Sunday, March 15, 2020

Special Agenda: Week of March 16-22, 2020

Advanced Placement PSYCHOLOGY with Mr. Duez
Chapter 13: Social Psychology & Chapter 14: Stress, Health, & Coping
WEEK AT A GLANCE:
First, the district has asked us to create some assignments to help guide you with home learning. Thankfully we are well positioned to do this already. 

1. Use this website and access the notes for both chapters. 
CH 13 - Social Psychology

CH 14 - Stress, Health, & Coping

2. Read the presentations and take actual written notes

3. Watch my recorded video lectures & any other videos on the chapter website and take notes (some chapters have more than others)

3. Go to AP Classroom and complete the assignments for the chapters. They are all out there waiting for you. 

4. Extra Credit - It is a good opportunity to improve your grade +20% on your lowest test score. (Do not stress about when this will be "turned in" at this point. When I know more about when the 9 week period will truly end, I will update you.)
DO NOT email EXTRA CREDIT to me at this point.

5. If you have any issues or concerns, email me directly
AP Classroom - some of the assignments created.
DISTRICT CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) UPDATES (Humble ISD)

CDC - CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL & PREVENTION (CDC)

SPRING BREAK & EXTENDED CLOSURE UNTIL AT LEAST MARCH 23rd

School is continuing to be out until at a minimum March 23rd, one week after Spring Break. However, be aware that this is a fluid situation and things can and will change. Certainly, this is a fluid situation that can change, possibly being out of school longer, depending on how things progress. Keep that in mind and be prepared for such situations.

I have been very forward and upfront with everyone about this. I mentioned the outbreak in China in class during the month of January after we returned from winter break. This is a situation that I believe has been serious from the get-go.

Most people experience from mild to very severe form of symptoms similar to a bad cold or flu (CDC), however the biggest difference is that a type of pneumonia can develop where lungs can be impacted. If the body does not fight off the infection well and it spreads to the lungs, hospitalizations would be needed. That means we have to be careful about spreading this because we only have around 1 million hospital beds in the US and 3/4 of them are already being used typically by sick patients that cycle in and out of hospitalization (Washington Post). If there was a rapid increase, as has happened in China, South Korea, Italy, and now Spain and France, our medical community could be overwhelmed.

We are also not as prepared with testing as most would like. Many people who are getting sick can not get an actual test to know if they are suffering from a regular flu (Salt Lake Tribune), or this new COVID-19: Corona-virus (named such because of the sun like spikes that protrude from the virus cell).
Because of this uncertainty and the fact that hospitals have been overwhelmed in some areas of the country, the district (as well as every district in the Houston area) has made the smart decision to close schools. This decision helps with a strategy called "Social Distancing" and helps to "Flatten the Curve." 

So the best advice now is to slow down, enjoy what we have. Enjoy the people in your life, but you and your loved ones safe by washing your hands, avoid touching your face, limit public interactions, and avoid stress. Relax. Regardless of how bad it gets, life is going to go on and understand that the reason we are taking these steps is to lessen the impact while our society gears up to treat those in most need. What we have to do is work together to help everyone in our community live better and safer lives. For now that means no school.

Toilet paper run - why are people buying it up like crazy? & water... which is plentiful and will not be a problem, this isn't a hurricane. 
Psychology of hoarding toilet paper (CNN).

How does social distancing work? (FoxNews Digital)
Social distancing is a topic right out of our latest chapter - Social Psychology.
This data is, of course, only those who have been tested. Hundreds and potentially thousands more cases have occurred that have not been given a test. Many people have sent home and told to self-quarantine because of a lack of testing.  

1918 Spanish Flu can teach us about the Coronavirus outbreak
 (Video Washington Post)