PSYCH 85
Introduction to Cognitive Science
Description: Lecture, three hours. Exploration of computer metaphor of mind as an information-processing system, focusing especially on perception, knowledge representation, and thought based on research in cognitive psychology, neuropsychology, and artificial intelligence. Many examples from visual information processing.
Units: 4.0
Units: 4.0
3 of 4
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Most Helpful Review
Summer 2020 - This class is unlike other psychology/life science classes. It questions theoretical probabilities rather than simply lecturing facts and expects the students to form their opinions while remaining open-minded on topics such as consciousness, free will, and judgement. The textbook does not help, although it is available for $25 pdf copy. Pros: Professor McAuliffe respected the time of his students; he always started and ended in the designated time slot. His materials outside of his slides (videos, examples, personal stories) were engaging and interesting. He does a good job of not imposing opinions and encourages discussion. Cons: However, his instructions for a video project (15% of grade) were vague. Although I appreciated the artistic freedom, it would've been nice to have more guidance. Lecture recordings were sometimes uploaded 3 days late. Sometimes, he accelerates and skimps his explanations of important topics for the sake of time, and in my class, explicitly said that he would skip a topic that later showed up in 5 questions on the final exam. Especially for a class that relied on Zoom and slides, I would've liked more prompt email communication between the professor and student.
Summer 2020 - This class is unlike other psychology/life science classes. It questions theoretical probabilities rather than simply lecturing facts and expects the students to form their opinions while remaining open-minded on topics such as consciousness, free will, and judgement. The textbook does not help, although it is available for $25 pdf copy. Pros: Professor McAuliffe respected the time of his students; he always started and ended in the designated time slot. His materials outside of his slides (videos, examples, personal stories) were engaging and interesting. He does a good job of not imposing opinions and encourages discussion. Cons: However, his instructions for a video project (15% of grade) were vague. Although I appreciated the artistic freedom, it would've been nice to have more guidance. Lecture recordings were sometimes uploaded 3 days late. Sometimes, he accelerates and skimps his explanations of important topics for the sake of time, and in my class, explicitly said that he would skip a topic that later showed up in 5 questions on the final exam. Especially for a class that relied on Zoom and slides, I would've liked more prompt email communication between the professor and student.
Most Helpful Review
Winter 2023 - The Professor is nice and his lectures are usually pretty good. He tends to read off the slides a lot. The workload isn't bad at all because the readings are more recommended than required. The tests weren't too difficult either, especially since he made the final a take-home test. As long as you keep up with the material and study before the midterm and final, you should be fine. There are also group quizzes, so it would be helpful to form a group to do the quizzes with early on.
Winter 2023 - The Professor is nice and his lectures are usually pretty good. He tends to read off the slides a lot. The workload isn't bad at all because the readings are more recommended than required. The tests weren't too difficult either, especially since he made the final a take-home test. As long as you keep up with the material and study before the midterm and final, you should be fine. There are also group quizzes, so it would be helpful to form a group to do the quizzes with early on.
Most Helpful Review
Summer 2024 - If youre taking over the summer, she monitors attendance through zoom polls which is annoying because she will only have 2 for the entire 2 hour lecture but you do not know when she will ask them so you just gotta be on your feet the whole time. Class is really easy but I hard sold on the final quiz and dropped my grade to a A-, otherwise should have ended with a comfortable A. Quizzes are open notes and open book, 15 questions, 13 MC and 1-2 Short Answer. You can get an easy A if you put even a little effort but don't completely doze off like I did. D:
Summer 2024 - If youre taking over the summer, she monitors attendance through zoom polls which is annoying because she will only have 2 for the entire 2 hour lecture but you do not know when she will ask them so you just gotta be on your feet the whole time. Class is really easy but I hard sold on the final quiz and dropped my grade to a A-, otherwise should have ended with a comfortable A. Quizzes are open notes and open book, 15 questions, 13 MC and 1-2 Short Answer. You can get an easy A if you put even a little effort but don't completely doze off like I did. D:
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Fall 2023 - Avoid taking this class with this professor if you can. He relies on a bunch of readings, his lectures don't really do much to help you digest the readings. Attendance is graded and midterm and final are most of your grade which is based on the readings. His lectures are boring and its easy to fall asleep to them sometimes. I had to drop the class after the midterm. I thought it was me who couldn't understand or learn the topics. A year later I took it again with a different professor and all I have to say that it was not me it was definitely the Professor. The class is hard and has lots of different topics to learn and digest. But this professor does not make that any easier, he was off on conferences some days and the TA had to substitute. My advice if your not a reader take it with anyone but him.
Fall 2023 - Avoid taking this class with this professor if you can. He relies on a bunch of readings, his lectures don't really do much to help you digest the readings. Attendance is graded and midterm and final are most of your grade which is based on the readings. His lectures are boring and its easy to fall asleep to them sometimes. I had to drop the class after the midterm. I thought it was me who couldn't understand or learn the topics. A year later I took it again with a different professor and all I have to say that it was not me it was definitely the Professor. The class is hard and has lots of different topics to learn and digest. But this professor does not make that any easier, he was off on conferences some days and the TA had to substitute. My advice if your not a reader take it with anyone but him.
Most Helpful Review
Fall 2024 - Good professor and easy material, I would just take it with any other professor because you have to score well above the median for a 93%. Her grading distribution is annoying with with zero curve. With 3% extra credit you technically only have to get a 90% for the full 4.0 in the class, which boggles down to a 162/180 points in the class needed. If you are going to a full A, take a professor with a better grading distribution, but doing well in this class is not too difficult.
Fall 2024 - Good professor and easy material, I would just take it with any other professor because you have to score well above the median for a 93%. Her grading distribution is annoying with with zero curve. With 3% extra credit you technically only have to get a 90% for the full 4.0 in the class, which boggles down to a 162/180 points in the class needed. If you are going to a full A, take a professor with a better grading distribution, but doing well in this class is not too difficult.
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