Manatee Community College
Department of Social & Behavioral Sciences
Human Development: Life Span / Fall 2008
CRN 11974 / Time: 8-9:53 am / Days: M/W/F
Instructor: Suzanne Tomasso, M.A., I.M.H.S., I.T.D.S.
Office: Building 9, Room
Office Hours: By appointment; please contact instructor
Telephone: 752-5314
E-Mail:
Semester: October 13, 2008 –December 5, 2008
Final Exams: December 8-11, 2008
Text: Development Through the Lifespan (4th Ed.) by Laura Berk;
Allyn & Bacon Publishing
COURSE DESCRIPTION DEP 2004 Human Development: Lifespan (3) (A.A.)
Prerequisite: PSY 2012 with a grade “C” or better. This course is a study of human growth & development from birth through adulthood in an effort to describe and explain changes in human behavior across the years of the lifespan. Theories using information from psychology as well as biology, sociology and anthropology are discussed to allow for understanding, predicting & explaining human behavior.
COURSE PERFORMANCE STANDARDS
Upon successful completion of this course, the student should be able to:
1. Describe patterns of human development throughout the life span.
2. Identify patterns of growth to various age levels.
3. Describe patterns of cognitive development.
4. Identify leading theorists & their major contributions to the field of developmental psychology.
5. Analyze the interplay of heredity & environment on the developing person.
6. Describe the personal & social adjustments normally occurring at various periods in the lifecycle.
7. Compare significant genetic, environmental, sociological & anthropological influences on one’s growth and development.
8. Evaluate research methods.
9. Examine personal experiences relative to theories, themes and topics of human growth & development.
10. Examine course content through reading, writing, speaking or listening.
11. Demonstrate the use of technology through class assignments and/or activities.
12. Demonstrate the ability to collect, analyze and organize information from a variety of sources through classroom discussion or activities.
ATTENDANCE POLICY
Regular class attendance is expected. Common sense tells students that attending class is the easiest way to learn the material that the instructor feels is central to the course. If students choose to miss class, common sense also says that these students have no right to complain about their performance in the course.
There is a privilege earned by those who maintain perfect attendance. These diligent students will be able to drop their lowest grade at the end of the semester; thus improving their chances of getting a better grade. Perfect attendance refers to never missing one class for the entire semester.
Students are expected to come to class prepared and to arrive promptly. ALL cell phones should be turned “off” until students exit this class. No phones, ipods, etc. are to be visible during class --- these are unnecessary distractions. Failure to comply with this class rule will result in a loss of points from a student’s final grade (5 points for each offense).
Students are also expected to demonstrate active listening, to participate in class discussions and any related class activities.
Attendance policy continued…
Students are also expected to demonstrate active listening, to participate in class discussions and any related class activities.
Attendance will be taken at the start of each class. Please note that after 4 hours of missed class, students may be asked to withdraw.
It is the student’s responsibility to access any missed lecture notes, classwork and homework. Students will have one week to complete and submit any missed work for credit. Any missed work not completed in the one week timeframe will count as a zero. It is the student’s responsibility to be aware of the one week deadline and to adhere to it, if they wish to receive credit for their work and maintain a passing grade in this class.
INDIVIDUAL TIMELINE SEMESTER PROJECTS
Students will actively prepare & complete one individual timeline project during the semester. Some class time will be allotted for work on these projects; but students will need to plan additional time to work on their projects outside of class in order to receive the best possible grade.
GRADING POLICY
A grade of “C” or better shall be considered successful completion in courses that are part of an Associate in Arts or an Associate in Science degrees. The grade scale for this course will be based on a 100 point scale as follows:
90-100 = A 80-89 = B 70-79 = C 60-69 = D below 60 = F
Grades will be based on classwork & homework, one individual timeline project, quizzes and exams.
· Scores from all classwork & homework assignments will be averaged together to yield one exam grade.
· The individual timeline project will yield one exam grade.
· Quizzes will be averaged together and will yield one exam grade.
· Exam grades will stand on their own.
Exams and quizzes will consist of a varying number of questions and various formats (i.e. multiple choice, short answer, true or false, matching, etc.). Exam and quiz questions will be taken from both lecture materials and from the assigned textbook reading for this course.
It is important that you read the textbook and attend class lectures in order to achieve good grades in this class.
