Introduction to Cognitive
Science
Fall 2002
|
Instructors (Listed in order
of appearance):
James
M. Lampinen
Office: 305 Memorial Hall
Phone: 5-5805
email:olampinen @ uark.edu
|
Jeffrey
S. Stripling
Office: 307 Memorial Hall
Phone: 5-5812
email:rjstripli @ uark.edu
|
Douglas
A. Behrend
Office: 310 Memorial Hall
Phone: 5-5814
email:mdbehrend @ uark.edu
|
Gordon Beavers
Office: 318 Engineering
phone: (501) 575-6040
email:agordonb @ uark.edu
|
Jack
Lyons
Office: Main 314
Phone: 5-5825
email: vjclyons @ uark.edu |
Teaching Assistant
Tim
Odegard
Office: 316 Memorial Hall
Phone: 5-5819
email:qtodegar @ uark.edu |
|
Summary
Cognitive Science recognizes that there
is not just one approach to understanding mental life. In fact, Cognitive
Scientists believe that a full understanding of mental life requires combining
the resources of a variety of different disciplines including psychology,
philosophy, linguistics, artificial intelligence and neuroscience.
Cognitive Science is the new science of the mind, an emerging discipline
with broad implications for anyone interested in the nature of mental life.
To fully understand an interdisciplinary approach like that of Cognitive
Science you will need to understand two things. First you will need
to have a general grasp of the methods, techniques and ideas of each of
the disciplines that makes up Cognitive Science. Then you will need
to understand how the various disciplines that make up the Cognitive Sciences
interact and inform one another. This course is part of a two semester
sequence of courses. Our goal in this course is to help you understand
each of of the sister disciplines that make up the Cognitive Sciences.
The second course will apply these ideas to help students understand how
the interdisciplinary approach of Cognitive Science is used to understand
ideas like consciousness, emotion, the self and other fascinating topics.
Materials and Readings
-
Weekly articles to be assigned
Format of the course: Because
the Cognitive Sciences are interdisciplinary in nature this course will
be team taught by professors from three different departments on campus
(Psychology, Computer Science and Philosophy). The course will be
taught in 5 sections corresponding to some of the major areas of study
that make up the Cognitive Sciences. Each section will be taught
in a lecture/discussion format. There will be regular readings, as
well as occasional assignments and projects as the need arises. We
expect you all to be active information processors, so questions, comments
and ideas are not only welcome, they are expected.
Class Webpage: A class
webpage is available at http://www.uark.edu/misc/lampinen/cogscience.htm.
Assignments and updated calendars will be available on the class website.
We will always tell you in class when such things are posted.
Who to contact about things:
Because this course is team taught you might wonder which of the above
listed people you need to contact for various reasons. Think of this
course as involving five units. If you have any questions about the
particular unit being taught, including reading assignments, response papers,
outside projects, or exams, contact the professor teaching that unit.
If you have general questions about the course as a whole contact Professor
Lampinen.
Requirements
Outside Readings: Each
of the five instructors will assign outside readings that relate to the
material they are discussing in class. These outside readings will
be available either online or through the reserve desk at Mullins library.
Material from the outside readings may appear on tests on may be necessary
for writing the papers described below.
Papers: At the end of every
section of the course, you will be assigned a short writing assignment.
All assignments must be typed (no hand-written work will be accepted) and
typically require about 5 pages of double-spaced type. Any paper
over five pages will not be graded. Your responses will be graded
based on how creative, well reasoned and thoughtful they are, not on producing
the right answer. We want to know your opinion. But
you need to be able to back up your opinions and justify them.
Midterm Exams: There
will be two midterm exams made up of multiple choice and short answer questions.
These exams will cover information from the first four topics we talk about
in class (Midterm 1: Cognitive Psychology and Neuroscience; Midterm 2:
Linguistics and Artificial Intelligence). The exams will cover information
from the readings and from lectures although they will emphasize information
from the lectures.
Final Exam: The final
exam will be in the same format as the midterm exams. The final will
test material from the final section of the class (philosophy) as well
as information from the other four units (psychology, neuroscience, linguistics
and AI).
Class Policies
Make Up Exams: No make
up exams will be given without a written excuse (e.g. a written medical
excuse) or prior approval. All approved make up exams will be taken
during the final week of class.
Inclement Weather Policy:
In the case of severe weather assume that if the University is open class
will be held. However, you should use your own best judgement in
determining whether it is safe for you to get to class. If you can't
safely get to class on an exam day due to severe weather please call the
Psychology Department (5-4256) and leave a message for Dr. Lampinen or
email Dr. Lampinen at xl
ampinen@uark.edu
Academic Integrity:
University policies regarding academic honesty will be strictly enforced
in this class. It is your responsibility to familiarize
yourself with these policies and to follow them (you can view these policies
at http://www.uark.edu/campus-resources/rlee/honesty.html).
Pay particular attention to the policy on plagiarism as plagiarism is not
limited to word for word copying of another's work. You are
expected to complete all assignments for this class independently unless
the assignment specifically states otherwise.