The Introduction to Psychology course was developed through the Ohio Department of Higher Education OER Innovation Grant. This work was completed and the course was posted in September 2018. The course is part of the Ohio Transfer Module and is also named OSS015. For more information about credit transfer between Ohio colleges and universities please visit: www.ohiohighered.org/transfer.Team LeadVincent Granito                                    Lorain County Community CollegeContent ContributorsNicole Brandt                                       Columbus State Community CollegeLynne Gabriel                                      Lakeland Community CollegeJackie Sample                                     Central Ohio Technical CollegeLibrarianRachel Dilley                                       Columbus State Community CollegeReview TeamMelissa Beers                                      Ohio State UniversityBryan Gerber                                        Stark State College

How to Use this GuideThis guide provides information and resources on teaching human development across the life span in an Introduction to Psychology course. All resources are Open Access and can be downloaded or added to a Course Management System (LMS) via the hyperlinks.IntroductionThis section introduces students to biological mechanisms that underlie behavior.  Specifically, students will be introduced to the structures and functions of the nervous system, and how the nervous system interacts with the endocrine system.Biology of Behavior is a core topic in the APA’s recommendations for Strengthening General Psychology, and is also a core topic in the Ohio TAG learning objectives. This topic is required for all Introduction to Psychology courses in Ohio as part of Pillar 1: Biological. Recall that the TAG requirements call for a second topic to be included from this pillar, which can be either Sensation or Consciousness or, time permitting in your course, both.

By the end of this section, you will be able to do the following:

Describe the basis of the resting membrane potential
Explain the stages of an action potential and how action potentials are propagated
Explain the similarities and differences between chemical and electrical synapses
Describe long-term potentiation and long-term depression

By the end of this section, you will be able to do the following:

Describe the symptoms, potential causes, and treatment of several examples of nervous system disorders

By the end of this section, you will be able to do the following:

List and describe the functions of the structural components of a neuron
List and describe the four main types of neurons
Compare the functions of different types of glial cells

By the end of this section, you will be able to do the following:

Identify the spinal cord, cerebral lobes, and other brain areas on a diagram of the brain
Describe the basic functions of the spinal cord, cerebral lobes, and other brain areas

By the end of this section, you will be able to do the following:

Describe the organization and functions of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems
Describe the organization and function of the sensory-somatic nervous system

Biology is designed for multi-semester biology courses for science majors. It is grounded on an evolutionary basis and includes exciting features that highlight careers in the biological sciences and everyday applications of the concepts at hand. To meet the needs of today’s instructors and students, some content has been strategically condensed while maintaining the overall scope and coverage of traditional texts for this course. Instructors can customize the book, adapting it to the approach that works best in their classroom. Biology also includes an innovative art program that incorporates critical thinking and clicker questions to help students understand—and apply—key concepts.

By the end of this section, you will be able to:

Identify the basic parts of a neuron
Describe how neurons communicate with each other
Explain how drugs act as agonists or antagonists for a given neurotransmitter system

By the end of this section, you will be able to:

Describe the difference between the central and peripheral nervous systems
Explain the difference between the somatic and autonomic nervous systems
Differentiate between the sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions of the autonomic nervous system