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Learning Goals

Class Attendance in the Case of Illness

Readings

Electronic reserves

Course Podcast and Screencast

Office Hours

Class Meeting Times & Places

Service Learning Option

Grading Policy

Psychobiology of Women

General Course Information

Course Learning Goals :

1. to develop a working knowledge base related to female anatomy, physiology, endocrinology and the ways in which these systems interact with behavior that will stay with you long after this class is over (assessed by course exams)
2. to understand how science and politics interplay in research on female biology, psychology and biopsychology (assessed by classroom discussions and paper)
3. to understand the biological and psychological correlates of various segments of women’s lives from puberty to menopause (assessed by course exams)
4. to formulate written and oral arguments based on scientific evidence (assessed by discussion participation and paper)
5. to listen to beliefs and opinions of individuals who both agree and disagree with your own perspective in a respectful and considered fashion and expend effort to understand the multiple viewpoints that are all supported by current evidence (assessed by discussion participation)

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Class Attendance in Case of Illness:

The best way to learn course material is to attend lecture and discussion sections regularly. Indeed, we have evidence that in-class participation in lecture and discussions is related to significantly higher course grades. Some types of course credit such as Quick Quizzes, Discussion Participation, and Leadership points (explained below) require your presence in the classroom. If you must miss class for any reason, please talk with you TA as soon as possible to determine whether your absence will be considered “excused.” If your absence from lecture or quiz section is excused, you may be permitted to make up missed points and your TA will tell you how to do so. Note: Making up points related to co-leading the discussion of your topic in quiz sections is extremely unlikely so avoid missing that class if at all possible.

Readings:

There is no textbook for this course. All readings will be available on electronic course reserves accessible from the library homepage or from your MyUW homepage. Most readings are in the folder labeled "Lecture readings." Readings specific to discussion topics to be read by the entire class (assuming the reading is not also on the lecture-related reading list) and those specifically assigned for those students preparing papers and leading discussions on a discussion topic are in folders labeled with the topic title. Instructions on accessing the readings are provided below. The order and timing of lecture-related readings is on the Class Schedule and Reading List. Readings for discussion topics are noted on the Discussion Sections page of this website.

Readings related to lecture and those assigned for all students in relation to Discussion Sections can also be purchased in a packet from RAMS Copy Center, 4144 University Way NE. Readings related to various discussion topics and not assigned for the entire class can only be accessed through electronic reserves.

If you have access to reading packets from Spring 2011, you can use it. Be aware that if you are using a packet from that quarter, you will need to access 7 new readings associated with lectures from electronic reserves. These are marked on the syllabus and reading list with an asterisk (*). If your packet is from an even earlier quarter, there will be additional new articles for you to locate on e-reserves. Packets from previous quarters will also contain some readings that are no longer being used.

Accessing Electronic Reserves:
1. Access to electronic reserves is through the library homepage:
http://www.lib.washington.edu/

2. In the upper left, under "Find It...", click on "Course Reserves & Guides."

3. From here, you can access reserves for this course through course number ("GWSS 357" or "Psych 357") or by entering "Kenney" as course instructor. In all cases, your entry must match the way it is here. Abbreviations and misspellings mess things up.

4. Click on "Online Course Reserves for......".

5. You will then be asked to enter your UWNetID (this is the part of your UW e-mail address before the @) and password.

6. You must read and accept the copyright restrictions.

7. Click on "Connect to this Title On Line."

8. Click on a reading title/author to access an article.

If you wish to print a copy of the article, using the printer icon on the Acrobat Reader toolbar typically works best.

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Course Podcast and Screencast:
The course is being both podcast and screencast. These recordings are intended as a supplement to lecture attendance and not as a replacement for being in the classroom. They certainly are useful if you must miss an isolated lecture now and then during the quarter or to catch information that you missed on the first pass in lecture. They can also be useful for reviewing.

History with podcasting/screencasting in this course has shown that students who utilize the podcasts/screencasts regularly in lieu of lecture attendance perform significantly more poorly on course exams than do students who attend lectures regularly (not to mention the fact that you'll miss the quick quizzes if you don't come to lecture).

