Child Psychology Syllabus for 2021-2022
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Instructor Information

Office Location

Dutton Hall 202L

Office Hours

Email or through Blackboard Collaborate 

By appointment if contacted by email eerodriguez@actx.edu

Course Information

COVID-19 Protocols

Recording Policy

Disability Statement

If you have a disability (learning, mental, physical) that affects your ability to participate effectively and have access to any program or service at Amarillo College please contact Disability Services at (806) 345-5639 . Our offices are located in the Student Service Center office 112. More information may be found at www.actx.edu/disability.
Disability Services facilitates access to all programs and services according to the ADA, Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, as well as other federal and state laws.

Amarillo College Web Accessibility Policy Statement

Amarillo College is committed to providing equal access to all programs and services, including all working, learning, and service environments that affect equal access for persons with disabilities. This commitment to provide equal access and opportunity for persons with disabilities is in compliance with federal and state law. Amarillo College also strives to provide Electronic and Information Resources (EIR) that are accessible to all authorized users.

If you find you are unable to access material in an accessible format please contact the Disability Services Office at (806) 345-5639 . This office will work in conjunction with other campus resources to address and accommodate your issue in a timely manner.

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:

The Tutoring for Success policy applies to any student whose grade or performance in the course falls below a departmentally determined minimum threshold. In either of those cases, the instructor will direct the student to the appropriate tutoring service, which may be faculty-led, discipline-specific, and/or general. Under this policy, the instructor will follow specific departmental guidelines governing the use, duration, and grade component of the tutoring need.

Administrative Drop Policy

Students who do not attend class on or prior to the census date will be administratively dropped. Effective Fall, 2016

Student Withdrawal Procedures

Students who wish to withdraw from a course must complete all steps indicated on the Academic Withdrawal Request form by the course withdrawal deadline.

NOTE: Students who are attending Texas institutions of higher education, for the first time fall 2007 and later, may not withdraw from more than six courses during their academic career. This withdrawal limitation does not include dual credit or developmental classes (Senate Bill 1231 Rule 4.10.) For more information on Drop and Withdrawal Policies, please visit the Registrar's Office Web site.

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-2308-001 Child Psychology

Prerequisites

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 ResourcesStudent Resources Website

Department Expectations

Occupational License Disclaimer

Notice to Students enrolled in an educational program for preparation of issuance of certain occupational licenses:

Students enrolled in an educational program in preparation for obtaining certain occupational licenses are potentially ineligible for such license if the student has been convicted of an offense. For further information, please contact:

Melodie Graves
Justice Involved Advocate
Student Service Center 117
mgraves24@actx.edu
806-371-5995
Make appointment at https://melodiegraves.youcanbook.me

You can also contact the Legal Clinic, or the faculty member in charge of the educational program that you seek to enroll in. The further information you will receive will include notification to you of your right to request a criminal history evaluation letter from the licensing authority in order to clarify your particular situation.

Hours

(3 sem hrs; 3 lec)

Class Type

Hybrid

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

Textbook: Child Psychology, 8th edition. Feldman

Supplies

Supplies: pencil, pens, spiral notebook, and access to a computer. If you do not have your own computer, you will need to use AC computers located on the 4th floor of the Ware Student Commons or in the Underground.. You exams, quizzes and some assignments will be  online so you need to make sure you have reliable internet access.

Student Performance

Student performance and learning outcomes for PSYC 2308:

  • 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

Classroom Behavior:

            I expect you all to attend class, participate in class, be prepared for class, and respect everyone else who is the classroom. Turn cell phone ringers off. If you are waiting on an important call you must talk with me before class so I am aware. If you decided to leave the classroom to answer the phone please do not return. If you leave and come back, you have interrupted my class twice and that is unacceptable. NO texting, tweeting, Facebook, snapchat or selfies! If it is so important that you have to text, tweet or check-in right away, you may leave and please do not return. I want you to have your phone because it can be used as a valuable resource. Use your phone respectfully and appropriately. If you do miss class it is your responsibility to get the material you missed. I will be giving assignments during class that will be due the next class so if you miss you will miss that assignment unless you contact me or someone else in the class. It is your responsibility!! I do not take make-up work. Each student is expected to engage in academic honesty and refrain from cheating and/or plagiarism. All students are expected to be tolerant and respectful of other students. There will be zero tolerance for any type of harassment!! I want this to be an environment everyone can learn and feels safe!!

Grading Criteria

Grading criteria:

            There will be a total of 1100 possible points for the semester. You will be able to check your grade on AC connect. Grading will be on the standard grade scale:

100-90% 1100-990= A

89-80% 989-880= B

79-70% 879-770= C

69-60% 769-660= D

50% Below 550= F

The points will be earned:

600 points for exams (6 100 points for each exam)

190 points for chapter quizzes

160 points for in-class assignments

150 points for Social responsibility learning project and volunteer verification (you will need to answer the essay online and submit your verification online.)

Total points possible: 1100 points

  • 6 -50 question multiple choice exams on online; each exam is worth 100 points. The exams will be taken from notes, lecture and the chapters in the book. These exams will be taken online. I do expect you to use your notes and book, you just cannot use another person, student or classmate. That is cheating and cheating is wrong.
  • 6 quizzes for a total of 190 points; each quiz will help you prepare for the exams. You will get 2 chances on each quiz. Use them to help you for your exams.
  • 160 points in class assignments, online assignments and attendance. We will randomly do in class assignments that will count for differing amount of points.
  • 150 points for social responsibility serving learning project
    • You will be required to volunteer for 4 hours of community service. You will upload a volunteer verification in order to earn your 50 points for volunteering.
    • You will answer 5 questions with short essays and reading a graph exercise. There is a rubric which will be used for grading. The questions are worth a different amount of points for a total of 100 points.  You will be able to access the rubric when you are completing the assignment.

