COLUMBIA GORGE COMMUNITY COLLEGE

PSYCHOLOGY 215 SYLLABUS - SPRING TERM, 2012

HUMAN DEVELOPMENT

Instructor: Kristen Kane, MA

Section Number: 1082700

Credits: 4

Method of Instruction: Moodle distance learning

Office Hours: Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays 8:00 to 1:00

Office in Student Services

(It is best to make an appointment by calling 541-506-6011, as I cannot always guarantee that I will be in my office)       

Phone Number: (541) 506-6023

E-mail: kkane@cgcc.cc.or.us

Course Description:

Surveys major theories of behavior and patterns of change and continuity in people over the life span. Emphasizes development from physical, cognitive, social, emotional, moral, and cultural perspectives from prenatal development through development of infants, children, adolescents, adults, and the elderly.

Recommended: PSY 201A or 202A; Prerequisites: WR 115, RD 115 and MTH 20 or equivalent placement test scores.

Course Learning Outcomes

Students should be able to:

• Demonstrate an understanding of the various psychological theories of development in explaining one‘s own development, and the development of others at different stages in the life span.
• Demonstrate knowledge of major areas of human development from conception to death: Understand the significant factors influencing and affecting prenatal development, understand the principles involved in the foundation of intellectual and language development, understand the changes in physical, cognitive, social and emotional development.
• Demonstrate knowledge in a variety of settings, in connection with the respective academic fields of study by emphasizing the multi-disciplinary approach.
• Develop an understanding of and analyze the life span development from a cross-cultural, and a cultural perspective and their influence on development.
• Demonstrate an understanding of end of life issues including death and dying.

Instructor Expectations

This class will be taught using Moodle on-line method. Students are expected to have the necessary skills to complete an on-line class, such as sending e-mails, posting comments and questions on the forum and attaching or uploading assignments. Students also need to have their own hardware, software and Internet access with e-mail capabilities to take an on-line course. Computer labs at The Dalles Campus Library and at the Hood River Center have a limited number of computers available with Internet access for student use. If students require assistance, they may call Ron Watrus at 541-506-6084.

A variety of teaching aids will be used to enhance the learning experience including: websites to visit, Forum postings, reflection papers and a final paper. Students are expected to have read the material before they log on for the weekly course work and Forum postings. Students will be expected to be able to do library research and write a final paper APA style, with correct referencing. Students will be expected to have used critical thinking skills when reading the material, rather than just highlighting the material for important points.

Textbooks

Berger, K.S. (2008), The Developing Person: Through the Life Span (7th Ed.). New York, NY: Worth Publishers. (required)

Hacker, Diana (2004) A Pocket Style Manual (4th ed.). Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s (optional: recommended for APA style referencing)

Evaluation and Grading

*Note: Self-check Quizzes are optional and do not count towards your grade.

Reflection Papers

Students are expected to write a one to two page weekly reflection paper commenting (NOT SUMMARIZING) on how the concepts of the weekly reading/lecture might apply to their own development or the development of someone that they know. These papers may be written in first person. No outside research is necessary or expected. It is suggested that students take one or two concepts and expand upon them in depth, instead of touching upon every concept for that week. Students may want to refer to the chapters’ learning objectives for topics. Reflection papers are due by 11:59 pm on Sundays. See Moodle calendar if you require further clarification with dates.

Reflection papers will be graded in the following way:

25 pts - Writing Style

45 pts - Content

30 pts - Illustration of critical and reflective thinking

Although each paper will be graded out of 100, it is worth 44 points towards your final grade.

Final Research Paper

Final papers will be 1500 to 2000 words (6-8 pages). These papers must include at least 3 different sources (textbook not included) on your Reference page. Papers must be cited APA style. Students should contact the instructor with a proposal or thesis statement for this paper.

Final papers will be graded in the following way:

35 pts – Format (including correct APA style referencing), Organization and Style

45 pts - Content

20 pts - Illustration of critical thinking

Although your final paper will be graded out of 100, it is worth 35% (or 350 points) towards your final grade

Grading rubrics, APA reference information and examples of papers are posted on Moodle.

Papers must be typed and cited APA style.

Late Paper Policy: Unless prior arrangements have been made and agreed upon by me, 2pts will be deducted from your paper for every day that it is late. To allow time for grading and posting final grades, forum postings and papers will not be accepted after noon 06/16/2012.

Moodle Forums

Moodle Forums are an important part of this course. They generally are meant to take the place of classroom discussions. Students are expected to have read the chapter prior to responding to the Forum discussion questions. Forum discussions are graded on a scale of 1-3. See examples and grading rubric posted on Moodle for more information. Students are expected to participate in Forum discussions at least once per week. Students may choose to answer 3 out of the 5 questions or 2 questions and respond to 1 other students’ answer. There must be three postings per week. Examples of Forum Postings with grades can be found on the homepage under ‘Examples of Papers and Forum Postings’.

Extra Credit

Students will receive extra credit equal for the following:

-2 pts. for posting an Introduction during Week #1

-5 pts. for completing the PSY 215 Scavenger Hunt

-5 pts. for completing the APA style Referencing Tutorial (listed under Research Information at the top of the page)

-2 pts. for completing the on-line course evaluation survey at the end of the term. A list of students who completed the evaluation will be generated, but the evaluations will remain completely confidential and anonymous.

Self-check Practice Quizzes

Self-check practice quizzes are provided for students to check their understanding of the content in each chapter. These quizzes are optional and are not graded. Students do not earn credit for completing them: they are provided as an opportunity for students to measure their own learning progress.

Students are expected to be honest and ethical in their academic work. Academic dishonesty includes cheating and plagiarism.  All work submitted in this course is to be your own new, original work written in response to the assignments.  Consciously or unknowingly presenting the ideas or writings of others as your own will result in academic sanctions that may include a grade of F for the assignment or for the class and possible institutional sanctions including suspension or expulsion.  See the Code of Student Conduct and the Students Rights and Responsibilities policy for further information.

Assignment schedules may be changed in response to institutional, weather or class changes or problems.

ADA Statement

Students with disabilities should contact CGCC’s Learning Assistance Advisor, Shayna Dahl at 506-6046 early in the term (or prior to the term) for information and assistance regarding accommodation.  Then, please make arrangements to meet with me outside of class to discuss the approved accommodations.                                                  

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE

Disclaimer: Syllabus is subject to change as demanded by the needs of the class.