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Sibylle Georgianna, Ph.D.
Syllabus for PSYC 7 “Developmental Psychology”
Section 18420
BGS 245
Tue/Thur 9:00 a.m. -10:15 a.m.
Spring 2013
01/22/2013-05/21/2013
Instructor:Sibylle Georgianna, Ph.D. ()
If you contact me by email, please make subject “PSYC 7”, your name, and section number.
Text (Required):
Berger, K.S. (2006). The Developing Person Through Childhood and Adolescence (7th Ed.). Worth Publishers. (ISBN 13: 978-0-205-54892-7; ISBN 10: 0-205-54892-X).
Note: online ordering of textbooks (e.g., half.com) may take up to 2 weeks. If you have not ordered yours two weeks prior to the class starting, please buy your book on campus. You must have the textbook at the beginning of the class in order to successfully complete the course. There is no extension of assignment deadlines due to textbooks not arriving on time!
Prerequisite:Psych 1
Course introduction:Focuses on the major theoretical viewpoints and research approaches in the field of developmental psychology. Covers developmental stages of children from conception through adolescence focusing on children's social, emotional, cognitive, and physical development.
Course Goal and Objectives: At the end of this class, you will be able to:
1. Define and provide examples of the major developmental issues of nature vs. nurture, continuity vs. discontinuity, stability vs. change, universality vs. context specificity.
2. Compare and contrast various theoretical frameworks of developmental
psychology.
3. Differentiate between the various methods of investigation used in
developmental studies.
4. Describe the processes of heredity, human reproduction, and prenatal
development.
5. Identify major developmental milestones for children from conception
through adolescence in the areas of social, emotional, cognitive, andphysical development.
6. Evaluate the influence of biological, maturational, and environmental
factors affecting the physical, social, emotional, and cognitive
development of children from conception through adolescence.
7. Analyze how, social, economic, political, historical and cultural contexts influence human development.
Information Competency Requirement:
This class meets the college’s Information Competency Requirement. Information competency is the ability to find, evaluate, use, and communicate information in all its various formats. It combines aspects of library literacy, research methods, and technological literacy. Information competency includes consideration of the ethical and legal implications of information and requires the application of both critical thinking and communication skills. The term project (that is, the research paper meets the Information Competency Requirement (see below).
Evaluation: Homework (i.e., reading the chapters,
develop four observation tasks and interview
questions, 10 points each) 40
Four Lab Assignments at 70 points each280
Term Project (i.e., research paper) 90
Online quizzes (2 per week, 5 points each)160
Exam 1 50
Exam 2 40
Exam 3 50
Attendance 32
Total Points742
A =90%+ B=80%+ C=70%+ D=60%+ F=BELOW 60% of Points
1. Homework:Reading the chaptersahead of time is required to familiarize yourself with the course content so that you can actively participate in class and develop successful observation tasks and interview questions.You will need to devote at least six (6) hours of work per week in addition to attending the three (3) hours of class per week in order to be successful in this class.
Weekly MANDATORY Online Quizzes:
There will be two weekly mandatory quizzes posted for you on Blackboard. To succeed in the weekly quizzes, you will need to keep reading the chapter that is assigned for the week. The quizzes prepare you for the lectures. The first quiz needs to be completed by Tuesday morning at 9 a.m. and prepares you for the information that we will discuss on that Tuesday. The second quiz needs to be completed by Thursday morning at 9a.m. and prepares you for the information that we will discuss in class on that Thursday (see course calendar below). Please note that the weekly quizzes are only available until their due dates (see course calendar). It is your responsibility to check the quizzes’ due dates and to complete them on time. Each quiz (5 questions) can only be taken once within 30 minutes.
2. Term Project: Research paper:Five pages on a topic directly related to the course. Your paper will need to consist of (a) statement of research issue/question, (b) research summary, (c) application of research, and (d) conclusion.You will receive instructions on how to write the paper at the beginning of the semester.
