Students are expected to meet the following course requirements:

1.   Read the textbook.  “A” students tend to read at a pace that follows the syllabus outline.

2.   Regularly check announcements at Dr. Grangaard’s web site: http://www.austincc.edu/dgran/2314news.htm.

3.  Attend class (85% of the test questions will come from class lectures, discussions, and film clips).  Roll will be taken.  If you don’t want to attend class, please drop the course and register for a distance learning class.  If you are frequently absent and have missing scores, the instructor will withdraw you from the class.  Absences on test days require documented proof for a valid absence.  If you have such an excuse, you may take a make-up test in the Test Center.  If you do not have an official excuse, you will be missing a grade which will lower your course grade. 

4.   Successfully complete four (4) examinations.

5.   Read a biography/autobiography or a book related to developmental psychology and write a book review.  Details for writing the report are located under the section of the syllabus titled examinations and course grade.

Students with disabilities who believe that they may need accommodations in this class are encouraged to contact the Office for Students with Disabilities as soon as possible to better ensure that such accommodations are implemented in a timely fashion.  

Text:  Berger, K.S. (2008) The developing person through the life span, seventh edition.  New York:  Worth Publishers.

Read a biography/autobiography or a book related to developmental psychology and write a book review.  Book reviews over books related to developmental psychology should be one, single-spaced, typewritten page, and should include:  a bibliographic entry (author, book title, year of publication, city of publication, and name of publisher), information about the author, a decision regarding what main points (thesis) the author had for writing the book, and evidence as to whether or not the author supported the thesis.  Book reviews over biographies or autobiographies may be two, single spaced, typewritten pages, and include:  a bibliographic entry, sections highlighting life/career accomplishments, life setbacks and challenges, lessons conveyed by the person’s testimony, your favorite snapshot of the person’s life, a brief ecological analysis based on Bronfenbrenner’s model, and an evaluation of the book. 

Students must have Dr. Grangaard approve their book title by the date of the first exam.  Everyone in the class must read a different book.  Sample book reviews and sample book review grading forms are located at the end of the syllabus. 

A survey of the physical, cognitive, emotional, and social factors in human development from conception to death.  There will be an emphasis on understanding people at various ages of development in order to be more patient with them and to interact with them more effectively.  The course is especially well suited for individuals interested in pursuing careers in the helping, healthcare, and education professions, and anyone who would like to better understand people who are at a different stage in life than they are living. 

Students should be prepared for regularly scheduled tests.  Tests will be in the multiple-choice, true-false format.  Tests taken in class will also have a bonus essay question.  Bonus questions are not included in make-up exams taken in the test center.  There are no provisions for retests or “extra credit.”  In order that tests may be scored quickly and accurately, tests will be taken with a #2 pencil on Scantron answer sheets, which must be provided by the student, and may be purchased in the campus store.  Students with documented disabilities who require special test accommodations (i.e., extended time, a reader, etc.) should give Dr. Grangaard their accommodation letter at the beginning of the semester and far in advance of the first test.

Student behavior, including academic integrity, should reflect the policies outlined in the ACC Student Handbook.  Academic dishonesty will result in a failing grade on the assignment or test.  Factors associated with academic integrity are described in the ACC Student Handbook as: 

1. Academic work submitted by students shall be the result of their own thought, research or self-expression. For purposes of these regulations, academic work is defined as, but not limited to exams and quizzes, whether taken electronically or on paper; projects, either individual or group; papers; classroom presentations; and homework.

2. When students borrow ideas, wording or organization from another source, they shall reference that information in an appropriate manner.

Individual test scores and class statistics will normally be given to students the next class day.  Items that a majority of students missed will be discussed in class.  Students who do not perform well are encouraged to schedule an appointment to go over their individual tests with Dr. Grangaard during his campus office hours. 

Grading Key:  A (90-100), B (80-89), C (70-79), D (60-69), F (<60)

Course grades will be based on the average of the student’s performance on four (4) tests and a book review. Students with a missing grade will have their final course grade dropped one letter grade for each missing score.  A grade of incomplete (I) will only be granted to students presenting unusual personal circumstances.  In such situations, the student should have already completed 3/5 of the course requirements.

