How To Pass A Developmental Psychology Online Course

Transcription

1 SYLLABUS Course Information: PSYC : Lifespan Psychology Fall 2013 ONLINE Instructor: Brittany Rutherford is the very best way to get in touch with me. I check my frequently during the day and will usually respond to s within the same or next day. If you have any questions about course content or are locked out of a test, you are to brutherford@uttyler.edu. If you are having trouble submitting an assignment, general Blackboard issues, Patriot problems, or you are getting ERROR messages you are to contact: itsupport@patriots.uttyler.edu NOTE: A student at UT-Tyler is not under any obligation to purchase a textbook from a universityaffiliated bookstore. The same textbook may also be available from an independent retailer, including an online retailer. Course Description: Physiological, perceptual, cognitive, social and affective change from conception to death, with an emphasis on transitions and developmental challenges throughout the lifespan. STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES: 1. Students will demonstrate a deeper understanding for the field of developmental psychology. 2. Students will demonstrate a broader understanding of the psychosocial, emotional, biosocial, and cognitive changes that take place over the lifespan. EVALUATION AND GRADING: Meet and Greet Forum: 5 bonus points Syllabus quiz (1): 10 points Writing Assignments (15 total-20 points each): 300 points Discussion Board (5 total-16 points each): 80 points Learning Curve Quizzes (Psychportal): (32 total): 0 or 5 points (Completion grade) 160 points Tests (4 total- 80 points each): 320 points **You will also receive 5 BONUS POINTS for completing ALL learning curve quizzes. These bonus points will be added to your FINAL GRADE! TOTAL POINTS POSSIBLE: 870 A= points B= points C= points

2 D= points F= points TEACHING STRATEGIES: You might be asking yourself, how does this class work? First I would like to tell you that this is a very work-intensive class. Please be prepared to do a lot of writing and reading. If you are looking for an easy, work at your own pace, online class then this is not it. Below is some helpful information about the reality of online classes. This was gathered from The College of Siskiyous: 1. Contrary to popular belief, online courses are just as hard and are more time consuming than traditional courses. Rather than sitting in a physical classroom listening to your instructor lecture for 3 hours a week, you will be reading your lectures from a computer screen. a. Online courses typically require much more reading and writing than traditional classes. b. Instead of asking questions and receiving an instantaneous answer from your instructor, you will be either posting or ing your questions. While most online instructors will respond to your concerns as soon as possible, you will need to be patient. c. As you will not be in the classroom, you will need to be much more self-directed than it might seem. In other words, you have to take responsibility for your own learning. 2. Some students truly need the face-to-face interaction with instructor and peers. 3. Other students find that they lack the high level of responsibility it takes to tackle an online class. 4. At a minimum, an online course requires students to use their time wisely, be organized, be selfdirected, and be willing to try new modes of communication and learning. 5. Successful students often use the weekly assignment sheets to create a course calendar so that they have an overview of all assignments. Good time management and planning are necessary skills. 6. Students who do well are those who are willing to put in the needed time, read the text carefully (even the dull sections), and participate in the online activities. 7. You will be expected to check your frequently, get all assignments in on time, not allow yourself to fall behind at all, discuss your concerns and questions with instructor and classmates, perhaps arrange to swap addresses with other students in the class, and participate fully each week. 8. Just because this class is online does not mean you can work at your own pace and submit assignments at your will. The difference in online and lecture based classes is merely that the instructional method is different. This is not a correspondence class. What you need to do: 1. Read and review your syllabus.

