MIDDLESEX COMMUNITY COLLEGE COURSE SYLLABUS

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1 MIDDLESEX COMMUNITY COLLEGE COURSE SYLLABUS Course Title: Psychology 201: Life Span Development Semester: Summer 2010 Online (6/21 7/28/10) Instructor: Patricia J. Sawyer Credit Hours: 3 Course No: 2072 Department: Social Science Course Prerequisites: Psychology 111 Course Location: Distance Learning - None Meeting Time (days/hours): Distance learning 24/7. Since this is a distance learning course, you are expected to log on a minimum of three days weekly at your convenience to complete assignments and participate in the discussion board. Scope of Course: This course is concerned with the study of patterns and sequences of human growth from conception to death. The emotional, mental, social and physical characteristics found in human development will be explored. Emphasis will be placed on life cycle theories, the role of heredity and environment, and the role of individual differences. Life stages will be viewed in terms of a variety of

2 theoretical frameworks. Textbooks and other required readings/computer software/materials/library reserve room: Development Across The Life Span, Robert Feldman, Fifth Edition, 2008, Prentice- Hall Publishers. ISBN: 10: , ISBN: 13: Office Hours: Online 24/7 Office Telephone: (860) There is internal built into the course. Please use that . Use the above in an emergency only. Attendance Policy: You are required to log on a minimum of three days weekly and perform tasks and assignments according to the syllabus. Each late assignment will lose one letter grade for each day the assignment is late beginning on the first day after the deadline. Credit will not be given for late postings. All posting must be completed by Sunday 11:59pm. Class Cancellation Policy: Non- applicable Evaluation: 1. Five Multiple Choice Examinations 50% There will be 4 multiple choice exams. You will have three hours to complete each exam. You can take the exam anytime when the exam is available. Exams cannot be made up. You are to log on anytime during the release times stated for each exam and complete it. Grades will be available in the grade book. Exam 1 Ch s 1-4 will be available: Monday, 6/28 1:00am Sunday, 7/4/10 Midnight EST. Exam 2 Ch s 5 8 will be available: Monday, 7/5 1:00am Sunday, 7/11/10 Midnight EST.

3 Exam 3 Ch s 9 12 will be available: Monday, 7/12 1:00am Sunday, 7/18/10 Midnight EST. Exam 4 Ch s will be available: Monday, 7/26 1:00am Wednesday, 7/28/10 6:00pm EST. 3. Weekly Discussion Board Participation 50% In order to receive full credit for the discussion board, you must log on a minimum of three days weekly and respond to the current question as well as interact with your classmates. You must respond to at least two other postings in order to receive full credit. You will be graded on how completely you answer the assigned discussion question and by the quality of your responses to the other postings. Your use of critical thinking skills, conducting research on the discussion question and applying knowledge from your readings will be assessed. No credit will be given should you log on after one week. The discussion board is available each Monday 1:00am and closes at 11:59pm the following Sunday Eastern Standard Time. No postings accepted after Sunday 11:59pm Eastern Standard Time. Course Objectives: Upon completion of this course, the student should be able to: 1. Describe and compare the several theoretical approaches to human development and indicate how each theory explains the key factors involved in emotional, mental, physical, intellectual, social, sex role and language development. 2. Demonstrate a general knowledge of the basic concepts of human development from conception to death. 3. Utilize the course to gain insight into his or her own developmental process. 4. Understand the concept of diversity and how it applies at each developmental stage. Learning Outcomes: Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to: 1. An Introduction to Lifespan Development Understand lifespan development, and what are some of the basic influences on human development. Understand the key issues in the field of development. Understand which theoretical perspectives have guided lifespan development.

