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Child Psychology Syllabus for 2011-2012
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Instructor Information

Instructor

Deborah Harding (Curriculum Vitae)

E-Mail

Email me from your BLACKBOARD CLASSROOM EMAIL!  After the semester is over, you can contact me at: djharding@actx.edu

Phone

<h4><big><strong>Cell: Best way to get me: (806) 584-7569 from 9 am to 9 pm any day.&nbsp; Call me but DO NOT TEXT ME!</strong></big></h4>

Office Location

Dutton Hall 202-J

Office Hours

TO SET UP A MEETING:  CONTACT ME BY PHONE: The VERY BEST WAY TO REACH ME IS AT MY CELL PHONE AT  (806) 584-7569 between 9 AM and 9 PM, any day of the week. 

 

PLEASE...NO TEXTING: Please note that I DO NOT TEXT MY STUDENTS and I DO NOT ACCEPT TEXT MESSAGES.  If you can text me, then you can call me!  AGAIN, my cell phone is 806 584-7569!  If there is an occasion where I am traveling or cannot respond to you in a timely manner by phone, I will let you know that you can text me for that period of time.  However, outside of that, PLEASE CALL!  I enjoy talking to my students! If you text me, I will not respond to you! Sorry...I want to handle all student business over the phone or in an email!

If I'm not available when you call, I will call you back so please tell me your name, the best time to call you AND WHAT CLASS YOU ARE IN!  That way, I can better answer your questions! Thanks!  Also, we can set up a face to face conference if you want to!

 

EMAIL ME: You can also email me through the BLACKBOARD COURSE EMAIL feature!   Again, if you email me outside the CLASSROOM ONLINE EMAIL SYSTEM, your email may not get to me.  It may be treated as spam. SO, USE THE EMAIL FUNCTION IN THE ONLINE CLASS! It's in the MENU to the left of the screen and it says Send an EMAIL!   Click on that and then select SEND AN EMAIL TO THE INSTRUCTORS in the CLASS!  

 

OFFICE HOURS and APPOINTMENT TIMES: 

SPRING- II - 2021:  March 22nd through May 14th:   I will be ON CAMPUS in my office in DUTTON HALL 202J Monday and Wednesday from 10:30 to 12:00 pm. I have a 9 am to 10:15 am course, as well as a Monday-Thursday 12:30 pm to 1:45 pm course.   Please call me so we can set up an appointment time that works for you. We can meet virtually or somewhere where we can socially distance effectively (not in my office!) I have a virtual office in COLLABORATE where we can also meet face to face if you need tutoring or just to chat, if you prefer. 
If you want to meet with me outside of those hours, I'm happy to do that. Please call me and we can set up a time to meet. As well, I'm happy to meet with you  on a FACETIME CALL or in our COLLABORATE MEETING PLACE ONLINE! I am happy to tutor you in any way I can so you can succeed in this course! Please call me at 806 584-7569 to meet with me on any other day.  I appreciate you calling me first on my cell phone if you want to meet with me in my office so that I can prepare to meet you in order to protect both of us from COVID exposure.  Thank you! 
SO YOU DON'T KNOW HOW TO USE COLLABORATE:  There will be a video for you to watch as to how to attend COLLABORATE MEETINGS in your COURSE MENU LIST. Go online to your BLACKBOARD CLASS and you will see it in the MENU LIST to the LEFT OF THE SCREEN. As well, please feel free to call me if you are still not sure how to use COLLABORATE for your online meeting.  I am happy to do anything I can do to assist you during this difficult semester! Please call me at 806 584-7569 and let's figure out a time to work with you!
NEED MORE HELP: Call me! I can tutor you.  If you need more help with tutoring in the class you are in, we can get you set up with the folks at the STUDENT SUCCESS TUTORING CENTER can help you. We will work online or over the phone, in COLLABORATE or we can facetime until the advisories for social distancing pass.

