Child Psychology Syllabus for 2011-2012
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Instructor Information

Course Information

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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.

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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-2308-001 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

Online Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

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TEXTBOOK AND STUDY GUIDE: Required and available at Amarillo College Bookstore.

• Feldman, R. S. (2009). Child Development (5th Edition). Prentice Hall. Required
• OPTIONAL: Grubb, D. (2009). Child Development (4th Edition) Study Guide. Prentice Hall (OPTIONAL 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 'ONE KEY" 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!   In order to save you that expense, this instructor makes up study guides and practice quizze3s 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: As well, you need to purchase and read the following text. It is available, along with your textbook, at the Amarillo College Bookstore OR ONLINE.  You can find used copies of this book at the bookstore OR on AMAZON and/or BARNES AND NOBLE's BOOKS.  You may buy an older edition or the newer edition, if you like.    :

• Cline, F., & Fay, J. (1990). Parenting with love and logic: Teaching children responsibility. Colorado Springs: Pinon Press. The ISBN NUMBER IS ISBN-13: 9781576839546

***They have used copies for $9.00 at Amazon! 

Supplies

You must have access to a working computer, and/or be available to work on campus during our computer lab and library hours.  It is your responsibility to have your computer working during the duration of this course, or to be on campus to use t

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

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!

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 and beliefs, and ideas is a critical part 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:

 UNIT EXAMS: YOU WILL HAVE 6 UNIT EXAMS.  YOUR GRADE WILL BE BASED ON THE HIGHEST FIVE SCORES.  If you miss an exam or do poorly on a exam, you may still be able to do well in this course.   EXAMS = 70% of grade

DISCUSSIONS: 5 out of 6 Discussions (You have two required discussions in Unit 1 and Unit 5, otherwise you may decide not to participate in one of the six discussions) = 10% of grade

FINAL PAPER OVER THE PARENTING WITH LOVE AND LOGIC BOOK = 20% OF GRADE

THE FOLLOWING IS MORE DETAILED EXPLANATIONS OF YOUR ASSIGNMENTS FOR THIS COURSE:

UNIT EXAMS: This course HAS 6 Units and a total of 16 CHAPTERS FOR YOU TO STUDY AND READ.  You will have 6 UNIT EXAMS, for Chapters 1-16. Exams will be randomized, in terms of each students selection of questions that will be on the test itself, however, all questions and terms are shown on the study guides.  If you go over the study guides thoroughly and answer the questions, you should do fine on your exams.  All unit exams have 50 questions, and you will have 90 minutes to complete it.  ON YOUR FIRST UNIT EXAM, AND THIS EXAM ONLY, YOU WILL HAVE TWO ATTEMPTS ON THE EXAM.  This is only meant to help you if you haven't taken an online course before. Remember that the second attempt will be different than the first, so you MUST know all the material on your study guide in order to do well.  All other exams will have only one attempt available.  Unit 1 and Unit 2 will cover two chapters each, but Units 3 through 6 will cover 3 chapters of material.

NOTE: YOU MAY USE YOUR TEXT AND STUDY GUIDE DURING THE EXAM, BUT YOU WILL NOT HAVE TIME TO LOOK UP QUESTIONS FOR THE TEST.  AS WELL, NOTE THAT ALL QUIZZES HAVE RANDOMIZED QUESTIONS, SO EACH LEARNER WILL BE TAKING A SOMEWHAT DIFFERENT QUIZ.PLEASE DO NOT CHEAT! THESE EXAMS ARE MEANT AS A SOLITARY ACTIVITY AND FOR YOU TO SHOW YOUR INSTRUCTOR THE MASTERY OF THE MATERIAL.

If for some reason you miss an exam (each unit has a closing date where the exam for that unit and the discussion for that unit will no longer be available), you would get a 0 on the exam and this could count as your lowest, dropped score for the semester.

OPEN AND CLOSING DATES FOR UNITS and ALL DISCUSSIONS AND EXAMS: CHECK ALL EXAMS AND DISCUSSIONS AND THE CALENDAR, ALONG WITH COURSE ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR UNIT, DISCUSSIONS AND EXAM CLOSING DATES.  THE UNITS, including all EXAMS and DISCUSSION WILL BE OPEN FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE COURSE SO "EARLY BIRDS" CAN WORK AHEAD. However, EXAMS NOT TAKEN BY THE CLOSING DUE DATES WILL RECEIVE A 0.  IF THIS HAPPENS ONCE, THAT WILL BE YOUR DROPPED EXAM SCORE.

The UNIT EXAMS WILL make up 70% of your final grade.

EACH EXAM IS WORTH ABOUT 14 points (OUT OF a total of 100 POINTS) or ALMOST 14% of your grade.  You may take any EXAM up until the closeing dates shown on each UNIT, the EXAM itself, as well as your calendar.  IT'S MY SUGGESTION THAT YOU FILL OUT THE STUDY GUIDE BEFORE YOU TAKE THE EXAMS IN ORDER TO MAXIMIZE YOUR GRADE. EVERYTHING ON THE STUDY GUIDES ARE POSSIBLE QUESTIONS ON YOUR EXAMS.  Because exam questionss are randomized, you only get 50 questions out of about 150 to 175  possible questions, so you want to know the ALL the material on your study guide!  

FINAL PAPER: There is a book summary and written application of parenting/discipline principles based on the book Parenting with Love and Logic by Foster Cline and Jim Fay (see Final Exam Section and Final Project Icon in course).