 

Attendance

Attendance policy:

It’s college; I know you want to skip, but if you just show up you will do better in the class. It’s an 8 week class so if you miss you will get behind very quickly. We are going to have to use our time together wisely and missing is not a good idea. I understand that things come up, but please try you best to be in class and be on time!!! If something does come up, please notify me immediately so we can work something out. Contacting me after the fact leaves me little room to work with you. I do not take make-up work, so please contact me as soon as you know you will miss so we can work something out. Waiting until the 7th or 8th week to worry about your grade is too late.

Calendar

Class Schedule/Outline:

The instructor reserves the right to change the syllabus and/or calendar if needed. Some chapter titles have changed and will be updated.

All chapter quizzes are open now and will close the day the corresponding exam opens for those chapters.

Date                                       Lesson/Lecture

Wednesday Jan. 19th          Chapter 1 An Introduction to Child Development

Chapter 1 & 2 quiz is open and available until Thursday Jan. 27th

Monday Jan. 24th                      Finish chapter 1 and begin chapter 2 Theoretical Perspectives and Research

Wednesday Jan. 26th           Finish Ch 2 and talk about Feral child  assignment over chapters 1 and 2

Feral child assignment due Thurs. Jan 27th by 11:59 pm

 Chapter 1 and 2 quiz due Thursday Jan 27th

Exam 1 covers chapter 1 and 2. It opens Thursday Jan. 27th and will close Sunday January 30th at 11:59 pm. Please do not wait until 10:00pm Sunday evening because I will not be as likely to help you if you run into issues before the exam closes.

Monday Jan. 31st                      Chapter 3 & 4 quiz is open and available until Feb. 3rd   

Chapter 3 The Start of Life: Genetic and Prenatal Development

Wednesday Feb. 2nd              Chapter 4 Birth and Newborn Infant

Teratogen assignment for chapter 3 due Thursday Feb 3rd  by 11:59 pm

Chapter 3 & 4 quiz due Thursday Feb 3rd

Exam 2 covers chapters 3 and 4. It will open Thursday Feb 3rd   and will close Sunday 6th at 11:59 pm.   Please do not wait until 10:00pm Sunday evening because I will not be as likely to help you if you run into issues before the exam closes.

Monday Feb. 7th                   Chapter 5-7 quiz is open and available until Feb. 17th 

Chapter 5 Physical development in Infancy

Wednesday Feb 9th             Chapter 6 Cognitive development in Infancy     

Monday Feb. 14th                 Chapter 7 Social and Personality Development in Infancy     

Wednesday Feb 16th           Social Learning Assignment is due Wednesday Feb 16th by 11:59 pm. The instructions and drop box for assignment are located in the common assessment tab.

 Chapter 5-7 quiz is due until Feb. 17th 

Exam 3 covers chapters 5-7. It will open Thursday Feb.  17th and will closes Sunday Feb 20th at 11:59 pm. Please do not wait until 10:00pm Sunday evening because I will not be as likely to help you if you run into issues before the exam closes.

Monday Feb. 21st                 Chapter 8-10 quiz is open and available until Feb 24th    

Chapter 8 Physical development in Preschool Years

Chapter 9 Cognitive development in Preschool Years

Wednesday Feb. 23rd           Chapter 10 Social and Personality development in Preschool Years

Preschool assignment due Thursday Feb 24th  by 11:59 pm

  Chapter 8-10 quiz is due Feb 24th  by 11:59 pm

Exam 4 covers chapters 8-10. It will open Thursday Feb 24th  and will closes Sunday Feb 27th  at 11:59 pm. Please do not wait until 10:00pm Sunday evening because I will not be as likely to help you if you run into issues before the exam closes

Monday Feb 28th                  Chapter 11-13 quiz is open and available until March 3rd    

Chapter 11 Physical development in Middle Childhood

Wednesday March 2nd        Chapter 12 Cognitive development in Middle Childhood

 Chapter 13 Social and Personality development in Middle Childhood

Chapter 11-13 quiz is March 3rd  by 11:59 pm 

Exam 5 covers chapters 11-13. It will open Thursday March 3rd   and will close Sunday March 6th at 11:59 pm. Please do not wait until 10:00pm Sunday evening because I will not be as likely to help you if you run into issues before the exam closes.

Monday March 7th                    Chapter 14-16 quiz is open and available until March 10th   

Chapter 14 Physical development in Adolescence

Chapter 15 Cognitive development in Adolescence

Wednesday March 9th           Chapter 16 Social and Personality development in Adolescence      

                                                                Chapter 14-16 quiz is due March 10th by 11:59 pm

Exam 6 covers chapters 14-16. It will open Monday March 7th and will close Thursday March 10th at 11:59 pm. Please do not wait until 10:00pm Thursday evening because I will not be as likely to help you if you run into issues before the exam closes.

Good luck on all of your finals and have a great Spring break!!!

Additional Information

I do not allow make-up assignment or exams. If something happens please contact me immediately.

I will be in my office  Monday- Thursday 8:00-8:50  Dutton 202L.If you need me come on by. If those times don't work for you email me.

The best way to reach me is my e-mail: eerodriguez@actx.edu

If you email me from the class when I respond it will go to you gmail account. If you do not check you gmail account please email me from the account you do check. Make sure to tell what class you are in and your name as it appears in the class.

Most issues can be resolved before or after class, however we can always set-up an appointment that will work for both of us if more time is needed.  

Syllabus Created on:

12/08/21 1:38 PM

Last Edited on:

12/08/21 1:44 PM