Flying Start - Chapter Two A level Psychology

Welcome to Chapter Two of Flying Start. This pre-enrolment learning content is designed to help you make the best possible start to learning with Exeter College from September. With Chapter Two's learning content, our subject leaders have set more brainteasers and activities designed to get you thinking about your subject(s) at the next level.

Key message Please watch the following video which introduces your flying start 2. It outlines the Psychology departments expectations of you this year. https://prezi.com/v/chldjweha1dw/ By now you should have completed (or be near to completing) your flying start 1. Please remember that both flying start tasks, link directly to work you will cover as part of your AS course and your teacher will expect to see evidence of these completed tasks at the start of the term. Each flying start should take you approximately 4/ 5 hours. This mirrors the amount of time you should be spending each week on independent reading/ work outside of your Psychology lessons. Flying start 2 comprises of 3 tasks about Psychological Approaches, Memory and How you learn best.

Your tasks Task 1- Psychological Approaches

The Key Psychological Approaches

Use these links below and your on-line textbook to research the different approaches. Once you have researched them, complete the grid to summarise the different approaches

• (617) Cognitive Approach Introduction - AQA A Level Psychology - YouTube

• (617) Introduction to Psychodynamic Approach - AQA A Level Psychology - YouTube

• (617) Introduction to Humanistic Approach - AQA A Level Psychology - YouTube

• (617) Behaviourist Approach to Phobias Introduction - AQA A Level Psychology -

YouTube

• http://sites.gsu.edu/bmartin48/2017/03/28/biological-approach/

Feature Biological Cognitive Biological Humanistic Psychodynamic

Main focus/assumptions Key psychologists

What does it ignore?

Who does it test on?

Preferred method of testing

Task 2 - Memory

The Topic of Memory

Over the AS course we will study the topic of Memory. The following tasks are an introduction to the Memory topic however they will also provide you with some research evidence regarding revision techniques. This will be a useful guide in how to approach your A level studies. TASK: Watch this clip of Greg James testing his memory: https://bbc.in/3yDnYqu Greg is confident in his answer to the question.

• What problem does this highlight regarding our memory?

Psychologists suggest that the human brain works like an organic computer (Cognitive Approach). The Multi-store model of memory (below) provides a description about how this works. TASK: Watch the video, draw and add the features of each store to the image below, pay special attention to duration, capacity and coding: https://youtu.be/egzvLaP3498

Is it scientific?

Known for?

Conscious or non-conscious processes studied?

The section on study skills will build on this information and enable you to apply this to your studying technique. Memory Case Study: HM In the psychology of memory, case studies are used to provide evidence of the models in practice. The HM case study supports the idea that memory is not store in only one part of the brain and the idea that the memory is made up of different stores. TASK: Watch the video and answer the questions below: Sam Kean: What happens when you remove the hippocampus? | TED Talk

1. Who was HM? 2. Which part of his brain was removed? 3. What impact did this have on his memory? 4. This supports the idea that there are different stores for our Short-Term and

Long-Term memories. Explain how (use the video to help you)

Extension: It also supports the idea that there are different types of Long-Term Memory. Do some research to find out what the 3 different types of Long-Term Memory are.

Task 3- How you learn best

This video is a very short summary of a book called ‘Make it stick: The Science of learning’. This book/ video incorporates ideas about Cognitive Psychology and Memory to help us understand how we learn and revise most effectively. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MfylloWuuZU Watch the video and then answer the following questions as you do think about how you could incorporate these examples into your own learning this year:

1. What is the most common method of revision amongst college students?

2. Why is this method not effective in supporting revision?

3. What have Psychological studies shown about the impact of self quizzing?

4. What % of information do we forget shortly after hearing it?

5. What is interleaving?

6. How could you use Interleaving to support your Psychology studies this year?

7. What is spacing?

8. How could you use spacing to help support your studies in Psychology this year?

9. Use your knowledge of memory (from task 2) to EXPLAIN why Self-quizzing,

Interleaving and Spacing are useful techniques to support your learning and revision this year. For each method think about how our memory works and try and link the knowledge you have learnt from the video to the memory models you have researched in task 2. If you want to create a poster or powerpoint or more creative task for this last question then please do, but be prepared in your first lesson back to share your ideas.

