1Psyc 230 (Sec 01): Lifespan Developmental Psychology -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Semester: Spring 2006 Lecture Time: Monday, Wednesday, Friday 10-10:50am Lecture Room: Young Hall Rm 411 Course Professor: Name: Jenessa Steele, PhD Office: Washington Hall B15 (Basement) Phone: 831-5256 Email: [email protected] Website: www.radford.edu/~jcsteele Office Hours: TBA, or by appt. GENERAL COURSE POLICIES Course Description: Psyc230 Lifespan Developmental Psychology provides a survey of human development with emphasis on change in physical, cognitive, and social-emotional processes. This course emphasizes lifespan developmental psychology theory and concepts, developmental research methods, cultural differences, and application of empirical findings in human development to real world issues. Student Learning Objectives: With the successful completion of this course, students should have a sound understanding of the psychological, physical, and socio-emotional aspects of human development. Among the learning objectives for this course include the following: • Gain knowledge regarding lifespan developmental psychology theory and concepts, as well as developmental research methods commonly employed in empirical research. • Understand and demonstrate course concepts via, in-class verbal communication, in-class activities, written assignments and exams. • Research and critique current psychological, physical, and socio-emotional issues facing humans. Be able to coherently write and discuss potential changes in current issues facing human development and whether changes might be due to age, time, or cohort effects. • Understand the interacting roles of heredity and environment in human development. • Thoughtfully discuss moderating and mediating factors contributing to human development in addition to age group (e.g., family dynamics, gender, cultural, socioeconomic differences).2 Course Textbooks & Readings Santrock, J. W. (2007). A topical approach to life-span development (3rd Ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill. Students are required to complete any assigned readings before the class in which they will be discussed. There will also be outside readings to be completed for the course. You will be informed of the specific readings ahead of time. Class Attendance and Participation • Students are required to complete assigned readings before the class in which they will be discussed. There will also be outside readings to be completed for the course. • If applicable, you will need to print handouts and/or articles to bring to lecture, so please keep your printing account credited. • Regular class participation will be worth approximately 14% of your course grade. Thus, you CANNOT get an ‘A’ in this class, unless you come to class! Class attendance and participation is expected. Students will be encouraged to contribute regularly through class discussions and activities. Although the textbook will help students’ understanding of research methods, in-class lectures and discussions will provide additional and testable material. Thus, students are encouraged to attend and participate in every class. Individual Class Participation One of the main goals for this course is to stimulate student knowledge and discussion of developmental issues. The only way students will be able to intelligently speak of such issues is if they have completed the course readings prior to class day. In order to ensure student reading and stimulate student class participation, each student will earn an individual class participation grade. Each student in class will be randomly called upon by the instructor FIVE times throughout the semester. The question posed to the student will be related to readings that were to be completed for that day’s class. If the student answers the question correctly, he/she will receive 12 points for that day’s question. If the student attempts to answer the question, but does not fully or correctly answer the question, they will receive 9 points for that day’s question. If the student is present in class, but does not know the answer to the question, they will receive 4 points for that day’s question. If the student is not present in class the day she/he is called upon, they will receive ZERO points for that days question. I will drop one of the attendance days (i.e., you can miss one of your attendance days or drop a low attendance score). Thus, the maximum points to be received for in-class individual participation will be 4 days X 12 points = 48points. Please keep in mind you may participate without being called upon☺ I will keep track of your extra attendance throughout the semester and will consider these points somehow at the end of the semester. I will allow an additional 10 points of extra credit to be accumulated through extra in-class participation. Extra in-class participation involves answering questions that other students might not be able to answer, providing additional insight into a topic of discussion, or asking important questions. COURSE REQUIREMENTS3Group Class Participation Another goal for this course is to allow you to learn from your fellow classmates. Thus, this class will hold two in-class activities worth 10 points each. In these activities, each group member will be expected to equally contribute to the activity. The activity will be related to class concepts and will likely demonstrate ‘real world’ scenarios and encourage critical thinking skills. Thus, the maximum points to be received for in-class group participation will be 4 days x 8 points = 32 points. These activity days will be unannounced. Class Assignments Students will be required to complete 1 take-home, written assignments of approximately 5-7 pages. This assignment is worth 80 points. This written assignment will ask you to consider multiple sides of a current life-span topic related to developmental psychology. Dr. Steele will randomly assign each student their topic and subsequent due dates. Papers will be turned in periodically throughout the semester as we discuss the life-span issues. Students writing papers on the relevant topic will be asked to report what they have found and help lead class discussion on the topic. Details regarding the assignments will be provided at a later date. However, it is expected that students read assigned readings related to the