Missouri Western State University
College of Professional Studies
Department of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation
Departmental Course Syllabus
PED 384 Child Growth and Development
Instructor: Britt Johnson
Office: 214C
Phone: 271-4309
E-mail: bjohnson35@missouriwestern.edu
Office Hours: Mon Wed
9-10 & 11-12
Tues Thurs 9-9:30, 11-12 & 1-2
Friday
By Appointment
Textbook (required): Meece, J. L. & Daniels, D. H. (2008). Child & Adolescent Development
for Educators 3rd Edition. McGraw Hill Publishers: Boston.
Catalog Description: The study of humans from conception to maturation dealing with the
pattern of growth involved in the physical and mental process.
Purpose: This course addresses multiple standards including: Teacher Education (TE) Unit
Standards 1,2, Department of Elementary & Secondary Education (DESE) 1, 11, Pre-service
Physical Education (PRE) 7 The student will study humans from conception through childhood
that includes the pattern of growth in the physical, cognitive, and psychosocial stages.
Course Objectives:
1. Understand the science of child development, history, cultural and socioeconomic context and
ethics of child research ( TE 1, 2, DESE 1)
2. Understand theories, comparisons and controversies of child development (DESE 1, TE 1)
3. Understand prenatal development, brain and perceptual development, and know characteristics
of children with exceptional needs. (TE 1, 2)
4. Understand motor development and physical growth of children. (TE1, 2, DESE 11, PRE 1)
5. Understand the special health and safety concerns. (TE 1, 2)
6. Understand information processing theories, intelligence theories and cognitive development
as well as current issues in school learning. (TE l, 2)
7. Understand theories of language development, literacy development, and cultural influences
on language development. (DESE 1, TE 1,2)
8. Understand Piaget’s and Vygotsky’s theories on children. (TE 1, 2)
9. Understand emotional development and theories for children as well as know emotional and
behavioral disorders, and an understanding of self conceptions and achievement motivation.
(TE 1, 2)
10. Understanding of peer relations and moral development. (TE 1, 2, DESE 11, PRE 1)
Academic dishonesty: Any student in violation of academic regulations is subject to failing the
assignment without hesitation. Possible causes of academic dishonesty include plagiarism,
cheating, or knowingly furnishing false information. Students must turn in their own work.
Emergency procedures: In case of emergency, file out of the class and building in an orderly
fashion using the nearest exit. Do not use the elevators. Assist those who need assistance if
possible, or report that someone needs help to those who can assist immediately. Assemble
outside with the class for a head count.
Requests for Modification: Please see the professor as soon as possible to make arrangements
if you have a documented disability. It is your responsibility to inform the professor of your
needs.
Course requirements / Assignments:
1000 Total points
Attendance / participation
100 pts
Research paper
150 pts
Healthy Buddies
50 pts
Assignments / Quizzes
100 pts
Child Observation Paper
150 pts
Presentation
50 pts
Exams (4 @ 100 pts each)
400 pts
1000 pts
Grading Scale:
A - 1000-900
B – 899-800
C – 799-700
D – 699-600
F – 599-0
Late assignments: All assignments are due at the start of class on the day they are due. If a
paper is turned in after class has begun, it is deemed late. The penalty for a late assignment is a
reduction of 10% per day it is late. A paper due on Monday that is turned in on Friday is 5 days
late, and will be graded out of 50%, not 100%. A paper due on a day of an excused absence is
still due on the assigned date, and will be considered late if not turned in on time.
Attendance: Students are required to attend class. According to Missouri Western State
University policy, a student may miss a maximum of 3 classes prior to midterm grades. If a
student exceeds this number, they will be administratively withdrawn from the class. Excused
absences must be approved in advance by the professor and must be in writing. Each unexcused
absence from class will result in a 10 point reduction on the students’ grade. DO NOT CALL
THE PHYSICAL EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OFFICE. The message may not get relayed to
the professor.
Multicultural Diversity:
Candidates participate in classroom discussions to assist other teacher/students in selecting and
applying appropriate educational strategies to bridge the gap of the needs of diverse learners.
Strategies include, but are not limited to:
Discussions of current events related to Child Growth and Development
Discussions of children’s activities and abilities at various levels
A paper on the skill level of a child in relation to the four areas discussed.
Technology:
Students will analyze video of children and their development on the four areas (motor,
cognitive, social and emotional) and will write several papers on the topic of child growth and
development. They will also be using WebCT as a method of responding to questions.
Writing Skills:
Communicating well is one of the most important components of being an educated person; to
that end you will be expected to speak well in class, in addition, several writing assignments will
be assigned during the semester. Please follow these guidelines when completing assignments:
1.
All assignments must be typed
2.
Spell check and grammar check before handing in assignments and papers
3.
Use 12 pt font with 1 in margins on the top and bottom, and 1 ½ in margins on the
sides.
4.
Properly reference any work that is not your own original thought.
5.
Visit the Center for Academic Support if you have any writing problems. They
will be happy to help you with your writing.
Information from the Center for Academic Support website:
The CAS provides trained peer tutors who assist with writing in all academic disciplines at
Missouri Western, not only English Courses. However, writing tutorials are not for coursework
exclusively; students can also come to our Center for help with resumes, cover letters, and
applications for scholarships. Our tutors work with students one-on-one for half-hour sessions,
focusing on any aspect of the writing process. In addition, handouts covering a variety of writing
topics are available for student use.