Case Example:

• Have fun!  If the professor is not enjoying class, then the students probably aren’t either
• Infuse lectures with real life examples of psychology in practice
• Involve students in live demonstrations to portray concepts introduced
• Maximize use of media to illustrate main points of discussion
• Provide an environment in which students will be free to share their opinions, personal experiences, and ideas*
• Facilitate student debates (pro & con) about almost any issue related to developmental psychology*
• Encourage student discernment in dealing with self-appointed experts
• Make the material relevant to student vocational and personal aspirations
• Evaluate the students’ ability to comprehend and apply the concepts taught rather than just assessing their knowledge
• Identify how psychology permeates virtually every aspect of our lives
• Ignite in the students an appreciation for research
• Facilitate group dynamics within the classroom

*Debates assume an environment of academic freedom.  Input by students and faculty will likely reflect differing viewpoints.  It is expected that faculty and students will respect the views of others when expressed in classroom discussions.  An honorable goal of higher education is to develop postformal thought which recognizes that one’s own perspective is only one of many potentially valid views and that life entails many inconsistencies.   It also promotes dialectical thinking, which involves considering both sides of an idea simultaneously and then forging them into a synthesis of the original idea and its opposite.

Specific Course Learning Objectives

PSYC 2314 Prerequisites:  The learning objectives for this course are based on ACC’s requirement that students enrolled will have successfully completed Introduction to Psychology (PSYC 2301).  The prerequisite is waived for Health Science students.

Learning Objectives – Part 1

Introductory Objectives (Chapter 1)

• Identify students’ reasons for taking a lifespan development course and topics they particularly want to be emphasized.
• Define the study of human development.
• Identify and briefly describe Bronfenbrenner’s ecological categories of contextual influence.
• Explain and discuss the nature-nurture controversy.
• List the basic steps of the scientific method.
• Differentiate and provide examples of longitudinal, cross-sectional, and cross-sequential research methodology.
• Define and give examples of correlation (positive, negative, and zero).

Theory Objectives (Chapter 2)

• Define developmental theory and explain how developmental theories are used to understand human behavior and development.
• Distinguish between grand and emergent theories.
• Discuss the major focus of psychoanalytic theory and explain Freud’s views.
• Present examples of Freudian theory in practice.
• Contrast Erikson’s theory of psychosocial development with Freud’s theory.
• Discuss the focus of cognitive theories and explain Piaget’s theory of cognitive development.
• Discuss the basic ideas of Vygotsky and evaluate the sociocultural perspective on development.
• Explain the significance of scaffolding and the zone of proximal development in promoting cognitive growth.
• Outline the basic ideas of epigenetic systems theory.

Heredity and Environment Objectives (Chapter 3)

• Describe the process of conception and the first few hours of development.
• Identify the mechanisms of heredity and explain how sex is determined.
• Distinguish between monozygotic and dizygotic twins.
• Differentiate the genotype from phenotype.
• Identify environmental variables that affect genetic inheritance.
• Outline and give examples of the most common chromosomal abnormalities.
• Identify common genetic disorders.
• Describe situations in which couples may wish to seek genetic testing/counseling.
• Identify tests used in prenatal diagnosis and describe their purposes.
• Describe the Human Genome Project.

Prenatal Development and Birth Objectives (Chapter 4)

• Describe significant developments that occur during the fertilization, zygotic, embryo, and fetal periods.
• Outline causes of infertility.
• Discuss rates and characteristics of ectopic pregnancy. 
• Identify the most common causes of congenital malformations, define teratology, and discuss factors that determine if a taratogen will be harmful.
• Outline protective steps that may moderate the risk of teratogenic exposure.
• Describe the birth process and how the newborn’s condition is assessed at birth.
• Discuss low birth-weight, preterm, and small for gestational age infants, and discuss the possible causes, challenges, and consequences of these conditions.
• Discuss the advantages of prepared childbirth for the baby and the family.
• Explain the concept of parent-infant bonding and the current view of most developmental psychologists on bonding in humans.

First 2 Years: Biosocial Development (Chapter 5)

• Describe overall growth during the first two years.
• Describe infant body proportions and compare to those of an adult.
• Identify risk factors and possible explanations for sudden infant death syndrome.
• Outline how the brain changes (matures) during infancy.
• Characterize the basic reflexes of the newborn and distinguish between fine and gross motor skills.
• Demonstrate how habituation is used in research on infant perception.
• Describe the extent and development of the infant’s perceptual abilities (especially vision, hearing, taste, and smell).
• Discuss the role of sensory experience in brain development.
• Discuss the benefits and potential side-effects of immunization.
• Discuss the nutritional needs of infants and results of malnutrition in the first years.

