Course Syllabus

PSB4250 | Fall 2023 Animal Cognition

  

Hands-on Course

A hands-on course requires engagement that may differ from your prior experience. You will work through interactive lectures, earn certificates, engage with peers through discussion boards, and hone your skills on activities that vary in length from a 1-sentence tweet to a 2-minute video. A distinguishing feature of the course is the chance for you to conduct your own research in animal cognition using an animal of your choice. There are no exams. It's important to see how this workload fits into your life before the key dates below. Try out assignments in the first week!

Key Dates:

  • Aug 28: Add/Drop
  • Oct 30: Last Day to Drop with DR grade

Professor Information

Dr. Eliza Nelson
Associate Professor of Psychology
elnelson@fiu.edu
She/Her/Hers (Why I share)

Guaranteed Reply: 24 hours

Coffee Hours

Drop in for virtual coffee hours with Dr. Nelson on Tuesdays from 2:00 - 4:00 pm using the link go.fiu.edu/coffeehours. You don't need to have a question about class to join. You can ask about how to apply for a job, how to get into graduate school, meet her dog Berrin (she/her/hers), or just chat. Dr. Nelson also parents three children. All family members are welcome on zoom. If the coffee hours time doesn't work, you can request a one-on-one virtual meeting with Dr. Nelson.

Course Prerequisites

There are no prerequisites for this course.

Course Description

Issues and concepts relating to the evaluation of cognitive abilities in animals. Examines theoretical, methodological and philosophical issues and problems in the study of animal cognition. Translation: this course is about answering three questions:

  1. What do animal cognition scientists do?
  2. What do we know about animal minds?
  3. Is human cognition unique from other animals?

Course Objectives

After completing this course, you will be able to:

  1. Describe key paradigms and summarize major findings in animal cognition.
  2. Conduct independent research and interpret data in animal cognition.
  3. Write effectively for different audiences in animal cognition.
  4. Connect topics in animal cognition to real life. 

Course Awards

This certification mark recognizes that this course has been awarded the Affordability Counts Medallion.

This certification mark recognizes that this course meets Panther High Quality review standards.

Readings in this Course

Required readings in this course are from the textbook Animal Cognition 101 (Authors: Colbert-White & Kaufman, Publication Date: 2019, ISBN: 9780826162342). Purchase or rent the e-book from your favorite bookseller so that you can get started on assignments right away. 

Key features of the textbook

  • Provides a scientific yet accessible introduction to animal cognition studies
  • Examines the development of the field, its theories and methods, and the latest findings and controversies
  • Addresses animal consciousness, communication, social cognition, and cognitive flexibility
  • Highlights individual animals that have made significant contributions to the field
  • Connects topics in animal cognition to human behavior and cognition
  • Provides ideas for readers to conduct their own investigations into animal cognition

Why Dr. Nelson selected this textbook

  • Animal cognition, like other sciences, has traditionally been dominated by white men. The authors of this textbook are women, one of whom is also a person of color. Diversity and inclusion are valued and expected in this course. 

**Note: Most modules also have free recommended readings posted to Canvas as PDFs. 

Onboarding Requirement

There is an onboarding module in this course that must be completed to unlock the course content. Completion includes viewing pages, contributing to the Icebreaker, and submitting two training assignments that are required by all FIU personnel working with animals in research. Trainings are completed on an external website at no charge with your FIU affiliation. 

Lectures in this Course

Lectures in this course are presented via the interactive video platform PlayPosit. Each lecture is made up of multiple video segments and has various required interactions like polls, multiple choice, and open-ended questions. All interactions must be completed in order to earn points. This type of assignment can be stopped, rewound, and restarted over multiple sessions. However, the fast-forward function is disabled. Grades on this type of assignment are provided automatically by PlayPosit when you reach the end of the exercise, and grades sync back to Canvas automatically. 

**Note:  It is recommended that you have done the reading from the textbook before starting the lecture. However, you will be able to retake most questions as you go through the assignment.

Other Assignments in this Course

In addition to the interactive lecture, each content module has three assignments that map onto the organization of the textbook: (1) an animal spotlight discussion; (2) a human application journal; and (3) a research exercise. Detailed instructions and rubrics are provided with each of these assignments on Canvas. Each week assignments are due on one week day and one weekend day. However, you can work ahead (or catch up) on assignments until the module closes. The module closing date is always a Sunday. The animal spotlight discussions, human application journals, and research exercises are graded by the Graduate Teaching Assistant within 2 business days of the recommended due date or the module closing date (whichever is applicable). 