Your research paper is to be typed, double-spaced, and submitted on time (for due dates, please see the course schedule below). No late papers will be accepted, so please plan ahead. Please note that I do not accept papers via email. If you do not submit your papers, points will be deducted and you will be no longer eligible for extra credit. Please note: If you take somebody else’s work and claim it as yours (i.e., plagiarize), your assignment will receive zero points. Please visit the website on plagiarism (see link below).
3. Lab Assignments:You will need to complete four out of the fivefollowing assignments:
(Group format,(1) Parent Interview;
no more than 3 (2) Infant Toddler Observation (age 0-2; required); AND
group members(3) Preschool Observation (age 3-5; required);
(4) Observation or interview of 6-12 year old;
(5) Interview of 13-17 year old.
Examples: Student A chooses assignments (1), (2- mandatory), (3- mandatory), and (5); student B chooses assignments (2- mandatory), (3- mandatory), (4) and (5).
Your interviews and observations require:
(1) completing the standardized interview or observation AND follow up questionnaires (forms posted in Blackboard in “Observation and Interview Materials” folder) PLUS submitting (1) to the instructor at the due dates (see below) PLUS
(2) a 5-10 minute small group presentation in class (2 powerpoint slides per group:
-description of observation/interview questions;
-description of participants of your observation/interview;
-results of your observation/interview.
You can present video footage of your observation or interview.
Please note that 25 points will be deducted from late assignments or from work turned in without attendance and participation in full class meeting on the date the assignment is due. This means you must arrive on time, participate actively, and stay through the complete class. NO EXCEPTIONS!
4. Exams:During exams, any talking or unauthorized use of notes and textbook will be considered cheating. You will receive zero points on any project/assignment/test which violates this policy and I will file an Academic Dishonesty Report with the college.
There will be three multiple-choice exams that cover the information presented in the course. Each exam is not comprehensive: each exam will only deal with the chapters as indicated below. Please note that the weekly quizzes are the study guides for the exams- what you will see on the weekly quizzes is highly likely to be tested in the exams. You will need to purchase three scantron test forms, one for each exam. If you need an English translation dictionary during the exam, please bring a paper copy, since no electronic devices are allowed during the exams. If you miss the first or second exam, you may take a makeup of that exam on the day of the final exam, after you take the final exam. You can makeup either the first or the second exam, but not both. The grading of the makeup exams will be tougher than the grading of the regular exams, so try not to miss the regularly scheduled exams. You need to notify me within a week of missing the exam if you plan to make up the exam. If you have a scheduling conflict of the day of the final exam, please see me to work out an earlier test date. You will need to bring documentation explaining why you would like to take the exam early (e.g., death in the family). You cannot makeup the final exam after final’s week.
5. Attendance:Your class attendance is part of the final grade. Attendance is taken at the beginning of each class meeting. If you are late (i.e., arriving 10 minutes after the class starts), you must inform me of your presence the same day, otherwise your late behavior will count as absence. If you are late, points will be deducted from your attendance component and you will be no longer eligible for extra credit. If you need to leave a class session early, please notify me at the beginning of the class session. If you miss six or more hours of instruction, you can be dropped (if needed). This does not mean that you will be automatically dropped; if for whatever reason you are required to drop the course, please do so in the Admissions/Registration Office.
Active participation in the class (e.g., asking questions, facilitating discussions) is greatly encouraged and counts towards the attendance component of your grade. However, private conversations with other students, surfing the Internet, checking emails, visible or turned on cell phones/iPhones as well as working on assignments for other courses during lectures is disruptive and will result in point deductions from the attendance component of your grade. Students who are disruptive will be asked to leave the class and will lose attendance points. If you are disruptive more than once, you will be no longer eligible for extra credit. If you are using your phone during class, you are disruptive. Your phone may have to be removed from you until the end of the class.
