Lifespan Development
Psychology 21 (Fall 2012)
Instructor: Lisa Harrison, Psy.D.
Email: Please use Insight in-class email to contact me (called "Walled Garden Mail").
Telephone: 415-239-3352
Office: Batmale 334
Office Hours: email for an appointment during morning hours on campus
Homepage: http://fog.ccsf.edu/~lharriso
Required Text
Craig, G. J., & Dunn, W. L. (2010). Understanding Human Development (2nd Ed.). Prentice Hall: Upper Saddle River,
New Jersey.
Information about the Required Text
The textbook is required reading. You have several options for buying it as well as various formats
available to you. All the options and formats can be confusing, so I will try to clearly describe them.
First, there is a regular bound version of the textbook, and it is available at the CCSF bookstore.
You can also find copies online at Amazon or many other online locations, including online
companies that will rent the textbook to you for the semester.
Or, if you prefer, there is an eBook that is a lot less expensive (approximately 1/2 the cost of a new
print textbook). With a CourseSmart eBook, you can search the text, make notes online, print out
reading assignments, and bookmark important passages. With an eBook, you will not have a hard
copy of the text; all of your reading will be on the computer screen (unless you print out the chapters), so keep this in
mind. To check into this option for yourself, visit the CourseSmart website.
Pearson Publishing offers various options, too, that you may want to look into. You can, of course, buy the regular bound
textbook there. You can buy a Books a la Carte version of the text, which is a loose leaf format that allows you to carry
around a chapter at a time if you would like (please note this version of the text is not accepted by the CCSF bookstore if
you want to resell it later).
It is important for you to know that your textbook is connected to a website separate from our course called
MyDevelopmentLab (MDL). You must buy access to MDL if you want it. It contains study tools such as flash cards, self
tests, videos, Virtual Child (see below), and even an eBook if you choose. It is designed to help you master the course
material. As you read your textbook you will notice references to MDL, including prompts to watch videos that are
connected to the material you just read. MDL is not required, but you may want to look into it if you think this resource will
be of help to you and/or if you are considering using Virtual Child. Visit the MDL website to learn more or to buy access.
Virtual Child (optional)
Virtual Child (VC) is a program that allows you to raise your own virtual child from birth through age 18. You make
parenting decisions and then learn about and monitor the effects of these decisions and random life events on the
development of your virtual child. This program is a fascinating and fun way to learn about development! My past students
have loved it!
How does VC fit in? You must complete a research assignment to fulfill the course requirements. VC can be your
research assignment or you can write a developmental research paper. If you choose VC, then you will need to purchase
the access code. This is available at the CCSF bookstore, you can get it by purchasing MDL (see above), or you can get it
by visiting the Virtual Child website. It is likely also available at other online textbook sellers. Before you make your
decision, you can learn more about the research assignment options by selecting "Assignments" in the left course
navigation menu on the homepage. I highly recommend VC, and so do my students who complete it.
To be clear, you are only required to have the textbook to fulfill the requirements of the course. MDL and VC are not
required. To help provide clarity, here is a brief recap of the resources and requirements:
Resource
Required?
Optional?
Textbook (either regular bound version, Books
a la Carte version, or an eBook)
yes
no
MyDevelopmentLab (can be purchased with an
eBook and Virtual Child)
no
yes
Virtual Child (can be purchased alone or comes
with MyDevelopmentLab)
no
yes
Lifespan Development Course Description
The multidisciplinary study of human development from conception through death. Examination of current research and
theories with an emphasis on the interplay of nature and nurture throughout the lifespan and the biological, psychological,
sociocultural, and environmental forces that impact development.
Course Objectives
Upon successful completion of Psyc 21 you should be able to:





Describe the basic research approaches in developmental psychology and general behavioral science research
methodology and terms.
Identify and critically evaluate the main concepts and stages of development from the major theoretical
perspectives, such as psychodynamic, cognitive, behavioral, ecological/systems, and biologically based theories.
