groups are required to attend special 2-hour office hours (3-5pm). See course schedule.
Other individual meetings by appointment. Email Dr. Potter to schedule a time.
Course Intern
Alex Lazar
ajlazar
[at] indiana [dot] edu
Description
This course exposes students to concepts central to the field of cognitive psychology such as attention, emotion, attitude, and memory. It does so, however, through critical readings of published research in the areas of both cognitive psychology and media processes & effects. Students will also be exposed to research methods employed in cognitive psychology such as secondary task reaction time, continuous response measurement and psychophysiological measures such as heart rate, skin conductance, and facial electromyography.
Required Text
Harris, R.J. (2009). A cognitive psychology of mass communication. (5th Edition). Routledge.
*** Please NOTE: Do NOT buy a copy of this textbook from a bookstore or online bookseller. You have already paid a course fee that will provide you with an electronic copy of this textbook via Oncourse.
Other required readings will be placed on electronic reserve. I will let you know when they are available and how to access them.
OTHER IMPORTANT ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION
Disabilities
To request disability accommodations, please contact IU Disabilities Services (855-3508) or visit their Website at http://www.indiana.edu/~iubdss/ for more information.
Academic Misconduct
I expect students at a major university to be honorable and to observe standards of conduct appropriate to a community of scholars. All acts of dishonesty in any academic work constitute academic misconduct. This includes, but is not necessarily limited to, the following:
Cheating-using or attempting to use unauthorized materials, information, or study aids in any academic exercise.
Plagiarism-representing the words, ideas, or data of another as one's own in any academic exercise.
Fabrication-unauthorized falsification or invention of any information or citation in an academic exercise.
Aiding or abetting academic dishonesty-intentionally or knowingly helping or attempting to help another student commit an act of academic dishonesty.
Academic Misconduct will not be tolerated in this class.
Religious Holidays
According to IU policy, I will make accommodations if you need to miss class for observance of a religious holiday. However, there are some things that you MUST do in order for these accommodations to be made. Find out what they are by visiting http://www.indiana.edu/~deanfac/download/download.html
Grading Scale
I will use the following scale to assign final grades:
A 93%
A- 90%
B+ 87%
B 83%
B- 80%
C+ 77%
C 73%
C- 70%
D+ 67%
D 63%
D- 60%
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