First 2 Years: Cognitive Development (Chapter 6)

• Identify and describe the six stages (Piaget) of sensorimotor intelligence.
• Review recent research findings regarding object permanence.
• Describe language development during infancy.
• Contrast the theories of Skinner and Chomsky regarding early language development.

First 2 Years:  Psychosocial Development (Chapter 7)

• Identify eight facial expressions associated with corresponding internal feelings.
• Discuss Greenspan’s ideas regarding psychological interventions possible during infancy and early childhood.
• Discuss the evolution of emotion including the effects of cognitive development during the first two years of life.
• Explain the origins and development of temperament as an interaction of nature and nurture.
• Outline the findings of the New York Longitudinal Study as it relates to temperament.

Play Years:  Biosocial Development  (Chapter 8)

• Outline normal physical growth from the ages of 2 to 6.
• Describe changes in eating habits during the preschool years.
• Discuss brain maturation during this developmental period.
• Discuss the significance of drawing during the play years.
• Outline the evolution of playground development and its relationship to “injury control.”
• Debate whether male-female distinctions in play patterns are gender differences or cultural influences.
• Identify categories of child maltreatment and discuss factors that contribute to it.

Play Years:  Cognitive Development (Chapter 9)

• Explore preschoolers’ understanding of number concepts via examination of the Test of Early Math Ability – Second Edition (TEMA-2).
• Discuss the development of reading readiness skills via examination of the Test of Early Reading Ability – Second Edition (TERA-2).
• Review Piaget’s characterization of the stage of preoperational thought.
• Review Piaget’s principles of conservation.
• Contrast Vygotsky’s views on cognitive development with those of Piaget.
• Outline the sequence by which vocabulary and grammar develops.
• Debate the value of a preschool education for a child vs. remaining home with a primary caretaker.

Play Years:  Psychosocial Development (Chapter 10)

• Discuss the emergence of self from the perspective of various developmental theorists.
• Examine social awareness during the play years.
• Define and give examples of different types of play.
• Compare and contrast patterns of parenting and their effect on children.
• Discuss types of aggression in preschool children.
• Discuss the development of gender awareness.

Ideas for Effective Child Discipline

• Review research on styles of parenting and that regarding biological inheritance of personality traits.
• Outline and give examples of basic prerequisites for discipline.
• Outline and give examples of effective discipline techniques.
• Discuss positive and negative reinforcement schedules.
• Discuss principles associated with use of  flooding, modeling, reality therapy, time-out, and home token economies.

School Years:  Biosocial Development  (Chapter 11)

• Describe normal physical growth and development during middle childhood.
• Identify the major causes of childhood obesity.
• Discuss the problems of obese children in middle childhood and outline the best approaches for treating obesity.
• Describe the development of motor skills during the school years and discuss reasons for limited abilities in some areas.
• Discuss the symptoms and possible causes of learning disabilities.
• Outline the process for assessing a child for learning disabilities.
• Describe the symptoms and possible causes of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (AD/HD).
• Discuss the types of treatment available for ADHD and outline how stimulant and antidepressant medication work.
• Discuss potential accommodations for educating children with special needs.

School Years:  Cognitive Development (Chapter 12)

• Discuss the information processing perspective on cognitive development during the school years, focusing on children’s advances in selective attention, memory skills, and processing capacity.
• Identify and discuss the logical operations of concrete operational thought (Piaget).
• Discuss the concept of metacognition.
• Describe language development during the school years. 
• Debate the academic and social challenges facing children whose primary language is different from the standard language used at school.
• Debate the best approaches to bilingual education.
• Debate variations of schooling that have recently been promoted.
• Compare the academic performance of children in the United States with those in other countries and debate the etiology of the differences.
• Outline and debate reasons for home schooling.
• Differentiate achievement tests from aptitude tests and give examples of each type.
• Outline Kohlberg’s stage theory of moral development and discuss criticisms of it.

The School Years:  Psychosocial Development (Chapter 13)

• Discuss the importance of peer groups.
• Discuss the ways in which children’s friendship circles and social problem solving skills change during the school years.
• Identify groups of unpopular children and discuss the etiology of the peer group rejection and what can be done about it.
• Debate the modification of American family structure and the impact it has had on children (i.e., single parent homes, step-parent relations, blended families, the role of grandparents).
• Discuss use of the SPPI for assessing distress.