Describe the basic physical, cognitive, personality, and sociocultural issues and developmental tasks of infancy,
childhood, adolescence, young adulthood, middle adulthood, and older adulthood.
Recognize and critically evaluate the interaction of biological, psychological, sociocultural, and environmental
variables and how this interaction significantly impacts development throughout the lifespan.
Explain, evaluate and apply basic theories and research findings to increase self knowledge and understanding of
others.
Course Requirements and Grading
The following assignments, quizzes, and exams are required for this course:
Reading: The reading assignments are a critical element of this course. You are expected to read all reading
assignments and to refer to them in your discussion postings and writing exercises. You should begin each week by
reading from the assigned textbook, the online lecture (if applicable), and any articles that may be assigned.
Discussion Forum Postings: A significant portion of your grade reflects your participation in discussions each week.
You can earn up to 10 points each time you contribute to weekly discussions that cover topics introduced by me. There
will be a discussion topic offered each week for a total of 16 weeks. You are required to address 13 of these weekly
discussion topics. In other words, you can opt out of 3 of the discussions during the course of the semester. I will grade
the first 13 posts completed (or however many posts you complete if not 13). In other words, I do not grade beyond the
required 13 nor do I drop your lowest scores if you complete more than 13. You are also encouraged to respond to at
least one posting by a classmate each week (unless the instructions for that week specify that you are required to respond
to a classmate's posting). Each comment you provide should be well-written, generally free of spelling and grammatical
errors, and demonstrate thoughtfulness.
Please limit your discussion forum postings to 1-2 concise paragraphs (remember, we all have to read these postings!),
and avoid postings with just "yes, I agree" or "good idea." If you want to say "I agree" or "good idea," then please clarify
and explain why. The quality of your response is more important than quantity. Comments from everyone are essential
and important. The diversity of experience among members of the class will definitely enhance your learning process.
Following are the grading criteria I use to assess discussion postings.
"Excellent" discussion postings earning 9-10 points:
· are concise and made in time for others to read and respond (by each Tuesday by 11:55pm PST).
· provide discussion at a critical level, not just recitation of information from the textbook.
· make connections to previous or current course content or to real-life situations.
· contain insightful and thoughtful ideas, connections, or applications.
· are well-written and generally free of spelling and grammatical errors.
"Good" discussion postings earning 8 points:
· are concise and made in time for others to read and respond (by each Tuesday by 11:55pm PST).
· provide discussion at a critical level, not just recitation of information from the textbook.
· make connections to previous or current course content or to real-life situations, but the connections are not really
clear or are very obvious.
· contain insightful and thoughtful ideas, connections, or applications, but they may lack depth and/or detail.
· are well-written and generally free of spelling and grammatical errors.
"Basic" discussion postings earning 7 points:
· may not be made in time for others to read and respond (by each Tuesday by 11:55pm PST).
· are generally competent, but the actual information they provide is limited.
· make highly limited, if any, connections to previous or current course content or to real-life situations.
· contain few, if any, new ideas or applications and are just a summary of other comments.
· may contain very few spelling and grammatical errors.
"Below expectations" discussion postings earning 1-6 points:
· may not be made in time for others to read and respond (by each Tuesday by 11:55pm PST).
· are superficial and contain no evidence of critical thinking, insight or analysis.
· do not contribute new ideas, connections, or applications.
· may be completely off topic and contain a number of spelling and grammatical errors.
Not addressing the discussion topic (except for the 3 you choose not to do) will result in a zero. You will not earn extra
credit for doing more than the required 13 postings, but feel free to keep participating if you feel so inclined once you've
done 13!
*Please note that while discussion posts are ultimately due the last day of our class week (Thursdays by 11:55pm PST),
for the possibility of full credit you MUST complete the posts by each Tuesday night by 11:55pm PST. If you complete the
post after Tuesday, the maximum number of points you may earn is 7 points for an excellent posting.
