Technology Used and Required

For this unit you will need to have access to a computer that can reliably connect to the Internet. This will be essential for accessing lecture and practical material, and completing assessment tasks. The unit's web-page can be found at: https://ilearn.mq.edu.au

Required Text

Snowden, R., Thompson, P., & Troscianko, T. Basic Vsion: an introduction to visual perception 2^nd Edition. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2012.

This is a very accessible text that is always popular with students. It introduces technical concepts in an easy-to-grasp fashion, and is an excellent introduction to the discipline of visual perception. It will be an indispensible resource for students on this course.

Recommended Text

Mather, G. Foundations of Sensation & Perception, 3^rd Edition. Taylor & Francis Group, 2016.

This text offers broader coverage of perception in general, and will be especially useful for topics outside of vision, which Snowden et al. does not cover. It also offers more technical detail than Snowden et al. in certain areas, allowing the conscientious student to deepen their understanding of the topics that are covered in the required text.

Access to Assigned Reading Material

Both the required and the recommended texts are available for purchase at the University Bookshop, in addition to the hard copies available at the library, in the main collection and those available for download as eBooks. Where availability is limited, students should consider using previous editions of each book which are are just as good for most topics.

Basic Vision, 2nd Edition (2014)

Basic Vision, "Revised" Edition (2012)

[Note: As far as I can see, these are identical, and either could be referred to as the 2nd Edition.]

Basic Vision, First Edition, (2006), available in print only

Foundations of Sensation & Perception, 3rd Edition

Foundations of Sensation & Perception, 2nd Edition

You should also note that at the time of writing, Mather’s Ch 6 (covering material from lectures in week 5) is available online as a free sample. It is recommended that all students download this. Go to http://psypress.co.uk/mather/sample.asp to download the “Sample Chapter”.

Lecture Topics and Assigned Reading:

Additional Reading

Additional material may be assigned from other textbooks and key papers where appropriate. Specific details will be given at the beginning of each lecture.

PSYX247 Unit Overview

The Unit Convenor role will be filled by A/Prof Kevin Brooks. Early lectures by Kevin Brooks and Kirk Olsen will concentrate on the low-level mechanisms of perception through a variety of senses, with special attention given to the details of auditory and visual perception. In later lectures, Kevin Brooks, Ann Carrigan and Regine Zopf will cover some higher-level issues, such as the perception of faces and objects, the issue of multisensory integration and the development of perceptual abilities.

Practicals will supplement and build upon the lecture material, allowing a hands-on approach to perceptual phenomena and their explanation. Another aim of the unit is to teach general skills. Aptitude for written communication and problem-solving skills will be refined in practicals, and demonstrated in examinations through multiple-choice questions. Web/IT skills will be used in practicals, as well as in accessing the parts of the course housed on the unit’s iLearn web page, including online assessments.

Macquarie University's OUA student guide can be found here: https://www.mq.edu.au/study/other-study-options/open-universities-australia/OUA-2019-Student-Guide-04122018.pdf This has all the MQ OUA-specific policies (info about studying online, extensions, exams, etc).

Students are also advised to visit this page https://www.mq.edu.au/study/other-study-options/open-universities-australia for more general information about studying at Macquarie via OUA.

The majority of unit is taught through lectures and practical exercises, with support from tools like the online discussion board. While lectures are useful principally for introducing new concepts and knowledge, practical exercises allow more direct interactions between your OUA tutor and other students. They are your opportunity to enhance your understanding further by participating in activities. Additionally, he iLearn discussion forums also allow students to discuss topics in greater depth, and may also feature contributions by staff members when there appears to be confusion amongst the student body. The lecture schedule set out above is a guide only, and is intended to be flexible. On occasion, more time will be spent on certain topics if additional explanation is required. As such, material from one lecture may overlap into the next, where necessary.

Feedback

In this course you will have several opportunities to get feedback, and to assess your progress through formative assessment activities. One of these will be through online lecture quizzes offered on the course’s iLearn webpage. These are part of the assessments for this course, and while they are in progress feedback will not be available. However, when each lecture quiz closes, extensive details of why each given answer was correct or incorrect are given, and the student is directed towards the appropriate textbook pages to cement his/her understanding.

What does it take to do well in PSYX247?

Students are expected to pay close attention to all lectures and to take notes to aid their retention of the material covered. Active participation in practical exercises is essential for understanding and experiencing the content of the course. Readings assigned during each lecture should be completed close to the date of the relevant lecture. Review of the material (individually, or in group sessions) in the student’s own time will be essential to consolidate knowledge and enhance understanding. Online lecture quizzes offer the chance to answer questions while using resources such as textbooks and lecture notes. This open book format is unlike formal examination, and offers an opportunity for grade enhancement that should not be missed. In addition, other learning resources will be made available, such as lists of key terminology. It should be noted that according to Senate guidelines, workloads should involve 3 hours per credit point per week. This results in 9 hours per week (including lectures and practicals) for a 3 credit point unit such as PSYX247.

Note: Assessment will be based on the successful understanding of material from lectures, practicals and from the assigned reading. Please note that rote learning alone will not be a successful strategy, as the assessments will test for deeper appreciation of the course material in a variety of formats. Simply remembering the “facts” will not suffice. Students need to demonstrate their understanding of the principles, and demonstrate the ability to apply such understanding in new contexts.

What material is examinable?

Obviously, the exact details of the questions to be asked in the examinations will not be released in advance. However, questions will come from topics covered during lectures and practicals. Where additional information on these topics is supplied in the assigned reading, this should also be considered examinable. The examinations will not feature questions on topics not covered during lectures even if they are included in the assigned reading.

Statement on Social Inclusion and Diversity

Social inclusion at Macquarie University is about giving everyone who has the potential to benefit from higher education the opportunity to study at university, participate in campus life and flourish in their chosen field. The University has made significant moves to promote an equitable, diverse and exciting campus community for the benefit of staff and students. It is your responsibility to contribute towards the development of an inclusive culture and practice in the areas of learning and teaching, research, and service orientation and delivery. As a member of the Macquarie University community, you must not discriminate against or harass others on the basis of their sex, gender, race, marital status, carers' responsibilities, disability, sexual preference, age, political conviction or religious belief. All lecturers, tutors and students are expected to display appropriate behaviour that is conducive to a healthy learning environment for everyone. The Unit Convenor is a member of the Ally Network and is happy to provide support to members of the LGBTIQ community.