Adolescence:  Biosocial Development (Chapter 14)

• Outline the biological events of puberty.
• Identify factors that influence the onset of puberty.
• Describe physical growth during adolescence in both males and females.
• Outline nutritional needs and problems of adolescents.
• Discuss the adolescent’s preoccupation with body image and the problems that sometimes arise.
• Discuss adjustment problems encountered by boys and girls who develop earlier or later than their peers.

Adolescence:  Cognitive Development (Chapter 15)

• Discuss evidence of formal operational thinking during adolescence.
• Discuss adolescent egocentrism including fantasies and fables.
• Debate whether the typical secondary school meets the cognitive needs of adolescents.
• Discuss the impact of ego- and task-involvement learning on the typical adolescent and debate how schools can be organized to more effectively meet adolescents’ cognitive needs.
• Debate the impact of academic tracking on students.
• Explain how adolescent thinking contributes to the high incidence of adolescent pregnancy and sexually transmitted disease.
• Debate sex education and whether or not high schools should have daycare centers.

Adolescence:  Psychosocial Development (Chapter 16)

• Describe Erikson’s view of the development of identity during adolescence.
• Contrast the views of Erikson with those of other developmental theorists, especially Spranger and Hall.
• Discuss the problems of identity formation encountered by adolescents.
• Describe and give examples of adolescent identity statuses.
• Discuss parental influence on identity formation, including the effect of parent-child conflict and factors that affect its frequency and severity.
• Discuss delinquency among adolescents, significance for later development, and best approaches for prevention and treatment.
• Outline the adolescent suicide problem including:  prevalence, contributing factors, warning signs, and intervention methods.

Emerging Adulthood – Cognitive Development (Chapter 18)

• List and describe the stages of cognition proposed by K. Warner Schaie.
• Identify the main characteristics of postformal thought and tell how it differs from formal operational thought.
• Define dialectical thought and give examples of its usefulness.
• Outline the six stages of faith described by James Fowler.
• Discuss the relationship between cognitive growth and higher education.
• Discuss how life events may trigger new patterns of thinking and result in cognitive growth.

Adulthood:  Biosocial  (Chapter 20)

• Identify typical physical changes that occur during middle.
• Describe the relationship between lifestyle factors and health.
• Discuss historical changes in the psychological impact of menopause.

Adulthood:  Cognitive + Psychosocial Development (Chapters 21 + 22)

• Define, outline, and give examples of how expertise is a primary attribute during middle adulthood.
• Discuss the concept of the mid-life crisis and evaluate research evidence concerning its occurrence.
• Discuss the impact of gender, SES, vocation, and culture on the experience of the mid-life crisis.
• Discuss the relationship between middle-aged adults and the younger and older generations.
• Debate career related problems that may occur during mid-life, who is most likely to experience them, and how they can be prevented.
• Describe clusters of personality traits designated the “big five” and discuss reasons for their relative stability during adulthood.
• Discuss the impact of stressors on development during middle adulthood and ways of coping with stressors.

Late Adulthood:  Biosocial Development (Chapter 23)

• Discuss factors that contribute to agism in our society.
• Differentiate between optimal, normal, and impaired aging. 
• Discuss theories of aging including the wear-and-tear and genetic approaches. 
• Explain what the Hayflick limit is and how it supports the idea of a genetic clock.

Late Adulthood – Cognitive Development (Chapter 24)

• Summarize research findings regarding changes in the sensitivity of the sensory register and the capacity of working memory during late adulthood.
• Summarize research findings regarding changes in the older adult’s ability to access the knowledge base and to use control processes efficiently.
• Suggest factors, other than the aging process itself that might contribute to age-related declines in cognitive functioning.
• Define dementia and describe its stages.
• Identify the two most common forms of dementia and discuss the differences between them.
• Identify and describe other organic and inorganic causes of dementia.

Death and Dying (Epilogue chapter)

• Describe some cultural variations in how death is viewed and treated.
• Discuss the development of the field of thanatology.
• Outline the emotions associated with Kubler-Ross’s stages of dying.
• Discuss age-related differences in the conceptualization of death.
• Debate measures an individual and his or her family can take to ensure that the person dies a “good death.”
• Discuss the hospice environment. 
• Describe the functions of mourning and list the stages of the mourning process.
• Discuss the ways in which the emotional impact of an unexpected death might differ from that of an expected death.