Research Assignment: You are required to complete a research assignment. You can choose Virtual Child (see above
description) as your research assignment or you can write a research paper on a research paper topic from the list
provided. These research assignments will give you the chance to demonstrate your understanding of course material, as
well as your ability to apply and think critically about what you are learning. To learn more about each of these options
select the "Assignments" link in the left course navigation menu on the homepage.
Quizzes: The quizzes are designed to help you keep on track with your reading. Given that you will not be attending face
to face lectures each week, there is a lot of reading in this course. The reading makes up the bulk of your homework each
week. It may seem like a drag to have to take a quiz each week, but weekly quizzes will really help you keep up with the
reading. Students have told me that the quizzes are a critical motivator for getting the reading assignments done on time
and helped them master the course material. Plus, taking the quizzes is excellent preparation for the exams. So, the
quizzes will be administered weekly and will correspond to each of the chapters we cover in the textbook. These timed
quizzes are worth 15 points each and will consist of 15 multiple-choice questions. You will have 15 minutes to complete
each quiz. They are due on the last day of each week in our course: Thursdays by 11:55pm (PST).
You are allowed one attempt for each quiz and exam, and it is this attempt that will be graded. Once each quiz or exam
closes, you can access them (i.e., all of the questions and your answers) to check them over. Do not begin a quiz until
you are ready to take it, and be sure to submit your answers for grading. The instructions for accessing the quizzes to
review them will be posted in the Technical Support Forum.
Exams: The midterm exams (50 points each) and final exam (50 points) will consist of multiple choice questions. They
are also timed. You will have 55 minutes to complete each exam. Your first attempt on each is the only attempt that will be
graded. You can access the exams the same way you can access the quizzes, once the availability period is over.
Quiz/Exam Makeups and Technical Problems: Without official documentation describing why it was impossible for you
to take your quiz or exam on time, missed quizzes or exams may not be made up. If a makeup is to occur because you
have the required documentation, the makeup must happen within 3 days of the due date. If you have technical problems
during a quiz or exam, you must email me immediately and before the quiz or exam cut off time (Thursday, 11:55pm,
PST) to let me know what happened. If you have technical problems and you do not email me before the quiz or
exam cut off time, you will not be able to take the quiz or exam. In other words, if you have technical problems during
a quiz or exam and you email me after the due date/time (the next day, for example), you will not be able to make it up.
Please be aware that, on my end, I can see if and when (i.e., date and time) you access your quizzes and exams.
Syllabus/Orientation Quiz: The Syllabus/Orientation Quiz is a quiz you should take once you have carefully read this
syllabus and the course orientation. You can (and should) access the course orientation by going to the course homepage
(or the page you are taken to when you first log in) and selecting the link under the heading "Orientation to Lifespan
Development." Then carefully proceed through all the pages in the "orientation book." When you are ready you should
complete the quiz. The quiz will ask questions about the information in the syllabus and course orientation. Like your other
assignments, this quiz has a due date, so please plan accordingly.
Your final course grade will be based on the following.
Syllabus/Orientation Quiz
30 PTS
4%
Weekly Quizzes (16 x 15 points each)
240 PTS
34%
Research Assignment (either Virtual Child or
a Developmental Research Paper)
100 PTS
14%
Discussion Postings (13 x 10 points each)
130 PTS
19%
Midterm Exams (3 x 50 points each) and
Final Exam (50 points)
200 PTS
29%
TOTAL
700 PTS
100%
90-100
A
80-89
B
70-79
C
60-69
D
0-59
F
Attendance and Participation
Successful online learning requires active participation. This includes weekly participation in the Discussion Forums
(including reading the posts in the forums), working on assignments, and taking quizzes and exams. You are required to
log in to this course at least once every two to three days (or at least 3 times a week at the very minimum) and to
participate actively in the Discussion Forums as described above. You should know that I am able to track your
participation and see what you spend your time doing while "in class" or logged in. I am definitely not the micro-managing
type, but I do check in here and there and assess your participation.