3 2. Check your Patriots regularly and frequently. 3. Complete 10 pt. quiz over syllabus by Tuesday, August 27 th, 2013 at 11:55pm (located under the Modules tab. Click on Module 1 and find the folder labeled Quiz. 4. Go to Module 1 on Blackboard and begin reviewing the Power Points found in the PowerPoint folder within the module. Begin reading the chapters in your text. 5. Use Mozilla Firefox as your internet browser. It is most compatible with Blackboard. If you are using Internet Explorer you will more than likely encounter some compatibility issues when it comes to doing your assignments and taking your tests. 6. BE PREPARED. BE FAMILIAR WITH ALL CLASS DATES AND REQUIREMENTS. 7. Start working on your writing assignments and discussion board assignments and pace yourself. 8. Contact me ASAP if you have any questions or problems during the semester. We are here to help you. Textbook: Invitation to the Lifespan 2 nd Ed. By Kathleen Berger ISBN-10: (book) and ISBN-13: (Psychportal) **There are important instructions located in the Getting Started tab in blackboard for initial setup and access to the psychportal. You MUST complete the setup instructions before taking your Learning Curve Quizzes. COURSE POLICIES: This course is organized in blackboard within modules (located on the tab on the left side of the screen titled, Modules ). Each module corresponds to a week of class. By the end of the semester, you will have completed all 16 modules. Tests: The tests are located under the Modules category in Blackboard. Click on the module number and find the folder labeled Test. The tests will be administered online ONLY on the dates listed below. The tests are only available these dates beginning at 6:00pm and ending after 24 hours at 6pm the following day. They are not available at any other time. Every test will be due by 6:00pm (Check your course calendar. Tests do not always begin and end on the same days of the week). During the test you are not allowed to do any backtracking. If you hit the back button it will lock you out of your test. If you have any trouble while taking the test, you are to me (brutherford@uttyler.edu). If you get kicked out of the test for any reason, you can log back into the test and continue where you left off as long as the timer has not expired. The timer will keep running if you are kicked off. Log back in immediately so that you can finish within the time limit. I will be checking my regularly during this time to assist you during the tests. Each test is multiple-choice. The tests are timed. You will have 1 hour and 20 minutes to complete the test. Please study as if this was a lecture based course. You are not to use your books or notes for these tests or the final exam. They are timed just like my students who are taking the course in a lecture based course. Please read the section on academic dishonesty. It is not tolerated AT ALL. If cheating is suspected, you will be reported to the Office of Student Affairs.

4 TESTS: Please allow yourself at least one hour and twenty minutes to take the test. Each test is worth 80 total points. Each test will be open beginning at 6:00pm on the scheduled day listed below. Syllabus quiz: complete by Tuesday, August 27th, 2013 at 11:55pm (10 pts.) TEST #1: Monday, September 16 th, 2013 (CH 1-3). This test will be open until Tuesday, September 17 th at 6:00pm. The test will be due Tuesday, September 17 th at 6:00pm. TEST #2: Monday, October 14 th, 2013 (Ch. 8-13). This test will be open until Tuesday, October 15 th at 6:00pm. This test will be due on Tuesday, October 15 th at 6:00pm. TEST #3: Friday, November 8 th, 2013, 2013 (Ch ). This test will be open until Saturday, November 9 th at 6:00pm. This test will be due on Saturday, November 9 th, at 6:00pm. TEST #4: Friday, December 6 th, 2013 (Ch & Epilogue). This test will be open until Saturday, December 7 th at 6:00pm. This test will be due on Saturday, December 7 th at 6:00pm. OPTIONAL comprehensive FINAL: Wednesday, December 11 th at 8:00am. Your final will be open from 8:00am to 10:00pm. It will be due by 10:00pm on this day. You will have 2 hours to complete the final once you begin. If for some reason you miss a test for any reason at all or would like to try to make a better grade on one of your tests, you may take the optional final exam. It will be comprehensive. If your score is less than any of your other test grades, it will not be used to count against you. It can only help you to take it. Your final exam grade will be used to replace your lowest test grade. WRITING ASSIGNMENTS: You have 15 writing assignments. The writing assignments are located under the Modules category in Blackboard. Then, click on the folder labeled Writing Assignments. Of course if you want to work ahead you are more than welcome to do that. The assignments will no longer be available after the date listed on the syllabus. You MUST submit your assignment by the date listed. NO LATE WORK WILL BE ACCEPTED. There is an OPTIONAL makeup writing assignment which will be due Tuesday, December 10 th at 11:55pm. You may complete this assignment if you need to replace a missed assignment or wish to replace a poor assignment grade. HOW TO: 1. Click Modules. 2. Click Writing Assignments. 3. Find the WA you should be working on and read the instructions. 4. Begin working on it using Microsoft Word or other software. 5. When you are ready to submit (before 11:55pm on the due date listed), click on View/Complete under the applicable writing assignment. 6. You will upload your assignment or cut and paste it from Microsoft Word into the text box. 7. SUBMIT IT!!