4 Understand what role theories and hypotheses play in the study of development. Understand how culture, ethnicity and race influence development. 2. The Start of Life: Prenatal Development Understand our basic genetic endowment. Understand how environment (culture, race, ethnicity) and genetics work together to determine human characteristics. Gain an understanding of what happens during the prenatal stages of development. Understand what the threats are to the fetal environment. 3. Birth and the Newborn Infant Understand the normal process of labor. Understand what complications can occur at birth, and what are their causes, effects and treatments. Understand developmental diversity in overcoming racial and cultural differences in infant mortality. 4. Physical Development in Infancy Understand how the human body and nervous system develops. How the environment affects the pattern of development. Understand what developmental tasks the infant must undertake. Understand the role of nutrition in physical development. Understand the cultural dimensions of motor development. 5. Cognitive Development in Infancy Understand Jean Piaget's theory of cognitive development Understand how infants process information and if infant-directed speech is similar across all cultures. Understand how infant s intelligence is measured and how race, ethnicity and one s culture influence IQ s. Understand what processes do children learn to use language. 6. Social and Personality Development in Infancy Understand what sort of emotional lives infants have. Understand what sort of mental lives infants have. Gain an understanding of the attachment theory and if it differs across cultures. Understand what roles other people play in infant's social development. Understand if child care if beneficial or harmful for infants. 7. Physical and Cognitive Development in the Preschool Years Understand the state of children's bodies and overall health during the preschool years.

5 Understand how preschool children's brains and physical skills develop. Understand how Piaget interprets cognitive development during the preschool years. Understand how children's language develops. Gain a knowledge of what kinds of preschool educational programs are available around the world. 8. Social and Personality Development in the Preschool Years Understand how preschool-age children develop a sense of themselves. Understand how children develop their sense of racial and ethnic awareness as well as gender. Understand what sorts of social relationships pre-school children engage in. Understand what sorts of disciplinary styles parents employ, and what effect they have. Understand what factors contribute to child abuse and neglect. Understand how children develop a moral sense. Understand how aggression develops in preschool-age children. 9. Physical and Cognitive Development in Middle Childhood Understand how children grow during the school years, and what influences their growth. Understand what are the main health concerns of school-age children. Understand how children develop cognitively and the importance of multicultural education. Understand how language develops. Understand what some of the trends in schooling today are. Understand how intelligence can be measured, and how exceptional children are educated. 10. Social and Personality Development in Middle Childhood Understand how children's views of themselves change during middle childhood. Understand the importance of self-esteem during these years. Understand what stages of moral development proceed as children age. Understand what sorts of relationships and friendships are typical of middle childhood. Understand how gender and ethnicity affect friendships. Understand how social and emotional factors contribute to school outcomes. 11. Physical and Cognitive Development in Adolescence Understand what physical changes adolescent's experience. Understand the consequences of early and late maturation. Understand the nutritional needs and concerns adolescents have. Understand how cognitive development proceeds in adolescence.

6 Understand how school performance affects adolescence. Understand the dangerous substances adolescents use and why. 12. Social and Personality Development in Adolescence Understand how the development of self-concept, self-esteem, and identity develop. Understand what dangers adolescents face. Understand family relationships and peers during adolescence. Understand racial segregation: the great divide of adolescence Understand how sexuality develops in adolescent years. Understand teenage pregnancy and its implications in the Unites States. 13. Physical and Cognitive Development in Early Adulthood Understand how the body develops during early adulthood. Understand the effects of stress, and what can be done about it. Understand how cognitive development in Early Adulthood. Understand who attends college today, and how the college population is changing. Understand how students learn in college, and what difficulties they face. 14. Social and Personality Development in Early Adulthood Understand how young adults form loving relationships, and how love changes over time. Understand how people choose spouses, and what makes relationships work and cease working. Understand how the arrival of children affects a relationship. Understand why choosing a career is an important issue and what factors influence the choice of a career. Understand why people work, and what elements of a job bring satisfaction. 15. Physical and Cognitive Development in Middle Adulthood Understand what sort of physical changes affect people in middle adulthood. Understand the changes in sexuality in middle-aged men and women. Understand health issues in middle adulthood. Understand what happens to a person's intelligence in middle adulthood. Understand how aging affects memory and how memory can be improved.

