Pre-IB Psychology Study Unit

2025-08-11T09:41:40+03:00

About pre-IB psychology study unit

The name of the pre-IB psychology study unit is Active and learning human.

The study unit is based on the PS01 study unit in the Finnish upper secondary school programme. The study unit aims to prime the pre-IB students for IB Psychology studies and IB Diploma Programme studies in general. The study unit also enables the students to continue in the Finnish upper secondary school programme. The goals the study unit are:

Goals for the study unit Active and learning human

PS01 psychology goals
The student:
- understands what kind of science psychology is and that psychological knowledge is based on empirical research
- can describe the basic principles of scientific thinking from the perspective of psychology
- can explain the character and differences in conscious and unconscious action in relation to learning
- can differentiate between biological, psychic, social and cultural factors influencing human behaviour and learning and ability to assess and develop one’s own learning and studying based on the acquired psychological knowledge
- familiarizes oneself with a well-being related phenomenon or topic

Essential contents of the study unit Active and learning human

PS01 contents
Learning and studying from psychological perspective
- psychic approach: basics of cognitive processing, motives, emotions, conditioning, basics of short-term memory (STM) and long-term memory (LTM), schemas, learning strategies, metacognition, goal-orientation and experiences related to self-efficacy
- biological approach: basics of neuropsychology and evolutionary psychology, brain plasticity and the effects of sleep on learning
- social and cultural perspective: basics of socialization and situational factors in learning, examples related to the social nature of learning and cultural differences and similarities in learning
- conscious and unconscious activity in learning
Psychology as a science and psychological research
- scientific knowledge and everyday knowledge
- the process of scientific research
- the meaning of sampling and population in the research process and the basics of evaluation of psychological research
- the ethical guidelines of psychological research
- examples of qualitative and quantitative psychological research

How to accomplish pre-IB psychology study unit?

The study init is accomplished by participating in lessons and doing the assessed assignments which are (1) individual test and (2) research assignment on some psychological phenomenon.

This peda.net page contains all the possible materials covered in Markus’ pre-IB psychology study unit. All the topics covered during the lessons and possible homework will be updated to Wilma under "Tuntipäiväkirja". Wilma will also serve as a communication channel. ManageBac is used to upload student works.

Assessment criteria

Essential assessment criteria in pre-IB psychology: (1) How well the student can internalize psychological content and concepts. (2) How well the student can apply psychological content and concepts. The two major assignments in this study unit, (1) individual test and (2) research assignment, measure how well the students meet the criteria.

Maximum points from both assignments is 40. Students need to get at least 25% of the points in order to pass the study unit.

The grade is comprised mostly out of assessed assignments, but lesson activity, students self-evaluation and peer reviewing can also have an effect on the overall grade.

The study unit will be assessed with grades from 4 to 10. Arvosanalaskuri will be used to calculate your grades.

Teacher

Markus Lajunen
markus.lajunen@gradia.fi
040 3414 703