5 Each writing assignment requires you to be familiar with the chapter. We start with Chapter 1 and work all the way through the book. The writing assignments require you to write in essay format. Be sure to pay attention to the directions. Assignments have a word number requirement. Blackboard has this wonderful feature called Safe Assign that shows me when/if a student has plagiarized information. Safe Assign will generate a report once you submit your work and any information matching other sources will be highlighted in a document. I am sure you know that this would be considered to violate our academic dishonesty policy and you will be turned into the Student Affairs office for review. Your work must be original and in your own words. I cannot stress enough to put this in your own words. Imagine that you encountered a stranger on the street and explain your answers to them assuming they have no background in psychology. Write as if the listener has never read the text. Also, do not copy or rephrase definitions from the text. I want to see that you can read the text, synthesize the information, and then express the information using your own unique thoughts and words. I will give warnings and take away points if you are not using your unique thoughts and words. In some cases, you will not receive any credit (when the safe assign reports are too high). A common question I get asked, Will you count off for grammar, misspellings, etc. To answer that, I expect that each submission will be your best when it comes to these items questioned above. It is your responsibility to make sure your formatting is correct, your spelling is correct, and all grammar is accurate. If I am not able to read your work, of course you will not get full credit. You must break your writing assignments down into parts. If there are 3 questions, number each response 1, 2, 3, etc. Please if you have any questions about this. Writing Assignment Due Dates: (20 pts. each) #1: Friday, August 30 th at 11:55pm (CH 1) #2: Friday, September 6 th at 11:55pm (CH 2) #3: Friday, September 13 th at 11:55pm (CH 3) #4: Friday, September 20 th at 11:55pm (CH 4) #5: Friday, September 27 th at 11:55pm (CH 5) #6: Friday, October 4 th at 11:55pm (CH 6) #7: Friday, October 11 th at 11:55pm (CH 7) #8: Friday, October 18 th at 11:55pm (CH 8) #9: Friday, October 25 th at 11:55pm (CH 9) #10: Friday, November 1 st at 11:55pm (CH 10) #11: Tuesday, November 5 th at 11:55pm (CH 11) #12: Friday, November 15 th at 1155pm (CH 12) #13: Friday, November 22 nd at 11:55pm (CH 13)

6 # 14: Tuesday, November 26 th at 11:55pm (CH 14) #15: Tuesday, December 3 rd at 11:55pm (CH 15 and epilogue) Optional Make-up writing assignment due: Tuesday, December 10 th at 11:55pm (Used to replace a missed or poor writing assignment grade.) Discussion Board Participation: You will be required to participate in 5 discussion board forums which will focus on controversial topics related to development across the lifespan. There will be a 16 point grading rubric posted in blackboard to help you focus your discussion. You must make one initial post to the prompt that I provide. Then, you must respond to two students posts. Due dates for all 3 posts for each forum are listed below. You may respond to more than 2 people; however, you will not receive extra credit for doing so. Please be sure that you review and are familiar with the grading rubric. There are some specific requirements listed in the grading rubric that MUST be included in your post to receive full credit. Each discussion board forum is worth 16 points. The discussion board forums are located under the Modules tab in blackboard. Then click on the folder labeled Discussion Board. Find the Discussion board forum and submit your post by the due date listed in the syllabus. Finally, I will be opening a forum, Meet and Greet, the first day of class. Students will have an opportunity to introduce themselves by writing a short biography. I will post a short biography as well. Students who post a biography and respond to 2 other students biographies will receive 5 bonus points. These bonus points will be added to test # 1. The deadline for all 3 posts is listed below. If you do not meet the deadline, you will not receive the bonus points. This is the only forum that is optional. Discussion Board Forum Due Dates: Forum 1: Meet and Greet (OPTIONAL) - worth 5 extra credit points (Added to test 1) Tuesday, August 27th: Initial post for Meet and Greet discussion board forum due by 11:55 pm tonight. Thursday, August 29th, 2013: 2 additional posts to 2 students for Meet and Greet forum due by 11:55pm tonight. Forum 2: Freedom vs. Caution Monday, September 23 rd, 2013: Initial post for Freedom vs. Caution discussion board forum due by 11:55pm tonight. Wednesday, September 25 th, 2013: 2 additional posts to 2 students for Freedom vs. Caution discussion board forum due by 11:55pm tonight. Forum 3: Is Spanking OK? Monday, September 30 th, 2013: Initial post for Is Spanking OK? discussion board forum due by 11:55pm tonight. Wednesday, October 2 nd, 2013: 2 additional posts to 2 students for Is Spanking OK? discussion board forum doe by 11:55pm tonight.

