PSYCHOLOGY 215 Human Growth and Development: Life Span 4-2-5

Prerequisite: PSYC 201 or consent of instructor

This course studies the development and behavior of the individual from conception to death. An ecological approach is used in the study of physical, cognitive, emotional, and social changes which occur through the life span. Structured experiences promote student competency in observation, interpretation, and guidance of behavior.

COURSE OBJECTIVES. At the end of the course, you should be able to:

1. Describe and give examples from the literature of biosocial, cognitive, and psychosocial development as an ongoing set of processes, which involve change as well as continuity.

2. Analyze different developmental events from the perspective of the major theories of development (i.e., cognitive, learning, psychoanalytic, and sociocultural) and recognize those theories when used by others to analyze and interpret events.

3. Explain how research contributes to the understanding of development and evaluate and use research findings to investigate a topic of interest to you.

4. Recall important developmental concepts and be able to recognize and apply these concepts in various situations.

5. Formulate relevant questions about developmental processes and events and use standardized techniques for gathering objective answers to these questions.

6. Demonstrate the ability to use computers as a means to achieve greater efficiency and effectiveness in learning, to gather information, to manage and interpret data, and to enhance communication.

 1. Textbook and Reading Assignments

Textbook: The Developing Person Through the Life Span, Kathleen Stassen Berger, Fourth Edition, Worth Publishers, 1998.

Study Guide (Optional): Study Guide to Accompany the Developing Person Through the Life Span, Joan Winer Brown, fourth edition, Worth Publishers, 1998.

It is your responsibility as a student to read and study all assigned material in the text. Handouts from class sessions should be studied thoroughly. Assignments will include readings from the text, field experiences and accompanying written reports, group and individual Internet research projects, and communication through electronic mail (e-mail). You should complete assignments prior to classroom lecture and discussion.

 2. Class Meetings

The class will meet for two (2) two-hour sessions each week. Field assignments are completed on an independent basis; however, field assignment reports are due on a specific day of the week, as indicated below, according to your class meeting days. You are expected to attend class regularly and participate fully in all class activities. Full participation involves taking part in class discussion as well as completion of field assignments, computer assignments, and group projects.

It is expected that students will be courteous and not talk while the instructor is talking or while other students have the floor in a classroom discussion. Excessive talking is disruptive, distracting, rude, and will result in a grade penalty.

If it necessary for a student to be absent from class, the student should contact the instructor regarding work missed, obtain class notes from another student, and arrange to view audio-visual presentations in the library, if applicable.

Although absences are not encouraged, the student is allowed a maximum of six (6) unexcused absences during the quarter. These absences are often used to attend business functions, to attend family funerals, to stay home with a sick child, etc. In contrast, an excused absence requires a medical statement, signed by a physician.

Students are not permitted to smoke, eat, or drink during the class. See the Georgia Highlands College Student Handbook for detailed expectations for student conduct in and out of the classroom.

 3. Field Assignments

Field assignments and observations constitute an important part of this course, provide important learning experience, and are based on specific stages (e.g., infancy) in the life span. Students must complete five (5) field assignments from a total of eight (8) sets of options. It is YOUR responsibility to schedule and complete field assignments in an efficient and timely manner.

Field assignments must be typed, using a word processor or typewriter, DOUBLE SPACED, and on ONE SIDE of the paper only. Leave AMPLE MARGINS (at least 1 1/2" left, right, top, bottom) for the instructor's comments. Papers, which do not follow the above format, will be returned, ungraded, to the student. Observation and interview notes are generally handwritten and attached to the typed reports. These notes are to help you write your report; generally I do not read your notes, so do not retype them for my benefit!

Unless otherwise instructed, you are expected to USE COMPLETE SENTENCES in ALL written assignments. Hand in only originals of reports; NO photocopies will be accepted.

 4. Internet Projects (Group and Individual)

To help broaden your computer skills and knowledge in researching various developmental topics, you will work with other students on a group project to find answers to questions about developmental issues, theorists, and recent research studies. The group laptop assignment is intended to be a learn-and-practice, cooperative experience and will follow a structured format with specific questions to research.

You will be required to explore a developmental issue as an individual research project, using resources found on the World Wide Web and Galileo as well as hands-on journals, etc., found in the library.

It is important to submit field and project reports when they are due!! Reports will be penalized ten points for each day they are submitted late. Those submitted more than FOUR CLASS DAYS late will NOT be accepted; these four days include days of the week (but not weekend) when class does not meet. For example, a report due on Monday will not be accepted on Friday.

If you do not hand your report directly to the instructor, your report must be stamped, dated (including time), and initialed by one of the secretaries in Social and Cultural Studies before being left in my mailbox (located in the Social and Cultural Studies office).

If you submit a report or assignment after 5 p.m. or when no secretaries are available, a member of the faculty may log in the date and time (hour); her/his signature is also required.

5. Electronic Communication

Students are encouraged to communicate with each other as well as the instructor via e-mail. E-mail addresses of classmates will be provided later in the course.

The instructor will make every effort to respond to e-mail queries in a timely manner; however, it is best not to wait until the last minute to do an assignment!! It is always good to get keep up with but preferably to get ahead in your assignments. ALWAYS contact me if you do not understand an assignment as soon as possible or if unforeseen, unpreventable circumstances arise!

6. TESTS

Unit tests are given at weekly intervals throughout the quarter. The quarter's tentative test schedule is delineated below, under "TEXTBOOK READING ASSIGNMENTS AND TENTATIVE DATES FOR TESTS, REPORTS." A typical unit test consists of 50 multiple-choice item. Tests will be based on textbook readings, class lectures, Internet assignments, field experiences, observations, and audio-visual presentations. Students are expected to take tests and exams at the assigned times.

One unit test grade (i.e., the lowest) will be dropped in calculating your final grade. If extenuating circumstances force you to miss one test, this missed test becomes the drop test. If a medical emergency or other emergency situation prevents your attendance at a test, make certain you contact me as soon as possible, before the test, not afterwards.

7. Ethics

Unless working on assigned group projects, students are expected to do their own work. Cheating will not be tolerated and will result in an automatic F and meeting with the Academic Dean. For additional details about cheating, read "Student Code of Conduct" in the Georgia Highlands College Student Handbook.

8. Open Door Policy

If, at any time, you experience problems (academic and/or personal) which negatively impact your performance in this course, do contact me as soon as possible so that we can work together to find an acceptable solution.

* Note: Excessive talking and/or more than 6 absences will negate these 5 percentage points.

GRADE CONVERSION CHART

DATE OF THE FINAL EXAM CAN BE FOUND IN THE FLOYD COLLEGE SPRING SCHEDULE OF CLASSES.

TEXTBOOK READING ASSIGNMENTS & TENTATIVE DATES FOR TESTS, REPORTS

FOR TR classes (except for Extended Learning, GHTV):

DATE OF THE FINAL EXAM CAN BE FOUND IN THE FLOYD COLLEGE SPRING SCHEDULE OF CLASSES.