Students are expected to take each exam or quiz during the regular class period, on the designated date. As a general rule, there are no make-up exams. However, if you do miss an exam due to an emergency AND have contacted the instructor via e-mail or phone message, you will be expected to take the exam on the day that you return to class. The instructor reserves the right to refuse a make-up exam. Missed exams, quizzes, projects or assignments will receive zero points, and will be averaged into the student’s final semester grade.
Online Tutoring and Study Skills Support
A collection of Web sites to help students enhance their study skills & provide tutoring support for coursework is available 24/7. Emphasis is on math, English & reading improvement. Support for many other subjects is also available. Accessing these resources is easy:
a) Go to mccfl.edu/Title3.
b) Click Student Success Resources link.
c) Click Virtual Tutoring and Study Skills Support link.
Email:
Students are required to communicate with their instructor using their official MCC email address.
EXTRA CREDIT
Students may earn a total of 5 extra credit points, a number of times throughout the semester. To be considered for extra credit, students must find a recent article in print (magazine, newspaper, journal, internet) which has to do with one of the topics discussed in our most recent lecture. Students must submit: 1) an actual hard copy of the article you read
2) a short paragraph (no more than 10 sentences)
--highlighting the major points of the article
2) 2-3 sentences directly connecting your article to lecture or text
Students may earn a full 5 extra credit points, or some portion of these points, based on the content of their paragraph. NO extra credit points will be earned if a hard copy of the article is not submitted with the summary paragraph. Extra credit work must be submitted on the date listed on the attached class calendar. There are NO exceptions. All earned extra credit points will be added directly to the next quiz or exam grade. All extra credit paragraphs must be typed.
WITHDRAWAL POLICY
The Social & Behavioral Science Department cares about the success of all students. Students may benefit from consulting with their instructor prior to withdrawing from a course. Often the instructor can assist with challenges that arise during a semester; so withdrawal may be avoided. In particular, scheduling problems (i.e. changes in work hours) may be resolved simply by switching to another section of the course. Students may also be eligible for support services the college provides, including tutoring & other academic support, as well as assistance with personal problems. If however, it becomes necessary to withdraw, the following information will apply: In accordance with the Manatee Community College policy as stated in the college catalogue, students may withdraw from any or all courses without academic penalty of a WF, by the withdrawal deadline as listed in the Manatee Community College academic calendar. This semester, the date is June 2, 2008. The student must take responsibility for initiating the withdrawal procedures. Students are strongly encouraged to talk to instructors first, before taking any withdrawal action.
STATEMENT OF PLAGIARISM
Plagiarism is the use of ideas, facts, opinions, illustrative material, data, direct or indirect wording of another scholar and/or writer—professional or student—without giving proper credit. Expulsion, suspension or lesser penalty may be imposed for plagiarism.
STANDARDS OF CONDUCT
Students are expected to abide by all Lancer Student Handbook guidelines. In addition, students are expected to observe acceptable classroom behavior, which is behavior that fosters an atmosphere of learning, free and open exchange of thought, and respect for the professor and classmates within the learning environment. Inappropriate behavior, in any form, will not be tolerated and may result in the student being asked to leave the classroom, make a course section change, removal from the course, or suspension/dismissal from the college.
HUMAN DEVELOPMENT -- COURSE ASSIGNMENTS:
DATE TOPIC ASSIGNED READING
Week of 10/13 Syllabus review/ project review Chapter 1
Prenatal & Newborn Development Chapter 3
EXAM #1 October 17th *Extra credit due*
Week of 10/20- 10/27 Infancy Chapters 4, 5 & 6
October 24th Library Day (go directly to the library)
October 27, 2008------Last day to withdraw without academic penalty------
EXAM #2 October 29th *Extra credit due*
October 31st Library Day (project work in the library)
Week of 11/3-11/10 Childhood Chapters 7, 8 & 9
November 7th Library Day (go directly to the library)
EXAM #3 October 14th *Extra credit due*
November 11th------NO SCHOOL------Memorial Day Holiday
Week of 11/17 Adolescence Chapters 11 & 12
November 21st Library Day (go directly to the library)
EXAM #4 November 21st *Extra credit due*
Week of 11/24 Early Adulthood / Middle Adulthood Chapters 13 & 14
15 & 16
November 24, 2008 ALL TIMELINE PROJECTS DUE !!!
November 27-30------Thanksgiving Holiday------college closed
EXAM # 5 December 1st *Extra credit due*
Week of 12/1 Late Adulthood Chapters 17, 18 & 19
Friday, 12/5 LAST DAY OF CLASS
**find out if you have to take the final!**
FINAL EXAMS December 8-11, 2008 To Be Announced