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    Welcome to Mr. Koch's AP Psychology


    Hello and welcome to my AP Psychology website. Let me take a moment to introduce myself. My name is Dan Koch and I am in my 7th year teaching Social Studies at Forest Lake High School. Prior to that I taught for one year at Farmington High School in Farmington, MN. I have a strong passion for psychology as it was one of my majors at the University of Wisconsin - Madison (an excellent school for psychology if any students are interested) and have had the opportunity to teach it at three different schools: James Madison Memorial High (Madison, WI), Farmington, and Forest Lake. I am very excited to be teaching the AP Psych courses again this year and look forward to what I hope will be a fun and challenging experience for both myself and my students.

    This website is primarily designed to be a resource for students currently registered for AP Psychology. However, parents of AP students may also find it useful as a way to help keep track of what is happening in class. Students that are considering registering for AP Psychology may also wish to look around to get an idea of what the course is about. If you have any questions for me, please feel free to contact me using the information at the bottom of the page.



    What is Psychology?

    Have you ever wondered why people do the things that they do?... How could atrocities like the Holocaust happen? Why do teens form cliques?Why are some people shy and other people the "life of the party"? Why do I sometimes get that deja vu feeling? Why do people develop mental disorders and how can they be helped? Can seeing violence on television and in video games make children violent?... These are just a few examples of the many different types of questions that psychologists try to answer. Basically psychology is about trying to understand why people do what they do. It's about understanding human behavior. For this reason, students often find that psychology has strong applications to the "real world." By studying psychology, we can better understand ourselves, other people and organisms, and their interaction with the world.




    What is the purpose of the AP Psychology course?

    The AP Psychology course is designed to introduce students to the systematic and scientific study of behavior and mental processes of human beings and other animals. Students are exposed to the psychological facts, principles, and phenomena associated with each of the major subfields within psychology. They also learn about the ethics and methods psychologists use in their science and practice. (Taken from the Advanced Placement Course Description in Psychology by the College Board.)



    Click on the link below to download the

    Course Syllabus and Survival Guide



    Units & Reading Assignments Overview



    AP Psychology Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)



    Characteristics of Successful Students

    As this is a "college level" course, this chart is intended to help give students and parents an overview of the characteristics of "successful college students" and "unsuccessful college students."

    My Contact Information

    dkoch@flaschools.org
    651-982-8550




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