FOR ONLINE CLASSES or ON-CAMPUS TECHNOLOGY ASSISTED CLASSES:  THE BEST WAY TO SET UP AN INDIVIDUAL APPOINTMENT is to CALL ME ON MY CELLPHONE at 806 584-7569.

FOLKS: Please, I give you my cell phone number so you can call me between 9 am and 9 pm, 7 days a week! Feel free to CALL me OR EMAIL ME SO WE CAN FIGURE OUT WHERE AND WHEN we can either visit by phone or in person!  Please do not abuse your privilege of having my cell number.  Again, please call me or email me. ....please DO NOT TEXT MESSAGE ME!  I want to communicate with you directly!

Course Information

Recording Policy

Disability Statement

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.

Statement for Mental Health and Advocacy & Resource Center:

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

Amarillo College Tutoring for Success Policy:

Administrative Drop Policy

N/A

Student Withdrawal Procedures

N/A

Privacy Statement

The Amarillo College Privacy Policy is found at https://www.actx.edu/-amarillo-college-privacy-notice , and applies to all Amarillo College students.  If you have questions about this privacy statement or you believe that your personal information has been released without your consent, send email to humanresources@actx.edu .

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

The basic concepts of human growth and development with reference to physical, cognitive, social and personality changes in the life of the child.

Student Resources Student Resources Website

Department Expectations

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Occupational License Disclaimer

Hours

(3 sem hrs; 3 lec)

Class Type

On Campus Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

 TEXTBOOK AND STUDY GUIDE:

FOR THIS SEMESTER ONLY, STUDENTS WILL BE WORKING FROM AN ONLINE TEXTBOOK WRITTEN BY THIS INSTRUCTOR.  The TEXTBOOK WILL BE FREE TO THE STUDENTS, BUT THEY WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR PRINTING OFF THE MATERIALS ONLINE, AS INSTRUCTED BY YOUR PROFESSOR.  All of your study aids and study guides for the exams will be found ONLINE.

IN EXCHANGE for the FREE TEXTBOOK, students are asked to help the professor EDIT the textbook by filling out summary reports for each chapter.  These reports will be supplied by your instructor and you will be asked to submit them the day that each of the four exams are due, along with your study guide for the exam. Students will be required to buy a secondary text for their final project.  See more information below on this:

Final Project Reading: As well, you will be required to purchase and read an additional book, depending upon your selection for the final project. These texts can 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 YOUR FIRST GROUP MEETING that will be held in class.

Supplies

In order to print off your study guides, assignments and powerpoint lecture notes, AND IN ORDER TO TAKE THE EXAMS FOR THIS COURSE, you will need to have your own computer that has POWER POINT on it , or YOU WILL

Student Performance

By the end of this course, student learners taking this course will 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

Student 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:

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! 

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

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, BUT YOU MUST TAKE ALL EXAMS!  Please, do not MISS an EXAM or your 0 will count against you in your exam average!   
  2. Two study guides (Exam 1 and Exam 2), filled out, turned in the day the online exam closes!  Worth 15 pts each = 30 pts. 
  3. A final class project covering an assigned reading. (100 points total)
  4. Classroom attendance worth 50 points. (I will take roll 12 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 10 extra points).  Some attendance points will be related to film labs, in class labs, or just being in class!   

5 EXAMS :   500 POINTS

2 STUDY GUIDES (15 PTS EACH):  30 POINTS

FINAL CLASS PROJECT: 100 POINTS

CLASSROOM ATTENDANCE, PARTICIPATION, IN CLASS FILMS AND LABS at 5 pts each = 50 POINTS

TOTAL POINTS FOR COURSE = 580 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

 "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 10 times during the semester. For some of these times, there will be an in-class lab.  EAch attendance date is worth 5 points.   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

PLEASE NOTE: THIS CALENDAR is a broad outline of our course.  A more specific calendar can be found in your ANGEL class, along with weekly updates and reminders on your ANGEL AC ONLINE ANNOUNCEMENT PAGE for our course.  This calendar MAY BE CHANGED DUE TO MISSED CLASSES BECAUSE OF WEATHER, INSTRUCTORS ILLNESS OR ABSENCE, OR OTHER REASONS (GUEST SPEAKER OPPORTUNITIES FOR EXAMPLE! ETC).