7 16. Social and Personality Development in Middle Adulthood Understand how personality develops during middle adulthood. Understand the typical patterns of marriage and divorce in middle adulthood Understand the changing family structure. Understand the characteristics of work and career. 17. Physical and Cognitive Development in Late Adulthood Understand what it is like to grow old in the United States today. Understand the physical changes that occur in old age. Understand how the senses are affected by the aging process. Understand the general state of health of older people. Understand wellness and sexuality in late adulthood. Understand how older people function intellectually. 18. Social and Personality Development in Late Adulthood Understand how personality develops during late adulthood. Understand how people deal with aging. Understand what it is like to retire. Understand how marriage fares in late adulthood. Understand what relationships re important in late adulthood. 19. Death and Dying Understand what is death, and what it means at different stages in the life span. Understand the ways people face the prospect of their own death and how one s culture and religion influence their views on death. Understand how survivors react to and cope with death. Helpful Hints: 1. Don't fall behind- the most important factor for achieving success in this course is to follow the schedule closely, and complete your assignments correctly and on time. 2. Share your opinions - the Discussion Board is largely based on your application to the psychological principals you will learn. While the actual principles and theories are based on research, your answers to the questions are based on your personal application to these principles and theories.

8 3. Ask questions - if you are having trouble understanding any parts of this course, let me know as soon as possible. I will gladly answer any questions you have about the course materials, lessons, resources and the assignments. So if you have a question, please ask! 4. Technical questions - If you have technical questions please contact one of the following: Distance Learning Support Staff at Middlesex Community College: Dr. Yi Guan-Raczkowski, Director of Distance Learning yguan@mxcc.commnet.edu Unfortunately I cannot assist you with technical difficulties. You need to contact the Distance Learning Dept. You will be able to access this course through any computer with an internet connection. If you do not have a computer or your computer is not operational or your internet provider is down please use the college computers (we have several for student use) located in the Library in Chapman Hall or the Computer Lab located in Wheaton Hall. You can also use any local library computer in the United States and world free of charge. 4. Please put your name on all assignments (on the assignment as well as in the subject line of the ). ADA Accommodation Statement: "Students with physical or learning disabilities who may require accommodations are encouraged to contact the counseling office. After disclosing the nature of the disability, students are urged to discuss their needs with individual instructors. This should be done at the beginning of each semester. Instructors, in conjunction with appropriate college officials, will provide assistance and/or accommodations to those students who have completed this process." Academic Ethics and Classroom Behavior: "At Middlesex Community College we expect the highest standards of academic honesty. Academic dishonesty is prohibited in accordance with the Board of Trustees' Proscribed Conduct Policy in Section of the Board of Trustees' Policy Manual. This policy prohibits cheating of examinations, unauthorized collaboration on assignments, unauthorized access to examinations or course materials, plagiarism, and other proscribed activities. Plagiarism is defined as the use of another's idea(s) or phrase(s) and representing that/those idea(s) as your own, either intentionally or unintentionally." (Board of Trustees' Policy 5.2.1)

9 Accommodation of Religious Beliefs and Practices If your religious obligations conflict with the course calendar requirements, and if you wish to request an accommodation, you must make your request in writing prior to the date of the assessment or activity you will miss and preferably at the beginning of the semester. When requesting a make-up quiz, test, exam, assignment, or activity, state the reason for your request and the date(s) on which your religious obligation(s) will conflict with the course calendar requirements. Also, if your religious obligation/holiday is unfamiliar to your instructor, you may be asked to provide a calendar which shows the published date(s) of your religious observance(s) or holiday(s). Life Span Development 201 Class Schedule Summer 2010 Week 1 (6/21 6/27) Chapter 1 Chapter 2 An Introduction to Life-Span Development The Start of Life: Prenatal Development Birth and the Newborn Infant Chapter 3 Infancy Physical Development Chapter 4 Week 2 (6/28 7/4) Exam #1 Ch s 1 4 Infancy - Cognitive Development Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Infancy - Social and Personality Development

10 Preschool Years - Physical and Cognitive Development Chapter 7 Week 3 (7/5 7/11) Exam #2 Ch s 5 8 Chapter 8 Preschool Years - Social and Personality Middle Childhood Years - Physical and Cognitive Development Chapter 9 Middle Childhood Years - Social and Personality Chapter 10 Week 4 (7/12 7/18) Exam #3 Ch s 9 12 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Adolescence - Physical and Cognitive Development Adolescence Social and Personality Early Adulthood - Physical and Cognitive Development Week 5 (7/19 7/25) Chapter 14 Chapter 15 Chapter 16 Early Adulthood - Social and Personality Development Middle Adulthood - Physical and Cognitive Development Middle Adulthood Social and Personality Development Week 6 (7/26 7/28) Exam #4 Ch s 13-16