7 Forum 4: The Medicated Child/Drugs for Children Monday, October 7 th, 2013: Initial post for The Medicated Child/Drugs for Children discussion board forum due by 11:55pm tonight. Wednesday, October 9 th, 2013: 2 additional posts to 2 students for The Medicated Child/Drugs for Children discussion board forum due by 11:55pm tonight. Forum 5: What Makes a Good Parent? Monday, November 11 th : Initial post for What Makes a Good Parent? discussion board forum due tonight at 11:55pm. Wednesday, November 13 th : 2 additional posts to 2 students for What Makes a Good Parent? discussion board forum due tonight at 11:55pm. Forum 6: Social Networking Monday, November 18 th, 2013: Initial post for Social Networking discussion board forum due by 11:55pm tonight. Wednesday, November 20 th, 2013: 2 additional posts to 2 students for Social Networking discussion board forum due by 11:55pm tonight. Learning Curve Quizzes: Each week you will be required to complete learning curve quizzes. These quizzes are adapted to the particular needs of each student. Every students quiz will look different each week. You can access the quizzes via this blackboard course by clicking on the psychportal. This link will direct you to the textbook s psychportal where you will take your quiz. Learning Curve quizzes will be scored as a completion grade (i.e., You will receive all 10 points for each chapter of quizzes that you complete regardless of incorrect answers. You will receive a 0 if you do not complete all quizzes within a chapter regardless of correct answers.). The quizzes are designed to help you determine what you still need to study and review for the tests. For example, you will complete 2 quizzes (5 points each) within chapter 1 (each addressing a different topic within chapter 1). You must complete both quizzes to receive all 10 points for that chapter. There will be 2 quizzes to complete within each chapter. *Remember, you will receive 5 bonus points which will be added to your FINAL GRADE for completing ALL quizzes! In order to access the psychportal to take your quizzes you must first complete the instructions that are located in the Getting Started tab. You will only have to set up once. After you set yourself up with psychportal, you will only need to provide your password to access the webpage. Once you enter the psychportal, your quizzes are located under the Learningcurve tab. Here are the due dates for all of your quizzes: Q1: Thursday, August 29 th at 11:55pm (CH 1) Q2: Thursday, September 5 th at 11:55pm (CH 2)

8 Q3: Thursday, September 12 th at 11:55pm (CH 3) Q4: Thursday, September 19 th at 11:55pm (CH 4) Q5: Thursday, September 26 th at 11:55pm (CH 5) Q6: Thursday, October 3 rd at 11:55pm (CH 6) Q7: Thursday, October 10 th at 11:55pm (CH 7) Q8: Thursday, October 17 th at 11:55pm (CH 8) Q9: Thursday, October 24 th at 11:55pm (CH 9) Q10: Thursday, October 31 st at 11:55pm (CH 10) Q11: Monday, November 4 th at 11:55pm (CH 11) Q12: Thursday, November 14 th at 11:55pm (CH 12) Q13: Thursday, November 21 st at 11:55pm (CH 13) Q14: Monday, November 25 th at 11:55pm (CH 14) Q15: Monday, December 2 nd at 11:55pm (CH 15 and epilogue) *Remember, each chapter contains two quizzes.

9 University Policies: Students Rights and Responsibilities To know and understand the policies that affect your rights and responsibilities as a student at UT Tyler, please follow this link: Grade Replacement/Forgiveness and Census Date Policies: Students repeating a course for grade forgiveness (grade replacement) must file a Grade Replacement Contract with the Enrollment Services Center (ADM 230) on or before the Census Date of the semester in which the course will be repeated. Grade Replacement Contracts are available in the Enrollment Services Center or at Each semester s Census Date can be found on the Contract itself, on the Academic Calendar, or in the information pamphlets published each semester by the Office of the Registrar. Failure to file a Grade Replacement Contract will result in both the original and repeated grade being used to calculate your overall grade point average. Undergraduates are eligible to exercise grade replacement for only three course repeats during their career at UT Tyler; graduates are eligible for two grade replacements. Full policy details are printed on each Grade Replacement Contract. The Census Date is the deadline for many forms and enrollment actions that students need to be aware of. These include: Submitting Grade Replacement Contracts, Transient Forms, requests to withhold directory information, approvals for taking courses as Audit, Pass/Fail or Credit/No Credit. Receiving 100% refunds for partial withdrawals. (There is no refund for these after the Census Date) Schedule adjustments (section changes, adding a new class, dropping without a W grade) Being reinstated or re-enrolled in classes after being dropped for non-payment Completing the process for tuition exemptions or waivers through Financial Aid State-Mandated Course Drop Policy: Texas law prohibits a student who began college for the first time in fall 2007 or thereafter from dropping more than six courses during their entire undergraduate career. This includes courses dropped at another 2-year or 4-year Texas public college or university. For purposes of this rule, a dropped course is any course that is dropped after the census date (See Academic Calendar for the specific date). Exceptions to the 6-drop rule may be found in the catalog. Petitions for exemptions must be submitted to the Enrollment Services Center and must be accompanied by documentation of the extenuating circumstance. Please contact the Enrollment Services Center if you have any questions. Disability Services: In accordance with federal law, a student requesting accommodation must provide documentation of his/her disability to the Disability Services counselor. If you have a disability, including a learning disability, for which you request an accommodation, please contact the Disability Services office in UC 3150, or call (903)