**Note: It is better to earn partial credit on assignments than to take a "0".

Final in this Course

For the final in this course, you will make a video no longer than 2 minutes that answers one of three course questions: (1) What do animal cognition scientists do; (2) What do we know about animal minds; or (3) Is human cognition unique from other animals. This assignment evaluates your ability to synthesize key course concepts and demonstrate what you learned in a fun way. Detailed instructions with a rubric are provided on Canvas. Grades are posted within 4 business days of the assignment due date. 

**Note: Your video will be submitted via Canvas. You are not required to post your video publicly on an external social media platform.

Understanding Your Grade in this Course

Grades are earned, not negotiated, in this course. Assignments are weighted according to the following percentages. Please read rubrics carefully before starting assignments. 

  1. Research Ethics Trainings (2 total; 5% of grade)
  2. Animal Spotlight Discussions (7 total; 15% of grade)
  3. Human Application Journals (7 total; 15% of grade)
  4. Interactive Lectures (7 total; 25% of grade)
  5. Research Exercises (7 total; 25% of grade)
  6. Final Video Essay (1 total; 15% of grade)

**Note: There is one extra credit assignment and several chances to earn bonus points throughout the course. There is no other way to improve your grade. 

Grading Scheme in this Course

The following grading standards will be used in this class:

Grading Scheme
Grade Range
A 100 % to 96.0%
A- < 96.0 % to 90.0%
B+ < 90.0 % to 87.0%
B < 87.0 % to 83.0%
B- < 83.0 % to 80.0%
C+ < 80.0 % to 77.0%
C < 77.0 % to 70.0%
D < 70.0 % to 60.0%
F < 60.0 % to 0.0%

Policies in this Course

Preferred Name Policy

Names and identity are important and valued in this course. Dr. Nelson earned her Ph.D. before she got married, and continues to use Nelson as her professional name. However, the Canvas app sometimes uses your legal name and you may see her replying as Eliza Eccles. If you have a preferred name that is not recognized by FIU, please let Dr. Nelson know. We want you to feel welcome in this space. 

AI Policy

You are allowed to use generative AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Dall-e, etc.) in this course but when you do, you must acknowledge it. I ask that you leave a grading comment on any assignment where AI was used stating what you used AI for and what prompts you used. You are responsible for all content that you submit in the course. If you do not understand a topic, do not use AI as you may not be able to recognize when the tool has made mistakes or left out important information. Not all assignments may benefit from AI tools. I encourage you to use your best judgement on when to use emerging AI technology. 

Email Policy

Email is the fastest way to reach Dr. Nelson. It is helpful to put the reason for your email message in the subject line instead of leaving the subject line blank. You should also include your full name, the course name, and your Panther ID in the body of the message. Dr. Nelson likes an empty email inbox and will respond within 1 business day. If you have an ongoing hardship, contact Dr. Nelson when you are able to.  If you'd like to meet one-on-one outside of virtual coffee hours, just ask!

Late Policy

All assignments have a suggested due date on Canvas to help you pace the workload. However, you can turn in any assignment without penalty until the availability date indicated on Canvas. Once the availability date has passed, no late work can be submitted without permission. Students must ask Dr. Nelson to make up closed assignments. All reasonable requests will be honored. No documentation is needed. 

**Note: Canvas applies a "0" automatically if you miss the syllabus suggested deadline. It will be replaced with your earned score once your assignment has been graded. 

Grade Posting Policy

Only your first submission will be graded. Take care what you post/submit. It is your responsibility to ensure your assignment is complete and submitted in the correct place. Assignments are graded after the Canvas closing date. Grades for animal spotlight discussions, human application journals, and research exercises post within 2 business days of the recommended due date or the module closing date (whichever is applicable). Grades for the final video essay post within 4 business of the due date. Submitting before the deadline does not mean your work will be graded faster. 

**Note: Grades posted to Canvas may only be adjusted through the re-grade petition process. 

Re-Grade Policy

All of the assignments in this course are graded with a rubric that is available to students before starting the work. If you do not understand your grade, first check the rubric and any comments left for you. If you believe your work meets criteria for a higher score, you can petition Dr. Nelson for a re-grade. However, your grade could go up or down after an assignment is re-graded. The re-grade policy does not apply to the final video essay.

**Note: All re-grading petitions must be received while the course is active. No grade adjustments will be made after 11:59 pm on Dec 2, 2023. 

