Child Psychology Syllabus for 2013-2014
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Instructor Information

Course Information

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Any student who, because of a disabling condition, may require some special arrangements in order to meet course requirements should contact disAbility Services (Student Service Center room 119, phone 371-5436) as soon as possible.

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As a student you may experience a range of issues that can cause barriers to learning, such as strained relationships, increased anxiety, alcohol/drug problems, feeling down, difficulty concentrating and/or lack of motivation. These mental health concerns or stressful events may lead to diminished academic performance or reduce a student's ability to participate in daily activities. Amarillo College offers services to assist you with addressing these and other concerns you may be experiencing. If you or someone you know are suffering from any of the aforementioned conditions, you can learn more about the broad range of confidential mental health services available on campus by calling the AC Counseling Center at 806-371-5900. The AC Counseling Center website is https://www.actx.edu/counseling/ . Also, if you are in need of social services (affordable housing, utilities, transportation, food, clothing, childcare, medical/dental/vision, legal), please call the AC Advocacy & Resource Center at 806-371-5439. The AC Advocacy & Resource Center website is https://www.actx.edu/arc

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Course

PSYC-2308-002 Child Psychology

Prerequisites

RDNG 0331-minimum grade of C or a score on a state-approved test indicating college-level reading skills

Course Description

This course will address psychological development from conception through middle childhood with references to physical, cognitive, social and personality changes. Students will examine the interplay of biological factors, human interaction, social structures and cultural forces in development.

Student Resources Student Resources Website

Department Expectations

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Hours

(3 sem hrs; 3 lec)

Class Type

On Campus Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

TEXTBOOKS and ADDITIONAL READINGS:

TEXTBOOK AND STUDY GUIDE: Required and available at Amarillo College Bookstore.  You may also find it online.

• Feldman, R. S. (2009). Child Development (6th Edition). Prentice Hall. Required   ISBN# 13: 978-0-205-25354-8
• YOU DO NOT NEED TO BUY THE STUDY GUIDE as I make up STUDY GUIDES FOR EACH TEST.

YOU MAY PURCHASE THE FELDMAN TEXT BY ITSELF and/or AS A USED TEXT, OR YOU MAY PURCHASE A NEW TEXTBOOK WITH THE ONLINE RESOURCES PACKET THAT WILL ALLOW YOU TO ACCESS THE MY DEVELOPMENT LAB resources that include practice quizzes and other study aids.  HOWEVER, THE ONE KEY ACCESS CODE IS NOT REQUIRED BY THIS INSTRUCTOR because of the added expense!   In order to save you that expense, this instructor makes up study guides and practice quizzes for the exams that will be available to students in the AC ONLINE classroom for this course.  You may print these study guides off and use them to prepare for your exams.  All exams are given online.

Final Project Reading: We will be presenting a program for the AMARILLO COLLEGE DAY CARE CENTER.  We will discuss more over this project involving the FOSTER CLINE and JIM FAY: Parenting with LOVE AND LOGIC as well as TEACHING with LOVE and LOGIC.  You  will be required to purchase and read an additional book for this presentation (not to mention that there will be questions over it on the exam).  These bookscan be ordered online at Amazon in used copies OR some will be available at the AC bookstore.  They range in price from a couple of dollars to about $15.00 AND YOU WILL BE GIVEN ALL INFORMATION ON THEM IN CLASS DURING OUR FIRST FEW CLASS MEETINGS, so be just know that you will have an EXTRA BOOK TO READ for this course.

Supplies

STUDENT SUPPLIES and RESOURCES

 STUDENT PERFORMANCE:

BY THE END OF THIS COURSE, STUDENTS SHOULD BE ABLE TO:

• Understand and explain the major theories and themes related to the physical, cognitive and social development of children and adolescents.
• Understand, compare and contrast the methods used in child psychology research.
• Understand, describe and explain the sequence of prenatal development from conception to birth, including basic genetic transmission of traits.
• Understand and explain the importance of neurological and brain development in children, and analyze, integrate and apply that knowledge to methods of enhancing a child's physical, cognitive and social development.
• Understand the maturation process and the sequencing of events in children's and adolescents' physical, cognitive and social/personality development.
• Describe the major social influences on the developing child, and integrate the knowledge from the research in the field as to how parents, caregivers, teachers, and others who interact with children can apply this knowledge to enhance children's social and personality development.
• Apply this information in critical and creative ways to virtual and actual interactions with children and adolescents that might include (but are not limited to) the students own children, younger siblings or relatives, care giving opportunities such as babysitting, as well as training and professional contact in the fields of teaching, nursing, childcare, criminal justice, counseling, social work, and even business.