11 PSYCHOLOGY 201: LIFE SPAN DEVELOPMENT CRN: 2072 Distance Learning - Online Summer 2010 Patricia Sawyer, Instructor This course is important because it will strengthen the student s critical thinking skills and help them make the connection between human development and everyday life. It will provide the student with an exceptionally clear and coherent understanding of the sequence and underlying process of human development, emphasizing the interrelatedness of all domains physical, cognitive, emotional and social. They will gain an understanding of development, why psychologists conduct research, and be cognizant of the theories that guide research. The student will become acquainted with the breadth of lifespan development and will obtain the core competencies as stated below, as well as a wealth on knowledge that will excite the student s curiosity and increase their understanding of human development. The core competencies will provide the tools that will maximize the student s ability to learn and retain the subject matter of lifespan development psychology. Middlesex Community College Core Competencies 1) Communication Skills: Communication skills include reading, writing, speaking and research. We expect our graduates will have good critical reading skills so that they can discriminate between primary and secondary sources and between more and less important ideas in what they read. We expect our students to write and speak clear, correct expository English to communicate their ideas as well as to frame sensible arguments to support their points of view in an intelligent, thoughtful and civilized way. Communication is an interactive process through which there is an exchange of verbal and/or nonverbal information. 2) Conceptual Skills / Critical Thinking Skills: Conceptual skills refer to organized, responsive and critical thought. Many educators and philosophers define critical thinking as skillful, responsible, reflective thinking that facilitates good judgment because it: a) relies upon criteria developed or assessed, b) is self-correcting, and c) is sensitive to context. Critical thinkers can distinguish between fact, inference, and opinion; construct worthwhile questions; arrive at and justify conclusions; prioritize ideas; apply strategies for dealing with error,

12 improbability and ambiguity; value, and access information including that derived from textbooks, lectures and electronic media; give and accept criticism constructively. 3) Quantitative Reasoning: Quantitative reasoning helps us learn about reality by applying measurement, mathematics, data collection and evaluation to the study of specific problems. Quantitative reasoning involves several skills or abilities: 1) to describe research problems or questions in terms of numerical, symbolic, and visual representation; 2) to solve problems by collecting and analyzing data, formulating alternative theories, and making reasonable conclusions based upon a body of evidence; 3) to communicate and critique quantitative arguments. 4) Technological Literacy: Technological literacy requires us to understand the potential and limitations of technology and to identify and effectively use the appropriate technology to achieve a desired outcome. 5) Information Literacy: Information literacy encompasses skills that enable individuals to determine when information is needed, efficiently access information, critically evaluate information and its sources, apply legal and ethical standards in using information, and appropriately apply information to one s needs. 6) Aesthetic Perspective: The most elusive area in a well rounded education is that of aesthetics. Students should be aware of aesthetics both in daily life and in the context of their academic studies. Aesthetics encompasses forms of personal expression both in the natural world and in the world of man-made things (buildings, objects of art, etc.). In addition, aesthetics can be seen in more abstract, universal constructs such as the symmetry of an equation or the balanced physical structure of an atom. Students should be able to analyze and formulate opinions about the principles of design behind these formal and expressive structures. 7) Understanding of Diversity: Diversity means difference. People may be different with respect to their ethnicity, race, culture, religion or national origin. Or these differences may be social and personal such as class, age, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or appearance. We hope our graduates are able to recognize and appreciate these and other differences. Psychology embraces a global perspective in presenting issues of diversity concerning cultural awareness, gender, ethnicity, sexuality and age. 8) Values, ethics, and responsible citizenship: Psychology will help the student to recognize and analyze ethical issues, make and defend ethical decisions, demonstrate ethical behavior and social responsibility by engaging in community, social, civic, or cultural service. These core competencies are important personally, academically, and professionally. The learning outcomes, as stated in the syllabus are covered in this course.