EDU 102—HUMAN GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT
FALL 2004
INSTRUCTOR: Carol Topping, PhD
Please feel free to call me at home (227-0639), leave a message on my voice mail (452-8600, ext 3289), or e-mail me at: carol.topping@volstate.edu. If I am not available when you call, please leave a message, and I will do my best to return your call within 24 hours. My office hours will be posted on my door, room N207B.
REQUIRED TEXT: Development Across the Life Span by Robert S. Feldman, 3rd ed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE COURSE: This course in human growth and development is an interdisciplinary, scientific study of the ways people change over time. Concepts and theories of human psychological and physical development are studied both quantitatively and qualitatively in looking at the changes from conception to death, with stresses placed on the process of life changes from physical, cognitive and social-cultural aspects. Emphasis will also be placed on education and psychological learning theories. This course involves three lecture/discussion hours per week.
GENERAL EDUCATION GOAL: The general education goal of this course is to provide information which enables students and prospective teachers to identify, analyze, and understand the social, cognitive, psychological, and physical aspects of human development. A further goal of EDU 102 is to scientifically study the quantitative and qualitative changes in people throughout their entire life spans. It is an in-depth look at ways of describing, predicting, explaining, and modifying a person’s behavior in the eight stages of growth from conception to death.
OTHER GOALS: In addition, this course seeks to provide the student with opportunities to acquire and develop critical thinking skills and to expose students to the research available in the field of human growth and development. Students will examine the impact of behavioral and social scientific research on major contemporary issues and how those disciplines affect individuals and society. Through this course, the student will be able to understand how individuals are influenced by political, geographic, economic, cultural, and family institutions in establishing belief systems.
GENERAL EDUCATION OUTCOMES: As a result of successful completion of this course, the student will have demonstrated an acceptable level of doing research through assigned topics/topics of interest using theoretical concepts. The student will also have demonstrated an understanding of how these concepts are applied as the individual develops and functions within contemporary society. The successful completion of this course will also demonstrate that the student has developed college level written and oral communication skills.
SPECIAL NOTICE: In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, students are encouraged to disclose their disability with the Office of Student Disability Services for assistance with accommodations, It is the student’s responsibility to voluntarily and confidentially disclose information regarding the nature or extent of a disability. The College does not assume responsibility for providing accommodations or services to students who have not identified themselves as having a qualifying disability.
-Page Two, EDU 102-
It is the intent of Volunteer State Community College to fully comply with Executive Order 11246, as amended, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, and the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Act of 1974, as amended, and all regulations implementing those laws and orders, for the promotion and ensuring of equal opportunity for all persons without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, political affiliation, sexual orientation, or status as a qualified disabled veteran or veteran of the Vietnam era. VSCC is an equal opportunity institution, and it is the intent of VSCC to be free of discrimination or harassment on the basis of sex, race, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, political affiliation, sexual orientation, veteran status, or physical appearance. It is the intent of VSCC to fully comply with Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, and the CRA of 1991, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, as amended, the Equal Pay Act of 1963, as amended, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1976, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, and the Pregnancy Discrimination Act and the American with Disabilities Act of 1990, applicable state status and all regulations promulgated pursuant thereto.
No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance. Students who are receiving Title IV financial assistance (Pell Grant, Student Loan or SEOG Grant) must regularly attend class or be subject to repay PART or ALL of the Federal Financial Aid received for the semester.
EXAMINATIONS: Five (5) multiple choice exams worth fifty (50) points each will be given. You must receive permission in advance in order to miss an exam (except in the case of a DOCUMENTED emergency). There are NO alternative exam dates, and it is not my policy to leave exams at the College at Home desk. ALL exams must be taken, but the lowest test score will be dropped. Test #5 MUST be taken, or you will receive a grade of “incomplete” (I). There will be NO extra credit assignments in this course as extra credit is built into the exams. NOTE: If a student is caught cheating on an exam, the action will result in an automatic grade of “F.”
AUTOBIOGRAPHY: Students will turn in a 300-word typewritten autobiography addressing experiences with children; work experiences for the last five years; substitute teaching experience; observation and participation activities in school/other settings; travel experiences; and career plans. Ten points: timeliness = 2 pts; effort/appearance = 2 pts; thoroughness = up to 6 pts.
DIVERSITY/MULTICULTURAL EDUCATION OR HEALTH RELATED ISSUE ESSAY: Students will turn in one (1) 200-word typewritten essay addressing diversity/multicultural issues. Ten points: timeliness = 2 pts; effort/appearance = 2 pts; knowledge/use of facts = 2 pts; interesting points = 2 pts; personal example = 2 pts.
PROFESSIONAL INTERVIEW: (See handout for sample questions). Ten points: timeliness = 2 pts; effort/appearance = 2 pts; thoroughness = up to 6 pts.
-Page Three, EDU 102-
OBSERVATION: (See handouts). Seven (7) hours, eighty points. Observation checklists (10 pts X2), observation journal (10 pts X2), and classroom participation sheets (10 pts X2); timeliness = 2 pts; effort/appearance = 2 pts; thoroughness = up to 6 pts.