Tutoring hours for writing in fall and spring
Monday – Thursday 8AM to 4PM and 6PM to 9PM
Friday - 8AM to 3PM
Sunday – 6PM to 9PM
The Center offers Missouri Western students the option of using e-mail in order to receive help
with their writing. The staff and tutors will provide a response within 48 hours of receiving
students’ papers.
To submit a paper for online tutoring, follow these steps:
1. Highlight and copy your paper
2. Go to your e-mail account and compose a message to the following address
casolw@missouriwestern.edu
3. Type a brief description of the assignment and the nature of the help you are seeking
4. Please include the name of the class and the name of the instructor.
5. Paste your paper and send.
As soon as the Center for Academic Support receives your paper, you will be sent an e-mail
telling you that the paper was received. Your paper and the tutor’s feedback will be sent to you
via e-mail.
Change of Schedules
In the event Missouri Western State University would be closed during a scheduled exam, your
instructor will contact you through your MWSU Goldlink email account with alternative plans.
Tentative Course Outline
Monday
Wednesday
Week 1
No Class (Martin Luther King Day)
Syllabus
Week 2
Chapter 1
Chapter 1 & 2
Week 3
No Class
Week 4
Brain Research
Praxis Review Day
Week 5
Healthy Buddies
Chapter 2
Week 6
No class Presidents day
Exam #1
Week 7
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Week 8
Chapter 5
Exam #2
Week 9
No Class
Spring Break No Class
Week 10
Research presentations
Research paper Due
Research presentations
Week 11
Research presentations
Research presentations
Week 12
Chapter 6 and 7
Chapter 7 and 8
Week 13
Chapter 8 and 9
Exam #3
Week 14
Child Observation presentations
Child Observation paper due
Child Observation Presentations
Week 15
Child Observation presentations
Child Observation Presentations
Week 16
Final Exam
Weather
No Class
Research Paper
This project is more practical in providing a resource guide on a particular condition, or
in some other way expanding on a theme/chapter discussed in class. The paper consists of
information that is relevant to some issue(s) in child development.
1. The paper should be 5 pages that contains the following:
a. Introduction- Thesis Statement: In one clear sentence state the focus of your paper.
b. Body of Paper- outline the topic sentence and supporting research for each point you’ll
be covering in the paper, beginning with point #1 stated in the introduction. (minimum
of 5 points)
c. Summary Paragraph- create a key summary sentence that declares a wrap-up of
concepts to begin this paragraph.
d. Conclusion- transition to the ending of your paper and final thoughts in a paragraph
e. Reference page in alphabetical order by last name (APA format – minimum of 10
references).
Child Observation Requirements:
1. A minimum of 5 hours is required, observing one child. The five hours may be distributed
flexibility, providing optimal opportunity to learn about the individual child.
2. When an appointment has been set up to observe, it is the students responsibility to honor that
commitment, or call the teacher if the time needs to be changed.
3. Professional appearance and behavior are expected of the student while visiting a school.
4. The student is not supervised by a school professional during this time. The student does not
interact or ‘help out” in the classroom as part of this assignment. Any such interaction would
be unrelated as a volunteer.
5. The process of observation should be as unobtrusive as possible.
Guidelines for Observation:
1. Make yourself comfortable, but unobtrusive. As much as possible, the purpose is to observe
the child as she/he is without the added factor of interaction or any sort of feedback from you.
If it is possible to look busy doing or concentrating on something else, do so. That way, the
dynamic of your focused attention will not affect the child.
2. Notice the situation. Record some basic information which might be significant.
3. Take notes on what the child is doing, as well as affect, interaction, etc. Record enough to
remind you later of what you saw and heard; do not attempt to write everything down until
you are finished, but do it before you are likely to forget.
4. Catch as much detail as possible, how long does child attend?
5. If something in the context changes during the observation, note this, including whether there
is also a change in the child.
Minimum number of contact hours of observation: 5
Child Observation Assessment:
MWSU Student's Name
_____________________________________________________________
Child Growth and Development
PED 384 Scoring Guide
Deadline met/handout turned in/scoring guide attached-must be word processed_____(5 points)
Paragraph of background information on the child. Age at present, sex of the child, type of birth, home life etc.
_____________(5 points)
Physical Development
Height of child
Weight of child
Nutritional status
Sleep habits
Reflexes if under 6 mo.
Fine motor development
Gross motor development
Toilet trained
All of the above are worth 2 points each
Summary of physical development (5 points)
Suggestions for further development (5 points)
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Cognitive Development
What stage of Pia get's development
Give evidence- point out specifics
Physical knowledge
Logico-mathematical knowledge
Social knowledge
Developmental level of drawing
Language development
Private speech
Automaticity & Selective attention
Information processing
Memory processes
Comprehension
Writing
Reading, recognition of letters, symbols
Summary of cognitive development (5 points)
Suggestions for further development (5 points)
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Psychosocial Development
Erikson's stage of psychosocial development-give proof
Temperament
Attachment Classification
Level of emotional development (346)
Self concept (356)
Self esteem
Ethnic identity
Gender role
Summary of psychosocial development (5 points)
Suggestions for further development (5 points)
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Total Points (100 maximum points)
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