This is a fully online asynchronous class. There will not be any meeting times.
This course focuses on the changes which occur in normal development between conception and death in the areas of cognitive, physical, and social development. Some sections of this course are taught in the computer lab; computer literacy skills are recommended. IAI: S6 902.
Appropriate assessment score or ENGL 1422 with a grade of C or better - Must be taken either prior to or at the same time as this course.
Course Alignment
General Education Outcomes are the knowledge, skills, abilities, attitudes, and behaviors that students are expected to develop as a result of their overall experiences with any aspect of the college, including courses, programs, and student services, both inside and outside of the classroom. The General Education Outcomes specifically learned in this course are:
- Critical Thinking
Faculty Contact Information
I am here to support you on your educational journey in the classroom and beyond. I generally come to class early and stay a little later to address any questions or concerns students might want to ask outside of class. I am also available to respond to questions or concerns by email, phone, Zoom, or in person appointment.
My Planned Office Hours
Tues/Thurs 9:00 – 9:30am and 1:00 – 2:00pm
Course Information
At the end of this course, students will be able to:
- Understand how children/adolescents/adults construct knowledge, acquire skills, and develop habits of mind
- Analyze how demographic and economic changes in the USA are impacting the family unit, child rearing in the home and at school.
- Contrast child-rearing practices and parenting styles in different ethnic groups.
- Understand basic research methods and able to identify methodological flaws in research studies as well as interpret correlations in research.
- Describe early childhood education programs that enhance cognitive and social skills.
- Understand attachment/bonding theory and its impact on development for later years.
- Identify age characteristics described in the stage theories: Freud, Erikson, and Piaget.
- Understand that children’s/adolescents’/adults’ physical, social, emotional, ethical, cognitive and language development influences learning
- Understand human developmental concepts, learning theory, neural science, and the ranges of individual variation within each domain
- Understand that differences in approaches to learning and performance interact with development
- Understand the impact of cognitive, emotional, physical, and sensory disabilities on learning and communication processes
- Understand the areas of exceptionality in learning as defined in the Individual with Disabilities Act
- Understand how cultural and gender differences can affect communication
- Understand the benefits, barriers, and techniques involved in parent/family relationships
- Compare and contrast the basic assumptions of four main theories of development: psychoanalytical, Piagetian, Vygotskyian, and behavioral.
- Prenatal Development and Birth
- Physical, Cognitive, and Socioemotional Development During:
- Infancy
- Early Childhood
- Middle and Late Childhood
- Adolescence
- Early Adulthood
- Middle Adulthood
- Late Adulthood
- Dying and Grief
Fuligni, A., Fuligni, A., & Bayne, J. (2023). Scientific American: Life-Span Development. Macmillan Publishers.
*Achieve will be required for this course. If you purchase the book from the bookstore, be sure to save the code that comes with your book – you will need it to access Achieve. If you purchase Achieve directly through Macmillan, but sure you ae purchasing the Achieve program, not the Read and Practice. The Achieve program will come with a etext.
Achieve Course ID: m8cnj6
Grading Scale
A 90% 315 points
B 80% 280 points
C 70% 245 points
D 60% 210 points
F <60%
Graded criteria
Discussion Questions (20 points each) 80 points
Developing Lives (80 points) 80 points
Exams (35 points each) 140 points
Reflective Analysis 50 points
350 points
Description of each criterion.
Discussions (80 points)
Although we will not be meeting face-to-face, class discussion is still a very important part of this class. Each week’s discussion will be conducted via discussion board in Canvas. It is important that all postings show an understanding of the assigned readings and the psychological theories, as well as your personal opinion. You can earn up to 20 points for each response based on the depth of your answer.
Developing Lives (80 points)
Developing Lives, Macmillan Learning’s innovative virtual parenting application, is a deeply immersive, highly effective student experience—and a high value addition to any child and life-span development course. In this interactive learning tool, you will “raise” a virtual child from sperm-and-egg to teenager.
Exams (140 points)
The course will be divided into four units. Four exams including multiple choice and matching will be given through the course of the term. Though most of the exam will focus on the chapters covered during that point of the term, due to the cumulative nature of course, some questions may draw upon information learned earlier in the course. These will be taken online using Canvas. Each exam must be taken within a specified time period and will have a time limit once you begin. Make up exams will not be offered. If you miss an exam, you may receive a paper option with a late penalty.
Exams must be taken using Respondus Lockdown Browser and Monitor. This will require you to download the app (which I recommend doing during the first week in case you have any issues) as well as have a working camera. If you do not have a camera, you may be able to check one out at the KCC library. Alternatively, you can schedule an exam in the KCC Testing Center. Please be sure to provide a few days notice so that I can send the exam to the TC.
*If you require additional time due to an accommodation through the Office of Disability Services, please contact me at the beginning of the semester so that I can make alternative testing arrangements.
Reflective Analysis (50 points)
In a 4-5 page paper, you will engage in a reflective analysis of the content you've acquired throughout this class and its relevance to your own personal development. The assignment is divided into two parts, focusing on childhood comparisons and adult influences.