VOLUNTEER WORK: (See handout). Three (3) hours, ten points. Signed documentation (mandatory) and a reflection paragraph (what did this experience mean to you? What did you learn? etc): timeliness = 2 pts; effort/ appearance = 2 pts; thoroughness and depth of thought = up to 6 pts.
THREE BEHAVIORAL RATINGS (see handout) must be filled out by instructors prior to entering your junior year.
ATTENDANCE: Attendance WILL be taken. Information from lectures that is not in the textbook will be on the exams. It is YOUR responsibility to get class notes from your classmates as I do NOT give out my notes. It is also YOUR responsibility to let me know reasons for your absences immediately after they occur so that I can excuse you (if possible) and log it on my attendance cards. You are expected to be present and on time for all classes. NOTE: Students who are frequently late will lose attendance points. (Absences:
0 – 2 = 5 pts; 3 – 4 = 4 pts; 5 – 6 = 3 pts; 7 – 8 = 2 pts; 9 - 10 = 1 pt; 11/+ = 0 pts).
GRADING SCALE:
Examinations (5) up to 200 points
Autobiography (1) up to 10 points
200-Word Essay up to 10 points
Professional Interview up to 10 points
Observations (7 hours) up to 80 points
Volunteer Work (3 hours) up to 10 points
Attendance/participation up to 5 points
TOTAL: up to 325 points
The following grade scale is used:
A = 325 - 292; B = 291 – 258; C = 257 – 224; D = 223 – 190; F = 189 and below
INCOMPLETE POLICY: The grade of “I” will ONLY be given under the following circumstances: 1) if the student has experienced an illness or emergency situation which could not be avoided (appropriate documentation MUST be provided); and 2) the student has completed AT LEAST 50% of the coursework and is receiving a passing grade of C or better.
CONFERENCES: If you or I feel the need to schedule a conference, we will need to get together to schedule a time. Please feel free to meet with me before or after class to do so or call or e-mail me at the above addresses.
-Page Four-EDU 102-
CHEATING: Cheating is defined as plagiarism, talking to another student during an exam, looking at another student’s work during an exam, using notes or books during an exam, turning in a paper that is the student’s own work, or copying from another student’s answer sheet. Any student caught engaging in these behaviors will be given an automatic failure (F) for the course, regardless of the grade up to that point.
CLASSROOM DEPORTMENT: All policies and procedures for classroom misconduct are discussed in the Student Handbook. As a point of emphasis, the instructor will NOT tolerate any activity that is disruptive to the classroom setting, which adversely affects others, and which is considered by the instructor to be unethical, immoral, or illegal. Students will be dismissed from the class and the issue of misconduct will be brought before the Associate Deal of Students.
In addition, there is to be NO smoking, drinking, or eating in the classroom. Parents are asked not to bring children to class. Cell phones need to be turned off before entering the class.
INCLEMENT WEATHER POLICY: If Volunteer State Community College is officially open, all classes WILL meet as scheduled. All assignments WILL be due and any scheduled tests or exams WILL be given. Any missed work will be subject to the policies outlined in this syllabus. If VSCC is closed, work will be due on the NEXT class date and scheduled exams will be moved to the NEXT class date (for example: if a test is scheduled for Wednesday and classes for Wednesday are cancelled, the test will be given on Friday). Check Channel 5 for closings.
Page Five-EDU 102-
TENTATIVE TIMELINE FOR FALL SEMESTER 2004
Week One (8/30 – 9/3): Intros, syllabus; Chapter 1: Beginnings
Week Two (9/8 – 9/10): Chapter 2: Prenatal Development
Week Three (9/13 – 9/17): Chapter 3: Birth and the Newborn Infant (No class Wed
9/15)
Week Four (9/20 – 9/24): EXAM #1; Chapter 4: Physical Development in Infancy
Development in Infancy; **Autobiography due Friday**
Week Six (10/4 – 10/8): EXAM #2; Chapters 7 & 8: Preschool Years
Week Seven (10/11 – 10/15): Chapters 9 & 10: Middle Childhood; *Diversity/Multi-
cultural Education Essay due Friday**
Week Eight (10/20 – 10/22): No Class Mon—Fall Break! Review Chapters 7 - 10
Week Nine (10/25 – 10/29): EXAM #3; Chapters 11 & 12: Adolescence
Week Ten (11/1 – 11/5): Chapters 13 & 14: Early Adulthood
**Professional Interview due Friday**
Week Eleven (11/8 – 11/12): Review Chapters 11 - 14
Week Twelve (11/15 – 11/19): EXAM 4; Chapters 15 & 16: Middle Adulthood
**Classroom Observations due Friday**
Week Thirteen (11/22 - 11/24): Chapters 17 & 18: Late Adulthood
Week Fourteen (11/29 – 12/3): Chapter 19: Endings
Week Fifteen (12/6 – 12/10): Review Chapters 15 – 19; **Behavioral Rating
Forms (3) and Volunteer Documentation Due Friday**
Week Sixteen (12/15): Wednesday from 8:00 am - 10:00 am: EXAM #5
NOTE: This is a TENTATIVE timeline and changes may occur which will be announced in class. It is YOUR responsibility to keep up with these changes, especially if you miss class.