6. Useful Websites:What is plagiarism and how to avoid it:
General tips for writing an academic paper:
Tips for taking multiple-choice tests:
7. Blackboard:Most of the class sessions contain activities that require handouts. Weekly quizzes require you two use Blackboard twice a week. All handouts are available to you in Blackboard. It is your responsibility to log into Blackboard, access and print course materials. If there are class activities that require handouts, you will need to print the handout prior to the session and bring them to the class meeting. Therefore, please check each week to complete your weekly quizzes and check if there are materials posted that you will need to print for the upcoming class session. Study guides for each exam will also be available in Blackboard. All lecture slides will be available to you prior to each class meeting. I advise you to print them in a “handout” format.
To access Blackboard, go to
Click on LOGIN button (left side of screen)
Your user name is the first part of your Saddleback email user name (e.g., asmith4, not the entire Saddleback email address
Your password is your email password
For help with Blackboard, go to
8. School Email:When you registered at Saddleback, you received an email account and password, as shown on your registration receipt, e.g., asmith4. Please check this email frequently since I may send emails with regards to course materials or other important announcements.
9. Computer Labs:IMC Lab, BGS 248
SM 207
10. Deadlines:See class schedule website
11. Disabilities:Students with documented disabilities who may need educational accomodations need to inform me and the Disabled Student Programs and Services (DSP&S) Office at the beginning of the class. The DSP&S Office is located in the SSC Building, Room 113 (phone: (949) 582-4885).
12. Child Development Center:
The two mandatory observations can be conducted in Saddleback’s Child Development Center (see campus map for location). You may observe children (a) by signing up for a spot in the group observation room (no TB test necessary) or (b) by signing up for participation in a classroom (requires a negative TB test conducted at the first week of class in the Student Health Center).
You are responsible to sign up for an observation time (observation room space is limited-you will need to reserve your spot!). Please email Lisa Cavallaro: or call (949) 582-4582 to reserve a spot.
Please coordinate with your instructor to ensure that the child development staff will receive a copy of your observation task PRIOR to your observation. If the staff receives your observation task early enough, they may be able to incorporate it in their instruction at the time when you are observing the children.
Course Calendar*
Date / Topic / Reading/To Do / Assignments Due at Class MeetingPart 1: Internal and External Influences
Week 1
01/21-01/25 / Welcome
Introduction to DevelopmentalPsychology / Ch.1 / Quiz # 1 on Ch. 1
Due 01/27/13 at 11:59 p.m.
Quiz # 2 on Ch. 1
Due 01/27/13 at 11:59 p.m.
Week 2
01/28-02/01 / Introduction to Developmental Theories / Ch. 2
Develop parent interview questions
Review topics for term paper / Quiz # 3 on Ch. 2
Due 01/29/13
at 9:00 a .m.
Quiz # 4 on Ch. 2
Due 01/31/13
at 9 a.m.
Parent interview questions sign off in class on 01/31/13
Week 3
02/04-02/08 / Heredity and Environment / Ch.3
Conduct parent interviews
Decide on topic for term paper / Quiz # 5 on Ch. 3
Due 02/05/13 at 9:00 a .m.
Quiz # 6 on Ch. 3
Due 02/07/13
at 9 a.m.
Term paper topic sign off in class on 02/07/13
Week 4
02/11-02/15 / Prenatal Development and Birth / Ch. 4
Prepare first draft of term paper / Parent Interviews
Group presentations
Quiz # 7 on Ch. 4
Due 02/12/13 at 9:00 a .m.
Quiz # 8 on Ch. 4
Due 02/14/13
at 9 a.m.
Week 5
02/18-02/22 / First Two Years: Biosocial Development / Ch. 5
Develop age 0-2 observation
Tasks
Prepare first draft of term paper / Quiz # 9 on Ch. 5
Due 02/19/13 at 9:00 a .m.
Quiz # 10 on Ch. 5
Due 02/21/13
at 9 a.m.
Observation tasks sign off in class on 02/21/13
Week 6
02/25-03/01 / First Two Years: Cognitive Development / Ch. 6
Conduct age 0-2 observation
(Saddleback Child Development Center) / Quiz # 11 on Ch. 6
Due 02/26/13 at 9:00 a .m.