Self-quizzing Interleaving Spacing

Your success this year is not just down to how you learn/ revise but also your mind set. Vespa- the mindset of successful students

Activity 1 Colour in each section (ie attitude, vision etc) on a scale of 1 to 5. The inner circle is 1, the outer circle is 5. See below for the scales. Remember this is a scale. You do not have to be the extremes (ie 1 or 5) you may read the sentences and think you are somewhere in the middle, if so colour in circle 2 or 3 depending on your learning

Vision 1-I don’t like setting goals or targets. I tend not to stick to the goals I set 5- I always set goals for myself. I always finish everything I start Effort 1- I don’t like working hard. I get easily distracted 5- I’m extremely hardworking. I’m very focused when I work Systems 1- My files, papers and notes are very disorganised. I have no system for recording my tasks 5- I am very organised in all my work. I use a diary/planner/app to record all my tasks Practice 1- I do very little revision. I tend to focus on gathering and memorising information 5- I use a wide rage of techniques when revising. I set myself tricky problems and learn by trying to do them Attitude 1- I get easily upset when things aren’t going well. I don’t have a lot of confidence in my ability 5- I stay calm in high stakes situations like exams. I have high levels of self-belief Now: Having looked at your VESPA circles is there anything you may need to change about your mindset before you start this A level course?

Activity 2: Use the list of motivations below to create a Dimond 9 (use the template provided). From the list below:

• What are your top motivations? Put these in the top 3 diamonds. • What are your least 3 motivations? Put these in the bottom 3 diamonds • Are there 3 more motivations which could fill your middle diamonds?

Motivations:

• Acceptance – the need for approval, support and good feeling from those around you

• Competition – the need to pit yourself against others; to compete and win • Curiosity – the need to learn, explore, research and discover new things • Creativity – the need to design, write, draw and build; to create art or

entertainment • Family – the need to raise or help children, nurture others or work in small, loyal

units • Honour – the need to be loyal to the key values of a group or society • Idealism – the need for fairness, equality and social justice • Independence – the need for individuality; to run and organise things your way • Order – the need for an organised, stable and predictable environment • Physical Activity – the need for movement, exercise and physical challenge • Power – the need for influence, to determine the direction of others and take

responsibility for them • Saving – the need to collect things, to own things and to categorise/order them • Social Contact – the need for friends and to have extensive peer relationships • Social Status – the need to appear of high social standing or as a person on

importance • Tranquillity – the need to be calm, relaxed and safe

Questions to think about: What are your top three motivations? Do they link in any way? If so, how?

Do they link to your course? How?

For those who want a bit more for over the summer…

Link to the spec for this qualification

AQA | AS and A-level | Psychology | Specification at a glance AQA | AS and A-level | Psychology | Subject content – AS AQA | AS and A-level | Psychology | Subject content – A-level

FAQs Q: Will this work be marked and when is it due? A: This work won’t be formally marked but will be discussed during your first classes with us in September. You should bring along what you have completed with Flying Start along with you to your first timetabled sessions with us in September. Q: I am not sure if I have got the answers right, what should I do? A: Don’t worry, just have a go at getting something down and bring it along to the lesson where we can talk it through. There is no need to get anxious about the tasks, we are not expecting you to know everything before you arrive but are interested in your ideas and what you have found easy or difficult as it helps us support you right from the beginning Q: The video link doesn’t work, it says I need an account A: If the link asks you to create an account or login to Prezi you can create an account for free following the on- screen instructions or simply login to your existing Prezi account with your login details. Q: Do I have to do it? A: Flying Start isn’t compulsory, but many students find it useful for getting them used to thinking about subjects at the next level. Early classroom sessions will also reflect on some of the Flying Start activities. As part of this course you will have access to an online text book: https://illuminate.digital/aqapsych2edy1/ Username:SEXETER7 Password: GREEN7