This distance learning course is conducted mostly via e-mail, the Internet within the Canvas system, and through (when needed) telephone communication. This course does NOT require students to meet on campus during the semester at any time. The instructor is available, however, to meet with any student, either online or at the West Valley campus, at any time during the term to answer questions or assist in studying.

In this course, students are given 11 chapter quizzes (the lowest is dropped), which occur approximately on a weekly basis in the spring and fall terms; these short (multiple-choice) quizzes are designed to help students keep "on track" with the Myers' reading assignments. For the spring and fall terms, there are also three MANDATORY online essay exam testing sessions on THURSDAY evenings from 7:00-8:30 p.m. For the summer & winter terms, there are three MANDATORY online essay exam testing sessions on Wednesday evenings from 7:00-8:30 p.m. (Due to the accelerated term, tests for the winter & summer sessions are mostly multiple-choice & a few fill-in/short answer ONLY). The exact dates are listed on the Reading Calendar for the course. Please note: the final exam is NOT comprehensive for this, or any, of the instructor's courses. For a description of this course, please see the instructor's introduction.

In order to successfully complete this course, you should plan your schedule very carefully. Based upon District estimates, an on-campus course that meets two times a week will take a minimum of four hours of additional preparation per week. Since you are not meeting with a traditional class, you can expect to spend a minimum of six hours per week (for a semester length class) on your course work. For the summer session, the pace is more accelerated. Look carefully at your work schedule, school schedule, and family obligations and allow plenty of time for each.

You are expected to communicate with your instructor and other classmates about specific assignments. Most of your work, however, is done on your own through reading assignments, the viewing of online videos, and accompanying lecture materials. When taking a online course you must take the initiative to ask your instructor questions if you do not understand the material. You may have to communicate with your instructor with an e-mail message or you may have to call the instructor and leave a message on an answering machine. Either way, the response from the instructor, although always timely, might not be instantaneous. You must learn to move on to other material and wait for your instructor to respond.

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Computer Competency

You must be computer competent to take this course. This includes being proficient in being able to navigate computer programs, use the Internet, and send / receive "Word" document / file attachments, and send and receive e-mail.

If you have not mastered these skills, you will need to take a computer class prior to taking this on-line course, or have someone assist you in learning these skills. Unfortunately, this course is not designed to provide instruction in how to complete these tasks. Students will need to have a reliable computer and reliable on-line access to complete this course.
This course also requires the skills of college level reading, college level writing, and test taking skills. Mastery of study skills is also necessary because online students must be able to study independently, follow the on-line assignments, and read the accompanying textbooks. If you have not mastered these skills you may want to consider looking into the variety of 'basic skills" courses offered here at West Valley College before you take an online class.

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What Do I Do First?

To access the course syllabus for the spring term, click here

To access the course syllabus for the spring term (Late Start), click here

 

Required books (all terms):

Myers, David & DeWall, C. Nathan (2015) Psychology (Eleventh Edition). ISBN-10: 1-4641-4081-2. Available in either an ebook OR a traditional textbook version, whichever you prefer. (Please note: Do not purchase the "Modules" version, as it is a completely different text).

Styron, William. Darkness Visible ISBN: 0-679-73639-5 (a small book)

**Students must have the required books by the second day of class. They are available at the WVC bookstore. If you choose to obtain books elsewhere, you must have them by the aforementioned timeframe.

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Beginning the Course

1.This course uses an online course management system called Canvas. It requires that you have a log-in name and password. If you just registered, it may take a few days for the college to set up and process your information on our database before your log-in name is active.

2.On the first day of the semester, go to the Canvas log-in page and get started:

https://wvm.instructure.com/login/canvas

Click here to access the Canvas log-in page (remember you need to use the Firefox browser if you are using a Macintosh or either Firefox or Explorer on a Windows PC)

You will not be able to access the course before the official start date as listed in the schedule of classes.

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Logging into Canvas

You will need a login name and password to access Canvas.

Your login user name consists of all seven digits of your student ID number.
Your student ID number is included with all of the paperwork you receive from the college. (It is not your social security number). So, if your name is Maria Smith, and your college ID number is G01234567, your log-in username would look like this:
G01234567

If you can't find any paperwork with your student ID number on it, or you never received any paperwork in the first place, please contact:

The college Admissions and Records office at 408-741-2001

Your password is your eight digit birthdate.
Single digits must have a 0 in front of them.
So if you were born on May 9, 1997, your password would be 05091997

Note: You will not be able to access the course before the official start date as listed in the schedule of classes.

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Troubleshooting

If you can't log in or need help with Canvas, please contact Max Gault at:
max_gault@wvm.edu or 408.741.2627

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Enrolling in this Course

1. If you are not a continuing West Valley College Student, you must first apply for admission to the college and register for the course. You may access the college admissions web site by clicking the following link:

To apply for admission, click here

2. After you are registered as a West Valley College Student:

• Find the correct section number for this course in the printed schedule of classes or in the online schedule found at the college web site under the "Quick Links" menu on the home page.

• Use the college's WVCPortal system to enroll in the course.

3. If you feel you may need some additional student services, feel free to access the college's Student Services Online Resources web page. Here you will find links to a variety of college resources like counseling services, financial aid, the library, career programs, etc.

4. Click here to access the Online Counseling web page

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College Bookstore

To access the West Valley College bookstore web site in order to purchase your book, click here