Quiz # 12 on Ch. 6
Due 02/28/13
at 9:00 a.m.
Week 7
03/04-03/08 / First Two Years: Psychosocial Development / Ch. 7
Draft of term paper due in class / Observation
Ages 0-2
Group presentations
Quiz # 13 on Ch. 7
Due 03/05/13 at 9:00 a .m.
Quiz # 14 on Ch. 7
Due 03/07/13
at 9 a.m.
Draft of term paper due 03/07/13 in class
Week 7/8 / Exam 1 (Chapters 1-7)
Part 2: Emphases on Abilities, Emotions, Gender, Deviance, and the Environment
Week 8
03/11-03/15 / The Play Years: Biosocial Development / Ch. 8
Develop age 3-5 observation tasks
Write final term paper / Quiz # 15 on Ch. 8
Due 03/12/13 at 9:00 a .m.
Quiz # 16 on Ch. 8
Due 03/19/13
at 9 a.m.
Age 3-5 observation tasks sign off on 03/19/13 in class
Week 9
03/25-03/29 / The Play Years: Cognitive Development / Ch. 9
Conduct age 3-5 observations
(Saddleback Child Development Center)
Write final term paper / Quiz # 17 on Ch. 9
Due 03/26/13 at 9:00 a .m.
Quiz # 18 on Ch. 9
Due 03/28/13
at 9 a.m.
Week 10
04/01-04/05 / The Play Years: Psychosocial Development / Ch. 10
Write final term paper / Observation
Ages 3-5
Group presentations
Quiz # 19 on Ch. 10
Due 04/02/13 at 9:00 a .m.
Quiz # 20 on Ch. 10
Due 04/04/13
at 9 a.m.
Week 11
04/08-04/12 / The School Years: Biosocial Development / Ch. 11
Develop age 6-12 interview questions/observation task
Term paper due on 04/11/13 / Quiz # 21 on Ch. 11
Due 04/09/13 at 9:00 a .m.
Quiz # 22 on Ch. 11
Due 04/11/13
at 9 a.m.
Age 6-12 interview questions sign off in class on 04/12/13
Term paper due 04/11/13 in class
Week 11/12 / Exam 2 (Chapters 8-11)
Week 12
04/15-04/18 / The School Years: Cognitive Development / Ch. 12
Conduct age 6-12 interview / Quiz # 23 on Ch. 12
Due 04/16/13 at 9:00 a .m.
DRAFT term paper due 04/16/13
Quiz # 24 on Ch. 12
Due 04/18/13
at 9 a.m.
Week 13
04/22-04/26 / The School Years: Psychosocial Development / Ch. 13 / Interviews
Ages 6-12 Group presentations
Quiz # 25 on Ch. 13
Due 04/23/13 at 9:00 a .m.
Quiz # 26 on Ch. 13
Due 04/25/13
at 9 a.m.
Week 14
04/29-05/03 / Adolescence: Biosocial Development / Ch. 14
Develop age 13-18 interview questions / Quiz # 27 on Ch. 14
Due 04/30/13 at 9:00 a .m.
Quiz # 28 on Ch. 14
Due 05/02/13
at 9:00 a.m.
Age 13-18 interview questions sign off
in class on 05/02/2013
Week 15
05/06-05/10 / Adolescence: Cognitive Development / Ch. 15
Conduct age 13-18 interviews / Quiz # 29 on Ch. 15
Due 05/07/13 at 9:00 a .m.
Quiz # 30 on Ch. 15
Due 05/09/13
at 9:00 a.m.
Week 16
05/13—5/17 / Adolescence: Psychosocial Development / Ch.16 / Interviews
Ages 13-18
Group presentations
Quiz # 31 on Ch. 16
Due 05/14/13 at 9:00 a .m.
Quiz # 32 on Ch. 16
Due 05/16/13
at 9 a.m.
Week 17
05/20-05/24 / Review
Exam 3 (Chapters 12-16):
05/21/13 at 10:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.
*Please note: The schedule outlined above may change to maintain an appropriate progression of the class material during the semester.