Respect for one another is critical. I expect everyone to follow the standards of the Student Code of Conduct as described
in the Student Handbook. Inappropriate language, such as offensive slang or put-downs, swearing, or hateful speech, will
not be tolerated. Please treat others in this course with the same level of respect that you would like to be treated. I highly
suggest that you read about internet etiquette or Netiquette, as I will expect you to use proper netiquette in this course.
For absence due to prolonged serious illness, personal emergency, or technical problems you are expected to let me
know as soon as possible. If you cannot complete the course, please be aware that withdrawal is not automatic. Because
participation is so important, I will withdraw you from the course if you have not participated in course activities for two
weeks. But, again, do not assume that I will drop you from the class if you stop attending; it is ultimately your responsibility
to drop the class if you feel you cannot complete the course.
Late Assignments
Assignments are due by the listed due date and time. If you know you will not be able to log in or have access to a
computer on the day an assignment is due, email it to me early. I strongly encourage you to avoid procrastination to avoid
problems.
I will accept late assignments, but for each day the assignment is late, there will be a 15% point penalty. This means I will
subtract 15% of your total points earned if you turn the assignment in one day late (any time up until the 24 hour mark),
30% if it is between 24 and 48 hours late, 45% if it is between 49 and 72 hours late, etc. I will accept an assignment up to
3 days late without point penalty if you can provide official documentation (e.g., a doctor's note on letterhead) explaining
why it was impossible for you to turn your assignment in on time. You must be able to send me the documentation within
that time frame. Without the documentation, your late work is subject to the same point penalties described here.
Academic Dishonesty/Plagiarism
Cheating in this online course will not be tolerated. This includes sharing quiz/exam questions and answers, having
another person complete your discussion forum responses, and submitting any work that is not your own. Cheating of any
kind will result in a failing grade, official documentation of the incident, and a referral to the Office of Student Advocacy,
Rights, and Responsibilities.
To plagiarize is to steal and use the ideas and writings of another as one’s own. CCSF requires that the submission of all
course assignments represent the original work produced by that student, and as outlined in the Student Code of
Conduct, plagiarism will not be tolerated. Potential problems can be avoided by documenting all sources used (whether
directly quoted or paraphrased) with references or citations. All work and reference lists must be submitted using the
American Psychological Association (APA) style. This format can be found at www.apastyle.org.
Student Services
If you are a student with a disability and you require accommodations, please let me know right away so that I can be sure
you have what you need. Students who need academic accommodations should request them from the Disabled
Students Programs and Services (DSPS) located in the Rosenberg Library, Room 323 on the Ocean Campus. DSPS is
the campus office responsible for verifying disability-related need for academic accommodations, assessing that need,
and for planning accommodations in cooperation with students and instructors as needed and consistent with course
requirements. You can reach DSPS at: 415-4532-5481 (V) or 415-452-5451 (TTY)
The reading in this schedule refers to your course textbook, Understanding Human Development (2nd
Ed.) by Craig and Dunn.
Date
Topic and Reading Assignment
Important Dates
Week 1
Introduction to Human Development
8/15/12-8/23/12
Reading: Chapter 1
(This week officially starts on Friday, 8/17.
However, since it is the first week and
there is much to adjust to, I am making the
course available a couple of days early.)