• This project will be worth 20% of your grade.  It will be due about 2 weeks prior to the end of the classes.  In the summer term (SUMMER SEMESTER IS 8 WEEKS LONG) it's due about 1 week before the last day of class. Fall and Spring terms (THESE SEMESTERS ARE 16 WEEKS LONG). You may turn in your paper early for EXTRA POINTS on a LOW QUIZ SCORE.  Turning in your paper 3 weeks early will get you 15 points on a low exam score, 2 weeks early will get you 10 points, and 1 week early will get you 5 points.  This can be a great way to enhance your final grade!
• The FINAL PAPER INSTRUCTIONS CAN BE FOUND IN THE LESSONS AREA by clicking on that icon.  The final paper INSTRUCTIONS will show you EXACTLY what the cut off time is for the paper and what is expected of you in this paper.  Since you have three-quarters of the semester to complete the paper, YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO TURN IN THE PAPER FOR ANY REASON!  Note that there is a grading rubric which you can view in the PAPER INSTRUCTION area that shows you EXACTLY how this instructor grades your paper. You will want to view this PRIOR to turning in your paper, in order to maximize your grade. As well, if you are not a strong writer, GO TO OUR WRITER's CORNER (SEE SECTION ON ADDITIONAL INFORMATION) and they will help you with your writing skills. They also send me a note that you were there, which can help you paper grade as well!  I appreciate well written papers (having to grade hundreds of papers at  the end of the semester..it's reallly nice to get excellent work that commands excellent grades!).  PLEASE use the WRITER's CORNER and get an A on that paper!  Not only will they help you learn to be a better writer, but your grades will be better to boot!

DISCUSSION PARTICIPATION GRADE: There are several discussion items that you may participate in. You have a minimum of five out of THE 6 unit discussion questions that you are required to do. UNIT 1 DISCUSSION HAS A VIDEO YOU WILL WATCH BEFORE YOU ENTER INTO THE DISCUSSION, WHICH ASKS QUESTIONS ABOUT THE VIDEO AND YOUR IDEAS ABOUT IT.  THE UNIT 1 DISCUSSION AND THIS FILM IS REQUIRED FOR THIS COURSE!  As well, the UNIT 5 discussion also has two videos and an article to read, and is REQUIRED!  Each of the other 4 discussion units may have 1 or 2 different discussion questions to select from and you need to select 5 of the 6 units to post in.  Several also have videos that you need to watch before you post. As well, you need to create a response for each discussion post to 1 other learner (as a minimum)that you MUST participate in for your grade of 100. This portion of the class is worth 10% of your total grade.PLEASE NOTE THAT YOU MUST USE PROPER WRITING MECHANICS AND ENGLISH WHEN YOU ARE POSTING YOUR DISCUSSIONS.  DO NOT USE TEXTING LANGUAGE AT ANY TIME IN THIS CLASS!  If you use a texting format in your discussions, you will be required to do the discussion over again, or you will get a 0 on it! These discussions are a chance to practice your best language and writing skills in an academic setting. I read them and will respond to you! Please do not waste my time (and others in the class) by posting a poorly written post!  I promise, you will be rewarded for excellent work in this class!

Please REFER TO YOUR CALENDAR FOR ALL DUE DATES!

Because you will have be on your own schedule, there is no make-up policy, per se. Again, your exams, discussions, and final book report submitted after the due dates will not be graded and will receive an automatic 0. IF YOU MISS AN EXAM, YOU GET TO DROP YOUR LOWEST QUIZ SCORE, SO THE ZERO FOR THE MISSED QUIZ WOULD BE DROPPED. Because you have at LEAST 2 weeks to complete each of the units, AND two weeks where all you need to do is work on your LOVE AND LOGIC PAPER,  there are no make-up for missed tests, the paper or the discussions! Once the exams, discussions or final paper due date is passed, YOU MAY NOT TURN IT IN FOR ANY REASON! REMEMBER, you can work ahead in this class, as everything is open NOW, from the beginning!  DON't PROCRASTINATE! IT"S A BAD IDEA!

Thanks for being timely in your submissions. It's a great help to me to have you submit work as early as possible! ~ Dr. Harding

Attendance

Calendar

Additional Information

STUDENT PERFORMANCE

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

• Six unit examinations covering the sixteen chapters in the text, as well as the films and short videos we will watch. 
• A written paper over the secondary reading, Parenting with Love and Logic, which will allow students to apply the information they learned in the book by creating scripts about common parenting issues.  Each problem will have an ineffective, as well as an effective communication between the parent and child, based on the principles of LOVE AND LOGIC parenting techniques.  
• Class discussions over a wide variety of issues including prenancy, new parenting, how children learn aggression and spanking, and adolescence.  Students are graded on the completion of the discussion item, responses to other students in the class, and adding value to the courseroom dialogue.

TO FIND THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION GO TO THE LINKS BELOW:

• AMARILLO COLLEGE 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

WELCOME TO THE WRITER'S CORNER FOR HELP WITH YOUR PAPER!!!

• Folks, this is a GREAT RESOURCE if you are not the BEST WRITER! They will help you polish your paper and give you help with your final project for this class!  USE THIS RESOURCE!!!

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

• Mission and 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:
  • Fall & Spring Semesters:Monday - Thursday  8:00 am to 4:00 pm and ClosedFriday, Saturday, and Sunday
  • Summer Sessions:  Monday - Thursday 9:00 am to 1:00 pm and Closed Friday, Saturday, and Sunday