Extra Credit Policy

You can improve your grade by 5% by submitting the extra credit opportunities (three course check-in surveys and one case study research exercise). These opportunities are available on a time-limited basis. No extensions are granted if you miss a deadline on an optional assignment. There is no other way to improve your grade.

Announcements Policy

You are responsible for logging into the course regularly, reliably checking your FIU email, and reading all course announcements. Each week Dr. Nelson posts a to-do list of required and recommended activities through the course announcement tool. Dr. Nelson will also occasionally post job openings and other opportunities that may be relevant to students in the course. 

Incomplete Policy

Students who have completed at least half of the assignments but cannot finish the course may petition Dr. Nelson in writing for an Incomplete. Students must be in good standing (i.e., passing the course) at the time the request is made. Requests are handled on a case-by-case basis and are not guaranteed. An Incomplete may not be appropriate in all cases, and Dr. Nelson will work with you individually to decide the best course of action. 

Important Information

Before starting this course, please review the following pages:

I would like to acknowledge that we are all individuals with multiple sociocultural identities that intersect and shape our worldview through the lens of privilege and oppression. My commitment to you as your instructor is to minimize systemic forces of oppression within the classroom such as ableism, classism, racism, sexism, transphobia, and heterosexism in efforts to create a safe learning environment for all of us. I ask that you also join me in this commitment to foster respect for one another, enhance solidarity, and build community. 

We acknowledge that our university is located on the ancestral homelands of sovereign Native nations, including the Tequesta, the Calusa, and today, the Seminole Tribe of Florida, and the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida. We pay our respects to the traditional custodians, the Elders past and present, by fully recognizing Indigenous sovereignty as well as the historical and contemporary relationship between Indigenous peoples and their traditional homelands. It is within our responsibility as an academic institution to uphold knowledge about the history of our institution with the original stewards of this land that we live, learn, and work on. We encourage our University community to read and learn about ways to support our local Indigenous communities in their efforts to preserve Seminole and Miccosukee land and water rights, cultural practices, and the conservation of the environment.

Consistent with our University's commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, FIU is working towards creating an academic environment that is inclusive of Indigenous students, faculty, and staff who have often been rendered invisible due to structural discriminatory practices. At FIU, we hold ourselves accountable to serving local, regional and worldwide Indigenous communities through academic policy-oriented research, education, partnerships, community service, as well as enrollment initiatives to overcome the effects of Indigenous exclusion and erasure in our own academic institution. It is our hope that acknowledging the land helps us to better understand that harm has been done and address the legacies of violence in our communities in order to create a pathway to true healing.

This statement is provided as part of FIU’s Global Indigenous Forum, for more information visit the Global Indigenous Forum website at indigenous.fiu.edu. 

Statement on Civility

FIU prides itself as a community of diverse backgrounds: ethnic, racial, religious, cultural, social, political, economic, gender, sexual orientation, age, and ability. The University encourages, supports and appreciates these differences, and discourages all forms of prejudice, bias, bigotry, discrimination, and intimidation in the process of learning.

Civility is an essential component of the core values of FIU and that includes classroom behavior, whether in-person or online. FIU believes in fostering a supportive, safe, and caring environment conducive to learning. When both faculty and students model civility in the classroom, it contributes to the growth of individuals and their role as concerned and enlightened citizens. All opinions and experiences, despite how different or controversial they may be perceived, must be respected in the tolerant spirit of academic discourse. Students are encouraged to comment, question, or critique an idea, but never to attack an individual.

Please consider that sarcasm and humor can be misconstrued in online interactions as well as in-person ones, and generate unintended disruptions. Working as a community of learners, we can build a polite and respectful course ambience. Students are discouraged from checking text messages, social media, playing games on a computer/phone, or carrying on conversations while the instructor is lecturing or a classmate is presenting.

This statement is provided as part of FIU’s Civility Initiative, for more information visit the Student Conduct & Conflict Resolution website at conduct.fiu.edu.

Statement on Inclusivity

This course will serve to embrace the diversity and inclusivity found within Florida International University. We appreciate and respect diversity, equality, equity, cooperativeness, community, and sustainability within our online courses. We are committed to the ongoing education of our students and their participation within the course regardless of gender, ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, geographical location, religion, and disability. We strive in encouraging collaboration by preparing our students to value the differences in others. At the core of our intentions is the encouragement of acceptance and appreciation of differences within our student population and community.