Recommended reading: Chapter 2, pgs. 49
(beginning with Environmental Influences and
Contexts)-57
Week 2
Heredity and Environment/Prenatal Development
and Childbirth
Chapter 2-3 Quiz due
8/30/12
Reading: Chapter 2, pgs. 34-41 (up to Genetic and
Chromosomal Disorders), Chapter 3
Infancy and Toddlerhood: Physical, Cognitive &
Language Development
Syllabus/Orientation Quiz
due 8/30/12
Chapter 4 Quiz due 9/6/12
Chapter 1 Quiz due
8/23/12
8/24/12-8/30/12
Week 3
8/31/13-9/6/12
Week 4
Reading: Chapter 4
Infancy and Toddlerhood: Personality &
Sociocultural Development
Chapter 5 Quiz due
9/13/12
Reading: Chapter 5
Early Childhood: Physical, Cognitive &
Language Development
Chapter 6 Quiz due
9/20/12
9/7/12-9/13/12
Week 5
9/14/12-9/20/12
Reading: Chapter 6
Week 6
Early Childhood: Personality & Sociocultural
Development
Exam #1 on Chapters 1, 2
(pgs. 34-41), 3, 4, 5 due
9/20/12
VC Forum #1 opens
9/14/12; VC Forum
Posting #1 due 9/20/12
Chapter 7 Quiz due
9/27/12
9/21/12-9/27/12
Reading: Chapter 7
Week 7
Middle Childhood: Physical & Cognitive
Development
VC Forum #1 ends
9/27/12
Chapter 8 Quiz due
10/4/12
9/28/12-10/4/12
Reading: Chapter 8
Week 8
Middle Childhood: Personality & Sociocultural
Development
VC Forum #2 opens
9/28/12; VC Forum
Posting #2 due 10/4/12
Chapter 9 Quiz due
10/11/12
10/5/12-10/11/12
Reading: Chapter 9
Week 9
Adolescence and Emerging Adulthood: Physical
& Cognitive Development
VC Forum #2 ends
10/11/12
Chapter 10 Quiz due
10/18/12
10/12/12-10/18/12
Reading: Chapter 10
Exam #2 on Chapters 6,
7, 8, 9 due 10/18/12
VC Forum #3 opens
10/12/12; VC Forum
Posting #3 due 10/18/12
Continued…
Week 10
10/19/12-10/25/122
Week 11
Adolescence and Emerging Adulthood:
Personality & Sociocultural Development
Chapter 11 Quiz due
10/25/12
Reading: Chapter 11
VC Forum #3 ends
10/25/12
Chapter 12 Quiz due
11/1/12
Young Adulthood: Physical & Cognitive
Development
10/26/12-11/1/12
Reading: Chapter 12
Week 12
Young Adulthood: Personality & Sociocultural
Development
11/2/12-11/8/12
Reading: Chapter 13
Week 13
11/9/12-11/15/12
Week 14
11/16/12-11/22/12
(Wednesday and Thursday of this week
are part of Thanksgiving Holiday break.
The break continues through Sunday,
11/25. Therefore, assignments for this
week will not be due until the end of Week
15.)
Week 15
11/23/12-11/29/12
Week 16
Middle Adulthood: Physical & Cognitive
Development
Reading: Chapter 14
Middle Adulthood: Personality & Sociocultural
Development
VC Forum #4 opens
10/26/12; VC Forum
Posting #4 due 11/1/12
Chapter 13 Quiz due
11/8/12
VC Forum #4 ends
11/8/12
Chapter 14 Quiz due
11/15/12
Exam 3 on Chapters 10,
11, 12, 13 due 11/15/12
Chapter 15 Quiz due
11/29/12
Reading: Chapter 15
Thanksgiving Holiday (11/21-11/25)
(continues into next week)
Thanksgiving Holiday (11/21-11/25)
Older Adulthood: Physical, Cognitive,
Personality & Sociocultural Development
11/30/12-12/6/12
Reading: Chapter 16, pgs. 406-418; 420 (starting
with Cognitive Changes in Advanced Age)-429 &
Chapter 17
Week 17
Death & Dying
12/7/12-12/13/12
Reading: Chapter 18
Chapter 15 Quiz due
11/29/12
(I am extending the quiz due
dates for this week and next
to accommodate for the extra
reading you have across the
last two weeks of class. Be
sure to make a note of this.
All other due dates remain as
originally planned.)
Chapter 16-17 Quiz due
12/10/12
Developmental Research
Paper Option due
12/13/12
Week 18
Course Wrap-up and Final Exam
12/14/12-12/19/12
Please note that your final exam is due on
Wednesday, 12/19/12 (the last day of the
semester)
Chapter 18 Quiz due
12/17/12
Final Exam on Chapters
14, 15, 16 (pgs. 406-418;
420-429), 17, and 18 due
12/19/12