Podcasts:
Podcasts are audio recordings of course lectures that you can listen to using your computer and which can be downloaded to your computer, iPod, MP3 player or similar device. You DO NOT need an iPod to listen to these recordings. Your home computer will do just fine. You will have to download a program like iTunes to be able to access these lectures but you can get that for free for your computer. Instructions on how to get it are found below. On-demand audio content is available for this course at the following URL: http://www.css.washington.edu/course/PSYCH357A

You will be prompted to log-on with your UWNetID when accessing the web page where the recordings and RSS feeds are located. You can listen to the lectures by clicking on the "audio recording" links, or you can subscribe to the lecture series by using the RSS feed. You will need a podcast aggregator or podcacher such as iTunes if you are going to subscribe to the lecture series.

On-demand audio subscription instructions for iTunes are located here:
http://www.css.washington.edu/PodcastingSubscription

Frequently asked questions about the On-demand Audio Service are located here:
http://www.css.washington.edu/wiki/Frequently_Asked_Questions_about_On-Demand_Audio_Service

On-demand Audio Service Terms of Use are located here:
http://www.css.washington.edu/wiki/On-Demand_Audio_Content_Terms_of_Use

Screencasts:
Automated On-line Video Screencasting is being used in this course. Screencast recordings of the classes will be located at: http://www.css.washington.edu/course/PSYCH357A

Access to the on-line recordings is limited to instructors, teaching assistants, and students enrolled in the class. You will be prompted to log-on with your UWNetID when you attempt to view the Screencasting Web pages. If you are not officially enrolled in Psychology or GWSS 357 you will not have access to the Screencasts.

To watch a Screencast, click the Screencast link. Adobe Flash Player is required. Visit the Adobe Flash Player Download Center if Flash is not installed on your computer:
http://www.adobe.com/products/flashplayer/

Automated Video Screencasting Service Terms of Use are located here:
http://www.css.washington.edu/wiki/Automated_Video_Screencasting_Terms_of_Use

End-user technical support for the Automated Video Screencasting Pilot Service consists of verifying that the service is functioning. Total outages, such as the Classroom Portal not being available, should be reported to our help desk by sending e-mail to CLASSRM@u.washington.edu. The help desk will verify whether the service is working or not, and can send out FAQs or generic configuration instructions. The CSS help desk does not provide any additional end-user support. The Automated Video Screencasting Pilot Service is provided on an "as is" and "as available" basis. Technology is not always perfect, and recording errors can happen.

Archives and Copies

Archives are not maintained for these recordings. The recordings will be removed from the Web server two weeks after the class has ended. Copies of Screencast recordings are not available. They can only be viewed on-line.

Terms of Service

The complete automated video screencasting terms of service and terms of use can be reviewed at the following locations:
* http://www.css.washington.edu/wiki/Automated_Video_Screencasting_Terms_of_Service

* http://www.css.washington.edu/wiki/Automated_Video_Screencasting_Terms_of_Use

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Office Hours and Locations and Contact Information :

Instructor:

Prof. Nancy J. Kenney
Office Hours:Tuesdays & Thursdays, 11:35-12:25 & by appointment
Location: 306 Guthrie Hall
e-mail: nkenney@uw.edu
Phone: 206-543-2563

TAs:

Lauren Graham
Office Hour: Wednesdays, 10:30-11:20 & by appointment
Location: 324 Guthrie Hall
e-mail: lkjones@uw.edu

Kai Kohlsdorf
Office Hour: Tuesdays, 12:30-1:20 & by appointment
Location: B111 Padelford Hall
e-mail: kai3@uw.edu

Nicole Stettler
Office Hour: Mondays 11:00-12:00 & by appointment
Location: Guthrie Annex 4 (GA4), Room 126
e-mail: stettln@uw.edu

Tutors:

Cassie Doolittle
e-mail: cassiejd@uw.edu

Kathy Ferrero
e-mail: kferrero@uw.edu

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Class Meeting Times and Location:

Lecture: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9:30-11:20, Kane 220

Discussion Sections:

AA Thursday 1:30-2:20, SWS 038*

AB Thursday, 2:30-3:20, SWS 038*

AC Friday, 8:30-9:20, PAA 214

AD Friday, 9:30-10:20, PAA 214

AE Friday, 10:30-11:20, PAA 214

AF Friday, 11:30-12:20, PAA 214

* ROOM CHANGE AS OF 10/5

Important Notices Related to Quiz Section Attendance:

1. Due to the planned discussion format for quiz sections, it is important that you regularly attend the quiz section for which you are officially registered. Not only does this add up to course credit but regular attendance also improves the collegiality and cohesiveness of the discussion group. Each of you will be asked to share the lead role for one discussion meeting. Failure to attend the appropriate section meeting on that day will have severe detrimental effects on your grade.
2. If you cannot make your own quiz section time at some point during the quarter, you can attend an alternate section meeting for that week in order to participate in the scheduled discussion or review. This, of course, assumes that you are not playing a lead role in the discussion that week.  When attending an alternate section meeting, it is critical that you indicate your typical section on the sign-in sheet. (This is not intended as a regular event but for those rare occasions when you cannot make your own section time.)
3. Absence on the day you are expected to help lead the discussion is to be avoided at all costs (except in the case of serious illness). If serious conditions arise that will prevent you from being in class on your assigned date, please inform your TA immediately. If your reason for missing section is deemed legitimate, the TA may provide an alternative method for you to earn the related points. If the reason is not legitimate or you do not inform your TA that you will not be present, you will lose all 5 points associated with this activity.

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Service Learning

You may choose to complete this course through a service-learning option. This option is designed to help students directly connect course information to real-world situations. Students selecting this option will be asked to select a placement site related to women's health or service from a list designed by the Carlson Leadership and Service Center specifically for this course. Once you have selected your site, you must attend an orientation at that site (check site description for the time and day of the orientation) and spend 20-40 hours during the quarter at the placement site. On site you may be involved in a variety of activities from providing research assistance to acting as a companion for a disabled person. The specific tasks involved in each placement are indicated on the list of sites for this course. You can find that list at:
http://depts.washington.edu/leader

For additional information about Service Learning duties and benefits, go to the Service Learning page.

The grade benefits of opting for Service Learning are discussed below.

Service Learning Tutors:

Cassie Doolittle - cassiejd@uw.edu

Kathy Ferrero - kferrero@uw.edu

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Grading Policy

Course Grades - All Students (including students selecting the Service-Learning Option)

Course grades will be based on the percent correct out of the total possible points on the three exams - two midterms and the final, the 8 Quick Quizzes, and from quiz section related activities. Each of the 3 exams will be worth 60 points, for a total of 180 points. The 8 Quick Quizzes are worth 2 points each, for a total of 16 points. Another 64 points are attached to quiz section activities (see below). So the total possible points for the course will be 260. (Students taking advantage of the Service Learning option for this course receive an additional grading bonus as described below)

Course points will be converted to a course grade with 96% = 4.0, 95% = 3.9, 93% = 3.7, 83% = 2.7, 73% = 1.7, 63% = 0.7, etc. The course grade declines by 0.1 grade point for each 1% below 96%. If the total number of points earned is less than or equal to 62% of the total possible points, you will receive a grade of 0.0 for the course. A chart converting individual test points and cumulative course points to grade points can be found on the Current Exams page.

Service-Learning Bonus Points:
Students selecting the service-learning option can earn up to 10 course points for their involvement in service learning. Details for how these points are earned can be found on the Service Learning page. All of the service- learning points are over and above the 260 course points potentially earned from tests, paper(s)/presentation and quiz section activities. In other words, these are all bonus points and can increase your course grade substantially (see grading chart on the Current Exams page).

Discussion Sections:
Participation points: You can earn up to 14 course points (equivalent to points earned on exams) through active participation in quiz section activities. These are assigned as one point per section meeting focusing on review for exams or administrative/organizational issues and two points per section meetings focusing on discussion. Active participation requires being present for the entire discussion-section class period and taking an active part in the discussion. Arrival 10 or more minutes after the start of the session or departure 10 or more minutes prior to the end of a session precludes active involvement. Being physically present in the classroom without active involvement in the discussion does not count as participation.

Papers and Discussion Leader:
Each student will be required to prepare a paper on one of the 5 discussion topics for the quarter. In addition, you will work with the other students in you section assigned that topic to facilitate class discussion of that topic. These papers and discussions will be based on a series of recommended readings on the assigned topic. The exact instructions for the paper will be provided during the first quiz section meeting and posted on the Discussion Section page. Forty-five course points are associated with the paper and an additional 5 course points are associated with your performance as a discussion co-leader.

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Contact the instructor at: nkenney@u.washington.edu