PSYC 2215-02: Child & Adolescent Development
Anoka Ramsey Community College
Fall 2007
Instructor: Laurie A. Wolfe
Email: laurie.wolfe@anokaramsey.edu
Office: H228
Phone: 763-433-1452
Office Hours:
Tues & Thurs 9am-10:30am
Mon 4pm-6pm
This course meets Tues and Thurs from 1:00pm-2:15pm
Contacting the instructor:
I will be holding office hours specifically to meet with students to discuss matters related to this course. If you would like to see me but are unable to come during office hours, I would be more than happy to make an appointment with you. In order to set up an appointment email me.
Required Texts:
Feldman, R. (2007). Child Development, 4/e. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.
Dixon, W.E. (2003). Twenty Studies that Revolutionized Child Psychology. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.
Optional Study Guide:
Feldman, R. (2007). Study Guide for Child Development: Fourth edition. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.
Purpose:
The purpose of this course is to provide a basic introduction to various topics in the field of child psychology.
Goals of the course:
By the end of this course, students will be able to demonstrate:
Knowledge of important terms, central research findings, trends, sequences, classifications, methods, principles, theories and other factual information from the broad field of child development, based primarily on assigned readings and classroom lectures;
Ø Comprehension of material from assigned readings and lecture:
- translating elements of the content into students’ own words;
- interpreting the meaning of written and oral materials;
Ability to apply principles, trends, generalizations, and theories in child development to specific situations (e.g., as presented in examples);
Ability to analyze elements, relationships, and organizing principles (or themes) as represented in specific scenarios, including fictional examples and published research;
Ability to synthesize information from one or more specific sources, and themes abstracted from such sources, in written and oral communications;
Ability to evaluate abstractions, generalizations, conclusions, and/or recommendations, based on analysis of internal and external evidence of validity, reliability, feasibility, sound logic, and the like, as those elements are represented in textbook readings and readings from published research.
Specific Learning Outcomes:
Students will be able to identify the cognitive, social, personality and physical changes occurring as a function of development.
Students will demonstrate an understanding of developmental theories.
Students will be able to critically evaluate developmental theories.
Students will be able to critically evaluate information from popular media in light of professional research.
Students will understand and be able to apply developmental theories to practical situations.
Students will demonstrate the capacity to express ideas clearly, coherently, and grammatically in both oral and written form.
Students will demonstrate an understanding of cross-cultural influences on various aspects of child & adolescent development.
Course Requirements:
Class Participation. Classes will be structured so that a significant amount of time will be devoted to the discussion of assigned readings and cooperative learning activities. You should come to each class prepared to discuss, raise questions, and answer questions concerning the assigned topic for that day. Your preparation and class participation will be assessed each meeting time through your active participation in class discussion and activities. (50 points)
Readings. Class readings will be assigned to provide you with important background
information necessary to understand the class lectures, and to facilitate your participation in the
discussions. Class reading assignments are listed in this syllabus. You will be expected to have studied the readings before each class and be prepared to participate actively.
Attendance. While specific points are not assigned to each class period, multiple absences will negatively impact your participation points. If you miss class, it is your responsibility to contact the instructor to find out what information was covered, get any handouts or notes, and to hand in any material due. Missing class is not an excuse for missing assignments. Assignments not handed in at the beginning of class on the day it is due will be considered late. See policy on "late assignments" below.
Homework Assignments – There will be 5 homework assignments throughout the semester. The date each assignment is due is clearly indicated on the schedule of assignments at the end of the syllabus. A detailed description of the assignment will be handed out the class period before the assignment is due. (10 points each)
Late Assignments - All assignments must be turned in at the beginning of class on the date it is due. Any assignments handed in after the specified date/time will be considered "late". All late assignments will be given half-credit, that is, the total points earned on that assignment will be cut in half. The last day to hand in any late work is December 6th.
Examinations. There will be two written examinations, a mid-term and a final, that will contain information discussed in class and described in the readings. Examination questions will be provided in multiple-choice, short answer, and essay format. (100 points each)
Missed Exams – Written documentation of illness or personal tragedy is required in order to be excused from taking an examination on the scheduled date. Any student who must miss an exam must contact the instructor either prior to or within 24 hours after the scheduled exam time. Unacceptable excuses or late requests will result in a "zero" score for the missed exam. Make-up exams for acceptable excuses must be completed within two weeks of the missed exam. If more than one exam is missed or you cannot make-up the exam within two weeks, then you must meet with the instructor to determine a course of action.
Application Project. All students are required to complete an application project. This project should be directly related to one specific topic covered in the course. It should result in an end product that either parents or children can use, such as a game, toy, or book. The end product must be the student’s ORIGINAL work, although students may work in groups of 2-3 on one project. Each student must submit their own 5 page paper explaining the theory behind their product. Each paper should reflect the students own work and writing style. Even if students work in groups on the project, everyone will be graded individually based on the quality of their paper discussing the project. More specific information will be given out the second week of class. All students will be required to present their project to the class at the end of the course. Students working in groups may present in groups (100 points)
Academic Dishonesty. Any student who cheats or plagiarizes on any coursework will receive a grade of "zero" on the work in question. In addition, a report regarding the academic dishonesty will be given to all appropriate RVCC officials.
A Note on Classroom Behavior. I expect all students to conduct themselves in a professional manner. Students should be on time to class. If you need to come into class late, do so in a quiet and discreet manner and sit in the back of class. Cell phones should be turned off or placed on silent mode and put away during class time. Cell phones and/or pagers are not permitted in the classroom during exams. Disruptive behavior of any sort will not be tolerated. If I believe that a student is acting in a way that disrupts my ability to teach or other student’s learning, I will not hesitate to have that student removed from the classroom.
Important Note
Please contact the instructor if you have any difficulties that may interfere with any of the course requirements. Modifications can be made to accommodate individual needs. In addition, students who may need special considerations due to a disability should make an appointment to meet with the instructor at the beginning of the course to discuss any necessary modifications. The instructor is committed to complying with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation act of 1973.
Grading Procedure:
Homework Assignments (5 @ 10 points) 50 points
Examinations (2 @ 100 points) 200 points
Application Project & Presentation 100 points
Participation 50 points
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Total Points Possible 400 points
Grades will be assigned based on a percentage of total points earned:
A 90-100 C 70-77
B+ 88-89 D 60-69
B 80-87 F £ 59
C+ 78-79