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 completing online quizzes (see section on "Assessment Tasks"), and in accessing the unit's web-page, which can be found at:

https://ilearn.mq.edu.au

Required Text

Snowden, R., Thompson, P., & Troscianko, T. Basic vision: 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, 2^nd Edition. East Sussex: Psychology Press, 2008.

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.

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.

Access to Assigned Reading Material

Both the required and the recommended texts are available for purchase at the University Bookshop, in addition to the copies available at the library, in the main collection and on e-reserve. Where availability is limited, students should consider using the first edition of the Mather book (entitled “Foundations of Perception”), of which the library has additional copies. Although the 2^nd edition features revisions in some areas, the 1^st edition is just as good for most topics. Efforts have been made to put relevant chapters of Mather on e-reserve where possible (subject to copyright restrictions, etc. – see table below for dates of availability). Chapter 1 will be available at the start of the unit, and the schedule of availability on e-reserve for the rest of the semester is given below.

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://www.psypress.co.uk/mather/sample.asp to download the “Sample Chapter”.

e-reserve Schedule

PSY247 Unit Overview

The Unit Convenor role will be filled by A/Prof Kevin Brooks for the majority of the course, excluding approximately weeks 6-9. During this period, Dr Eugene Chekaluk will serve a course convenor.

Early lectures by Kevin Brooks and Anna Fiveash 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, Eugene Chekaluk, Kim Curby 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. In practical classes, students will learn how to use computers/tablets and will practice oral communication. 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.

It is University policy that the University-issued email account will be used for official University communication. All students are required to access their University account frequently.

The course will comprise lectures and practicals supported by assigned reading. Although some of the material from these separate components may be related to each other, different concepts and topics will be contained in each. Students enrolled in the External Composite attendance mode (Xc1) can access the echo360 recording of the lecture, but must attend the compulsory practical classes.

The timetable for classes can be found on the University web site at: http://www.timetables.mq.edu.au/

Lectures

Weekly lectures will be held on Tuesdays from 4-6pm in X5B T1.  

Practicals

The practical program will run from university session weeks 3-6 and 9-12 inclusive, with most sessions held in room C5A 316  (except groups 2 & 14, Tues 2pm, in C5A 517). They will be conducted by experienced tutors who will be your first contact if you have problems with this unit. Their initials can be found in the schedules below, and their full contact details can be found in the "Teaching Staff" section. You will be required to attend four 2-hour practicals throughout the semester. Students will be divided into groups. The schedule and topics to be covered are displayed below. The content of the practical classes is identical for all classes. You should be aware that as practicals will include assessed activities, your attendance is essential.  

Practical Topics:

Practical Class Times:

* Full names and contact details for tutors can be found in the "Staff Contacts" Section

** Tutorials "On Hold" at the time of writing.

Due to restrictions on the availability of resources in the laboratory and to health and safety regulations it is highly recommended that you attend the practical to which you have been assigned. Although students may be permitted to attend a tutorial that they were not assigned to if there happens to be ample room in the class, most classes are likely to be full. In cases of overcrowding, those not attending their assigned group will be asked to leave. Under these circumstances, no special provisions will be made for attendance at an alternative practical class.

Managing Classes: Changes to all units can be made online via eStudent. IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT TUTORS AND LECTURERS ARE UNABLE TO HELP WITH THIS. After the designated last day to add units, no further changes will be allowed unless supporting documentation about the reason for changing is provided and there is space in the tutorial you wish to change into.

Visual Development lecture (accompanied by a weekly quiz) returns, taught by Eugene Chekaluk.

Regine Zopf teaches Multisensory Processing lecture.

This unit is taught through lectures and practicals with support from web-based resources such as iLearn, including the online discussion board. While lectures are useful principally for introducing new concepts and knowledge, practicals allow more direct interactions between instructor and students. They are your opportunity to enhance your understanding further by participating in activities and asking questions. The iLearn discussion board also allows 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.

iLearn

Students should check the iLearn web site at regular intervals for announcements, voluntary online quizzes, lecture notes, terminology lists, examples of illusions and perceptual phenomena in picture, video and sound files and other supplementary learning materials. It will also feature a discussion board on which students may converse about course material, or any other legitimate business related to PSY247. Links to echo360, which will be available in audio and video format, will be included. It is recommended that students visit this site regularly and make full use of the facilities.

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 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 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 PSY247?

Students are expected to pay close attention to all lectures and to take notes to aid their retention of the material covered. Although echo360 will be invaluable when attendance is physically impossible, it is recommended that students attend lectures, as there are some aspects of the course that cannot be replicated through such media. Reading 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. Attendance of, and active participation in practicals is also mandatory. Worksheets distributed during practicals are assessed and need to be completed and handed in during the same practical. Online quizzes offer the chance to answer questions while using resources such as textbooks and lecture notes. This open book format is unlike formal examinations, 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 PSY247.

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 Academic Courtesy

It is the right of each student to learn in an environment that is free of disruption and distraction. Please make an effort to arrive to class on time, and if you are unavoidably detained, please enter the lecture theatre as quietly as possible to minimise disruption, using the back entrance if possible. Although some lecturers may allow questions during lectures, talking between students is often disruptive and is strongly discouraged. Phones, pagers, and other electronic devices that produce noise and other distractions must be turned off prior to entering class, and remain off for the duration of lectures and practicals.

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 GLBTIQ community.