FIU Panther Care and CAPS Services

If you are looking for help for yourself or a fellow classmate, Panthers Care encourages you to express any concerns you may come across as it relates to any personal behavior concerns or worries, for the classmate’s well-being or yours. You are encouraged to share your concerns with FIU’s Panthers Care website.

Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) offers free and confidential help for anxiety, depression, stress, and other concerns that life brings. Learn more about CAPS. Professional counselors are available for same-day appointments. Don’t wait to call 305-348-2277 to set up a time to talk or visit the online self-help portal.

Staying Safe and Healthy

In collaboration with the Health, Safety, and Welfare Committee of the FIU Faculty Senate and the Healthy Panthers Council, the Provost encourages each faculty and student to take a proactive role in their safety, personal health, and well-being.

Through viewing the "Staying Safe and Healthy" video series, you will learn:

  • How to respond to an active shooter situation
  • Care of an unconscious person
  • Care of the bleeding person
  • Panther’s Care Initiative
  • How to enhance your personal health and wellbeing

These 3-5 minute videos and related resources can be found for:

  • On Campus Students in the Student Starter Kit in Canvas
  • 2.0 Fully Online Students in Panther Den in Canvas
This video series and related resources can make a difference in promoting the safety and protecting the health of all members of the FIU community. These resources are available any time you have a few minutes to watch them and you can refresh your memory about their content at any point in time. STAYING SAFE AND HEALTHY requires the commitment of each of us as Panthers.

Course Schedule

**Note: Italics denotes optional bonus activity.

Course Schedule
Week Wednesday

Saturday
1

[M1] Onboarding

Icebreaker

[M1] Onboarding

CITI Certificates (2)

**You cannot advance until you complete the Onboarding Module**

**Welcome Check-in closes at 11:59 pm on Wednesday 8/30**
2

[M2] Historical Perspective

Discussion

[M2] Historical Perspective

Lecture
3

[M2] Historical Perspective

Journal

[M2] Historical Perspective

Exercise

**No work from M2 accepted after 11:59 pm on Sunday 9/10**
4

[M3] Approaches to Animal Cognition

Discussion

[M3] Approaches to Animal Cognition

Lecture
5

[M3] Approaches to Animal Cognition

Journal

[M3] Approaches to Animal Cognition

Exercise

**No work from M3 accepted after 11:59 pm on Sunday 9/24**
6

[M4] Consciousness in Animals

Discussion

[M4] Consciousness in Animals

Lecture
7

[M4] Consciousness in Animals

Journal

[M4] Consciousness in Animals

Exercise

**No work from M4 accepted after 11:59 pm on Sunday 10/8**

**Mid-Semester Check-in closes at 11:59 pm on Sunday 10/8**
8

[M5] Communication Between Animals

Discussion

[M5] Communication Between Animals

Lecture
9

[M5] Communication Between Animals

Journal

[M5] Communication Between Animals

Exercise

**No work from M5 accepted after 11:59 pm on Sunday 10/22**
10

[M6] Social Cognition in Animals

Discussion

[M6] Social Cognition in Animals

Lecture
11

[M6] Social Cognition in Animals

Journal

[M6] Social Cognition in Animals

Exercise

**No work from M6 accepted after 11:59 pm on Sunday 11/5**
12

[M7] Cognitive Flexibility in Animals

Discussion

[M7] Cognitive Flexibility in Animals

Lecture 
13

[M7] Cognitive Flexibility in Animals

Journal

[M7] Cognitive Flexibility in Animals

Exercise

**No work from M7 accepted after 11:59 pm on Sunday 11/19**
14

[M8] Individual Differences in Animals

Discussion

[M8] Individual Differences in Animals

Lecture (**Sunday due to holiday)
15

[M8] Individual Differences in Animals

Journal

[M8] Individual Differences in Animals

Exercise

**No work from M8 accepted after 11:59 pm on Sunday 12/3**

**No re-grade petitions accepted after 11:59 pm on Sunday 12/3**

**End-of-Semester Check-in closes at 11:59 pm on Sunday 12/3**
Finals Week

[M9] Conclusion

Video Final

[M9] Conclusion

Extra Credit 

*No work from M9 accepted after 11:59 pm on Saturday 12/9**

Ateles fusciceps rufiventris photo by Doug Hungerford.

Course Time Zone | Eastern Standard Time (EST). Due dates are according to this time zone.

If you encounter any technical difficulties, please contact the FIU Canvas Help Center .