CHILD PSYCHOLOGY 2308  SPRING 2012 ~ MW 1:30-2:45 PM

WEEKS 1-4:  INTRODUCTION, THEORIES, THE SCIENCE OF CHILD DEVELOPMENT, PRE-NATAL DEVELOPMENT AND BIRTH

WEEKS 5 & 6: BRAIN TRAINER MANUAL: PARENTING IN THE AGE OF NEUROSCIENCE. Creating healthy brains for health kids!

WEEKS 7 (8 IS SPRING BREAK), 9, 10, 11: INFANTS AND TODDLERS ~ Physical, cognitive and social/emotional development and highlights during the infant and toddler years.

WEEKS 12, 13, 14 15:  SCHOOL-AGE CHILDREN and ADOLESCENCE:  Physical, cognitive, and social/emotional development and highlights during the school-years (what we call "middle childhood" and the teen years!

Other areas discussed during the semester will include:  Child-rearing and teaching practices, child abuse, spanking and "punishment" versus using love and logic and natural consequences.  You will also have six class periods to meet with your groups for your final presentation.

Additional Information

STUDENT PERFORMANCE

Students' performance in this course will be evaluated in the following ways:

  1. Three written examinations and one quiz over lectures, Brain Trainer manual, films, and textbook material
  2. Class attendance, discussion and participation
  3. Watching films and written labs related to the film
  4. Working in a group of other students in the course (class time is scheduled for this portion of the class) in a team project that includes reading a second book on parenting/teaching issues, creating a handout over major concepts in the book, presenting skits to the class that shows application of the concepts  in ineffective versus effective ways of handling issues with children.  Students will be evaluted on the quality of the handout, the presentation itself, as well as teamwork, personal and social responsibility.

Here are some additional links that you might find helpful to aid you in research and writing!  FOR THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION GO TO THE LINKS BELOW:

  • AMARILLOCOLLEGE LIBRARY:  http://www.actx.edu/library/
    • For help with your computer, or to use computers go to the second floor of the library.
  • For information on how to do a research paper and search for references go to:
    • http://www.actx.edu/library/index.php?module=article&id=8#Research
  • FIND OUT MORE ABOUT PLAGIARISM AND HOW TO AVOID IT: GO TO:

·             http://www.actx.edu/english/index.php?module=article&id=14%s

·         For help with your papers: go to Writers' Corner

o        Missionand Services:The Writers’ Corner staff firmly believe that good writing is an essential skill for being successful in college. Our main goal, therefore, is to help students become more confident and effective writers.Whether drafting research papers, preparing marketing proposals, or working on writing projects for any class at Amarillo College, students will benefit from one-on-one tutoring sessions with knowledgeable and encouraging tutors.  Our tutors review assignment requirements, provide constructive feedback, and guide students through all phases of the writing process.The Writers’ Corner is open to all students, regardless of academic discipline and skill level.

·             We Offer:*One-on-one tutoring sessions with trained tutors,  small workshops throughout the semester covering various aspects of academic writing,  in-class presenations on the role of the Writers' Corner, a waiting area for walk-ins and early arrivals, coffee and donuts for students with appointments, EMAIL US AT: writerscorner@actx.edu

·             OR stop by: LOCATION:  Ordway Hall, Room 102

·             Hours of Operation:

o            Fall & Spring Semesters:Monday - Thursday  8:00 am to 4:00 pm and ClosedFriday, Saturday, and Sunday

o            Summer Sessions:  Monday - Thursday 9:00 am to 1:00 pm and Closed Friday, Saturday, and Sunday

Syllabus Created on:

11/30/-1 12:00 AM

Last Edited on:

11/30/-1 12:00 AM