Liberal Arts & Sciences
Dean, Jennifer Huggins; 815-802-8484; R310; jhuggins@kcc.edu; Division Office- W102; 815-802-8700
Plagiarism, is defined in section 16.2 of the Code of Conduct: “Representing the words or ideas of another as one’s own. Plagiarism includes claiming credit for assignments completed by someone else.” All instances of intentional plagiarism on any major assignment for this course will lead to the immediate failure of the course with no opportunity for the student to withdraw. The instance of plagiarism will be reported to the Dean of Student Development. If the student has a second instance of plagiarism reported to the Dean of Student Development, the student may be suspended from the institution.
Academic Integrity: Students are expected to submit honest, original work. Examples of cheating include copying another’s work (including an AI bot), using another’s work without appropriate references, having another person take an exam or provide answers for an exam, or submitting your own work that has already been used in another class. The college regards cheating as a very serious offense and may result in failure of the class and dismissal from the college.
Artificial Intelligence (AI): AI programs can serve as helpful tools in the learning process. However, they cannot be used as a substitute for writing. Acceptable uses of AI for this course include assistance with grammar, spelling, and writing mechanics. However, using AI to generate content for a paper, assignment, or discussion post is considered plagiarism and is not appropriate use. Such use will result in, at minimum, a zero for the assignment without opportunity for resubmission, and may result in failure of the course.
Any use of AI should be properly referenced in the References. This source can provide guidance: https://apastyle.apa.org/blog/how-to-cite-chatgpt
Additionally, the chat input and output must be included in an Appendix.
Attendance: Regular attendance is expected in accordance with college policy. Attendance in an online course is measured by completing the assignments.
Makeup Exams: Students are given a three day period to take each exam, and they must be completed within this timeframe. Late exams that were not pre-arranged will receive half credit unless you have a documented emergency that prevented appropriate arrangements.
Late Assignments: All assignments are expected on the due date assigned. Should unusual circumstances arise that delay your work, you may turn in your assignment up to one week late with a deduction of a full letter grade for that assignment. After one week, the assignment may not be accepted unless unusual and unavoidable circumstances warrant an additional exemption. Only two assignments may be submitted late. Late discussion questions and exams are not accepted. All late assignments must be submitted prior to the week of finals; no late work will be accepted during finals week.
Writing style: All coursework must be typed and completed in the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association: Seventh Edition (APA style). Abbreviations such as those used when texting (i.e., “u” instead of “you”) is NOT appropriate and work containing such abbreviations will not be graded. Instead, it would be returned to you for corrections and you will immediately lose one letter grade for that assignment. Once you have made corrections, you may turn in the assignment for grading. You will lose an additional letter grade for each week the assignment is late.
Contacting the instructor: E-mail is the best way to contact me. I usually check my e-mail several times a day and strive to get back to messages within 24 hours. However the response time is lengthened to 48-72 hours over the weekend. Please use your KCC email account to email me as any other account might be flagged as spam and not delivered.
If you have read to this point of the syllabus and would like extra credit, use your KCC student email to send me a picture of your favorite animal to cstevenson@kcc.edu no later than 11:59pm Sunday of Week 1. Please be sure to include which class the class number (PSYC 2573 010) in the subject line.
| Week 1 02/09 – 02/13 | |
Topics Covered
| Assignments Post introduction by 11:59pm Monday Read chapters 1-5 Set up Lockdown Browser by Wed Complete Developing Lives Quizzes by 11:59pm Fri Post Unit 1 Discussion by 11:59pm Fri Complete Exam 1 by 11:59pm Fri |
| Week 2 02/14 – 02/20 | |
Topics Covered
| Assignments (Due by 11:59pm Friday)
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| Week 3 02/21-02/27 | |
Topics Covered
| Assignments (Due by 11:59pm Friday) Read chapters 10-13 Complete Developing Lives Post Unit 3 Discussion Complete Exam 3 |
| Week 4 02/28 – 03/06 | |
| Topics Covered Physical, Cognitive, and Socioemotional Development in Mid and Late Adulthood Dying and Grieving | Assignments (Due by 11:59pm Friday) Read chapters 14 – 17 and epilogue Complete Reflective Analysis Post Unit 4 Discussion Complete Exam 4 |
College Policies, Resources and Supports
For information related to the Student Code of Conduct Policy, Withdrawal Policy, Email Policy, and Non- Attendance/Non-Participation Policy, please review the college’s Code of Campus Affairs and Regulations webpage, which can be found at catalog.kcc.edu under the Academic Regulations & Conduct Guide.
KCC offers various academic and personal resources for all students. Many services are offered virtually, as well as in person. Please visit Student Resources - Kankakee Community College to access student resources services such as:
- Clubs and organizations
- Counseling and referral services
- Office of disability services
- Student complaint policy
- Transfer services
- Tutoring services, etc.
The materials on this course are only for the use of students enrolled in this course for purposes associated with this course. Further information regarding KCC's copyright policy is available at https://kcc.libguides.com/copyright.
|Course syllabus/calendar is subject to change.