Psychology 407, Life Span Development Brief Course Syllabus University of La Verne Arthur Gonchar, Ph.D., Instructor Office Phone: (909) 448- 4177 E-mail Address: agonchar@laverne.edu Course Guide This course examines the developmental changes and sociocultural events that take place during an individual's life span from infancy to old age. The course explores the psychological characteristics, personal challenges and developmental opportunities for each of life's age periods. The course considers how the influences of genetic inheritance and environmental factors shape the individual's social, emotional, physical and cognitive development. Students will gain a greater appreciation for the complexity of human development and gain a heightened awareness of their own developmental experiences. Text: Arnett, J.J. (2012) Human Development: A Cultural Approach, Pearson Publishing. My Development Lab (bundled with text) or ordered at www.mydevelopmentlab.com Course Requirements: 1. Personal Experience Paper: You are to write a paper on your personal experiences that you recall from your middle childhood and adolescence (ages 10-17). These remembrances should be significant to you and should focus on your own psychological adjustment and relationships to family, friends, and school. Your insights into your childhood are an essential portion of your report. 2. Developmental Observations/Interviews: Two observation/interview assignments give you the opportunity to get to know two individuals of two different age levels as you either observe them in a group setting, interview them about "matters of personal importance" or challenge them with intellectual tasks. In addition, these assignments are intended to help you see the concepts you are studying and to learn useful techniques of observation and interviewing. For Observation/Interview #1 you may choose an infant, preschooler or school age child. For Observation/Interview #2, you may choose an adolescent, early years adult, middle age adult or older adult. 3. Exams: There will be 4 on-line multiple choice exams throughout the semester. The dates for the exams are listed in the Class Schedule. 4. My Virtual Child: This activity found in My Development Lab allows you to experience human development from a parent’s point of view. Here you are to raise a virtual child from birth to age 18. 5. Video Programs: The PBS series "Seasons of Life" is a required part of this course. While not essential for studying for the quizzes or exams, these materials are rather interesting and supplement your readings. The series consists of 5 one-hour video programs. Optional Work: 6. Discussion Board: You may also use the Discussion Board to ask questions of the whole class, comment on the work of the class, or any of the other things that you would normally do in class discussions before, during, and after class. You can make requests; ask for help, form study groups or just chat with other class members. 7. My Development Lab: Bundled with your text or ordered separately, this extraordinary resource contains a treasure chest of educational materials focused on human development. As requirement of this class you will be using the My Virtual Child portion of this package. My Development Lab also includes other educational options which are described in the MY Development Lab section of Blackboard. Extra Credit Work 8. Quizzes for Extra Credit: For each of the 4 sections of this course, a set of quizzes corresponding to each of that section's chapters will be posted on Blackboard. Your performance on these quizzes will only count toward extra credit and could enhance your final grade from 0 to as much as 16 extra credit points. 9. Extra Credit MY Development Lab Cross-Cultural Videos These videos show similarities and differences in development across cultures throughout the lifespan. These videos are referenced in the text and can be found on My Development Lab under the title Video Series. Course Evaluation Grades will be given based on cumulative points acquired based on the grading system below. There are 350 points for assigned Exams and written work. Extra points from quizzes and CrossCultural Video assignments will be added to the total number of points you obtain on this work. Final grades will be determined based on 350 points using the following scheme. Personal Experience Paper 20 points 6% of Final Grade Developmental Observation/Interviews 60 points (30 points each) 17% of Final Grade Exams 200 points (50 points each) 57% of Final Grade My Virtual Child Written Assignment 40 points 11% of Final Grade 5 Video Summaries 30 points (6 points each) 350 points total 8% of Final Grade Class Schedule The course is divided into 4 units consisting of 3 or 4 chapters of text readings over a 6 - 7day period. In addition, for 3 days at the end of each unit, there will be an on-line exam covering material presented in the unit’s chapter readings. You can use these 3 days to review for the exam or get a jump on the next unit of readings. During the weeks when there is no unit exam posted, you may choice to work on written and video assignments. Unit Dates Topics Read 1. Jan. 5 – 9 Introduction to Human Development Chapter 1 2. Jan. 10 - 13 Prenatal Development Chapter 2 3. Jan. 14 - 18 Exam #1 The Newborn Chap. 1-3 Chapter 3 Jan. 19, 20, 21 6:30-11:00pm 4. Jan. 22 -26 Infancy Chapter 4 5. Jan. 27 – 30 The Toddler Chapter 5 6. Jan. 31 – Feb.5 Early Childhood Chapter 6 Exam #2 Chap. 4-6 Feb. 6, 8, 9 6:30-11:00pm 7. Feb. 10 - 13 Middle Childhood Chapter 7 8. Feb. 14 - 17 Adolescence Chapter 8 9. Feb. 18 - 22 The Emerging Adult Chapter 9 Exam #3 10. Feb. 26 – Mar. 1 11. Mar. 2 - 5 12. Mar. 6 - 8 13. Mar. 9 - 11 Exam #4 Chap. 7-9 Feb. 23, 24, 25 6:30-11:00pm Young Adulthood Middle Adulthood Late Adulthood Death and Dying Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Chap. 10-13 Mar. 12, 13, 15 6:30-11:00pm