Students Rights and Responsibilities

Log in using the AC Connect Portal

In order to receive your AC Connect Email, you must log in through AC Connect at https://acconnect.actx.edu .

If you are an active staff or faculty member according to Human Resources, use "Exchange". All other students, use "AC Connect (Google) Email".

Expected Student Behavior

STUDENT BEHAVIOR: What is expected of you!

Students are expected to engage in appropriate "netiquette" within the ONLINE PORTION OF THIS CLASS, and to engage in civil behaviors in the classroom portion of this course.  Inappropriate behaviors, such as swearing, discussion of inappropriate issues NOT related to the courseroom material, or any type of intolerance or rudeness to other learners will not be tolerated and may result in failing the class, or dismissal from Amarillo College. Treat others as you like to be treated and everything should be fine! YOU ARE EXPECTED TO ATTEND CLASS AND BE ON TIME.  PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS INSTRUCTOR TAKES ATTENDANCE 10 TIMES DURING THE SEMESTER, AT THE VERY BEGINNING OF CLASS.  IF YOU ARE NOT IN CLASS AT THAT TIME, YOU ARE CONSIDERED ABSENT.  PLEASE BE THERE AND BE PUNCTUAL!

Now, having said that, please remember that this is an COLLEGE LEVEL COURSE, and we will be discussing controversial issues in an ADULT MANNER!  You are expected to act like an adult in these discussions and realize that others may think and feel differently than you on a host of issues related to sociology!  Diversity is a GREAT THING and to be APPRECIATED in this instructors opinion.  If you find something offensive that is said by another student OR your instructor, please don't hesitate to contact me and discuss this with me.  However, it's important to remember that this course is not designed to CONFIRM YOUR OWN POLITICAL or RELIGIOUS BELIEFS, but rather to get you to think about sociology, society, and people in a bigger way than you may have already been exposed to. IN THAT, YOU MAY FIND YOURSELF UNCOMFORTABLE AT TIMES, AS YOU ARE BEING REQUIRED TO STRETCH OUTSIDE OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE! This is a part of what it means to get an education!  Obviously, learning to see the world in a different light is the goal of this course!  Again, it is not our goal, nor do we  want you to feel offended.  I'm always happy to dialogue with you about your experience of the course, and look forward to your feedback!  Feel free to share with me.  I want to hear your concerns so that we can BOTH GROW!  I'm still learning too!

If you have a complaint about this course, please contact me first.  If you are uncomfortable doing that, you may contact my supervisor, Mr. Jerry Moller at DURR 212A, 371-5297

If you have a concern that something you want to write would offend others in the courseroom, run it by me first. Simply contact me via the courseroom email. As well, if you are aware of any student being mistreated or harrassed in this course (including yourself), please bring it to my immediate attention.  We have zero tolerance for any student being mistreated here at Amarillo College. This will be a SAFE place for the expression of ideas and exchanges! Remember, you are an adult and differences of opinion, beliefs, and ideas ARE A part of this course and a critical aspect of adult education!  Thanks! Dr. Harding

Grading Criteria

GRADING CRITERIA:

Your final grade for this course will be based on the standard grading percentages:

89.45-100% = A        79.45-89.44% = B       69.45-79.44% = C      

49.45-69.44% = D      Below 49.45% = F

Your final grade is based on the following items:

1. FIVE out of SIX exams over the lectures, class discussions, films and sixteen chapters in the text and over the BRAIN TRAINER MANUAL. (100 points each = 500 pts).  You will be allowed to drop your lowest exam score FROM THE FIRST FIVE EXAMS, BUT YOU MUST TAKE THE LAST EXAM (the "final) WHICH WILL HAVE A FEW GENERAL "BIG CONCEPT" QUESTIONS FROM EACH OF THE CHAPTERS.  Please, do not MISS THE lan EXAM or your 0 will count against you in your exam average!   
2. ONE 10 POINT SYLLABUS QUIZ.  You need to read the syllabus, print it off and then TAKE THE QUIZ for your first 10 points! It's due in the first two weeks of class.
3. ONE study guide (FOR Exam 1) filled out, turned in the day the online exam closes!  Worth 10 pts. added to EXAM 1.  THIS IS A REQUIRED HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT!   Having said that, it's like getting 10 extra credit points on your first exam!
4. A final class project covering an assigned reading. (150 points total)
5. Classroom attendance worth 40 points. (I will take roll 9 times during the semester worth 5 pts and 10 of those will count towards your grade. If you are are always there, its like getting 5 extra points).  Some attendance points will be related to film labs, in class labs, or just being in class!   

5 out of 6 EXAMS :   500 POINTS and 70% of final grade (YOU MUST TAKE THE LAST EXAM! You can drop one of the first five exams, or, if you miss an exam that will be your dropped grade.  HOWEVER, the final exam has comprehensive questions on it and is required!)

1 SYLLABUS QUIZ = 10 points and 1% of your grade.

FINAL CLASS PROJECT: 150 POINTS 20% of your final grade

CLASSROOM ATTENDANCE, PARTICIPATION, IN CLASS FILMS AND LABS at 5 pts each = 40 POINTS and 8% of final grade

1 STUDY GUIDE = 10 points will be added, as extra credit, to your FIRST EXAM!

You will also have a possible 30 points EXTRA CREDIT that you can attain by participating in the SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY CLASS PROJECT. You will hear more about this in the semester.

TOTAL POINTS FOR COURSE = 700 PTS.

NOTE: All exams for this class are online.  They are open for one week.  Please be sure that you find the time to take the exam as, once it is closed, you will only be allowed to make up an exam in the MOST EXCEPTIONAL OF CIRCUMSTANCES.  Also, if you wait to the last minute to take the exam and something happens, you may NOT make up the exam! So, please, do not procrastinate! 

Attendance

STUDENT ATTENDANCE:

 "90% of Success comes from SHOWING UP"  ~ Due to the freedom that college courses offer you, it may be tempting to not show up to class. It is my experience that almost NONE of the students with poor attendance do well in this course or are able to finish the course. Obviously the choice is up to you.  This instructor will take attendance 9 times during the semester. and COUNT of them.   For some of these times, there will be an in-class lab.  EAch attendance date is worth 5 points and the total is worth 40 points. If you have perfect attendance, you get an extra 5 points the end of class.   You are responsible for contacting the instructor about missed work or assignments, and if an exam has been missed. Regular attendance is the best way to maximize your grade! Since attendance is taken at the beginning of class, being late will also hurt your attendance grade! Be on time, show up and be ready to work!

Calendar

Additional Information

HOW TO VIEW YOUR GRADES, INSTRUCTOR COMMENTS AND GRADING RUBRICS FOR YOUR GRADED WORK!

  In order to see your instructor's comments on your work (such as your discussions and your paper), GO TO "MY GRADES" tab in the menu to the left of your BLACKBOARD CLASSROOM SCREEN.  Find the item you want to look at in the LIST (they are not necessarily in order...sorry!).  Click on that and you will see a place that says VIEW RUBRIC and COMMENTS.  Click on comments to see anything your instructor has said, and click on RUBRIC to view the rubric grading system and how your instructor graded you.  PLEASE...this instructor SPENDS A LOT OF TIME to give you CONSTRUCTIVE FEEDBACK...USE IT and make corrections accordingly! If you keep making the same error time and again, YOUR GRADES WILL CONTINUE TO GO DOWN!  I expect you to USE THE FEEDBACK I GIVE YOU TO BECOME A BETTER STUDENT and to IMPROVE IN YOUR SCHOOL WORK!