10 Student Absence due to Religious Observance: Students who anticipate being absent from class due to a religious observance are requested to inform the instructor of such absences by the second class meeting of the semester. Student Absence for University-Sponsored Events and Activities: If you intend to be absent for a university-sponsored event or activity, you (or the event sponsor) must notify the instructor at least two weeks prior to the date of the planned absence. At that time the instructor will set a date and time when make-up assignments will be completed. Social Security and FERPA Statement: It is the policy of The University of Texas at Tyler to protect the confidential nature of social security numbers. The University has changed its computer programming so that all students have an identification number. The electronic transmission of grades (e.g., via ) risks violation of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act; grades will not be transmitted electronically. Emergency Exits and Evacuation: Everyone is required to exit the building when a fire alarm goes off. Follow your instructor s directions regarding the appropriate exit. If you require assistance during an evacuation, inform your instructor in the first week of class. Do not re-enter the building unless given permission by University Police, Fire department, or Fire Prevention Services. Student Standards of Academic Conduct: Disciplinary proceedings may be initiated against any student who engages in scholastic dishonesty, including, but not limited to, cheating, plagiarism, collusion, the submission for credit of any work or materials that are attributable in whole or in part to another person, taking an examination for another person, any act designed to give unfair advantage to a student or the attempt to commit such acts. (i) Cheating includes, but is not limited to: copying from another student s test paper; using during a test, materials not authorized by the person giving the test; Failure to comply with instructions given by the person administering the test; possession during a test of materials which are not authorized by the person giving the test, such as class notes or specifically designed crib notes. The presence of textbooks constitutes a violation if they have been specifically prohibited by the person administering the test; using, buying, stealing, transporting, or soliciting in whole or part the contents of an unadministered test, test key, homework solution, or computer program; collaborating with or seeking aid from another student during a test or other assignment without authority; discussing the contents of an examination with another student who will take the examination; divulging the contents of an examination, for the purpose of preserving questions for use by another, when the instructor has designated that the examination is not to be removed from the examination room or not to be returned or to be kept by the student;

11 substituting for another person, or permitting another person to substitute for oneself to take a course, a test, or any course-related assignment; paying or offering money or other valuable thing to, or coercing another person to obtain an unadministered test, test key, homework solution, or computer program, or information about an unadministered test, test key, homework solution or computer program; falsifying research data, laboratory reports, and/or other academic work offered for credit; taking, keeping, misplacing, or damaging the property of U. T. Tyler, or of another, if the student knows or reasonably should know that an unfair academic advantage would be gained by such conduct; and, misrepresenting facts, including providing false grades or resumes, for the purpose of obtaining an academic or financial benefit or injuring another student academically or financially. (ii) Plagiarism includes, but is not limited to, the appropriation, buying, receiving as a gift, or obtaining by any means another s work and the submission of it as one s own academic work offered for credit. (iii) Collusion includes, but is not limited to, the unauthorized collaboration with another person in preparing academic assignments offered for credit or collaboration with another person to commit a violation of any section of the rules on scholastic dishonesty. CEP Vision and Mission and Program Standards Vision The College of Education and Psychology is nationally recognized and respected for its academic programs and opportunities. It is a center of academic excellence, scholarly inquiry, and public service. The College prepares leaders to meet the critical challenges of the 21st Century, to make significant contributions to local and global communities, and to work toward individual and cultural equity. Mission The mission of the College of Education and Psychology is to provide a positive environment that fosters the acquisition of knowledge and skills. The mission is individually and collectively realized through a community of scholars that contributes to knowledge through scholarly inquiry; organizes knowledge for application, understanding and communication; and provides leadership and service. Additionally, the College is committed to affirming and promoting global perspectives, cultural diversity, and respect for individual differences as a means of enhancing learning, service, and scholarship