I typically work Mondays through Thursdays from 8:00 a.m. until 5:15 p.m. and Fridays from 8:00 a.m. until 4:00. To make sure I’m available, please contact me ahead of time. I will find a time to meet with you, even if it is earlier than I normally get to work, after hours, or on a weekend.
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 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.
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
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.
Students who do not attend class on or prior to the census date will be administratively dropped. Effective Fall, 2016
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.
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 .
PSYC-2314-005 Lifespan Growth & Development
Life-Span Growth and Development is a study of social, emotional, cognitive and physical factors and influences of a developing human from conception to death.
Student ResourcesStudent Resources Website
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.
(3 sem hrs; 3 lec)
Hybrid
Lifespan Development: Lives in Context, 2nd Edition (2019), by Tara L. Kuther
Access to a computer with an Internet connection. If you do not have your own computer, you will need to use AC computers located in The Underground (the basement of Ware) or on the 4th floor of Ware.
Student performance and learning outcomes for PSYC 2314:
1. Learn and gain mastery over the basic facts and research findings, terminology, principles, and theories important in the various areas of lifespan developmental psychology.
2. Develop an understanding, the skills, and techniques for analyzing human behavior using a scientific approach.
3. Gain a basic understanding of the interaction between genetic and environmental influences on human development.
4. Gain a basic understanding of physical, cognitive, emotional, and social development across the lifespan.
5. Gain a basic understanding of family, school, and work achievement, and death and dying, as they apply to lifespan development.
6. Analyze current issues and controversies in the field of developmental psychology.
7. Practice and develop critical thinking skills and written communications skills.
8. Find ways to apply psychological findings to everyday life.
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".
As a fast-moving hybrid class, I will not be able to cover all content in lectures. You will need to read your textbook to get the best grade. Exam questions are pulled directly from the textbook. You only need to purchase the print book – we do NOT use an access code for online content. You can find it not only at the AC bookstore but also online through vendors like Chegg, Amazon, etc. To help guide you as you read the book and study for exams, I have provided my PowerPoint presentations from my in-class lectures. These materials will help you identify what will and will not be covered on exams (particularly the last two slides of each PowerPoint).
All students are expected to be tolerant and respectful of other students and of me. There will be zero tolerance for any type of harassment. In class discussions ( both in person and online), please be courteous and respectful of the different opinions of your classmates. AC also expects that each student will engage in academic honesty and refrain from cheating and/or plagiarism. I require each student to complete their own work independently rather than copying assignments from classmates or working collaboratively. Exams should be completed independently, as should all other assignments for this class. Penalties for cheating as well as plagiarism are outlined in the Amarillo College Student Handbook.
In our course calendar, I list due dates for all assignments. Please try to complete all assignments on time. Calendar all due dates, use phone reminders, take advantage of the time you have, and plan ahead. If an emergency is going to prevent you from completing an assignment by the deadline, you will need to let me know, and I require you to tell me before 5:00 p.m. on the day the assignment is due. Please do not procrastinate past that time to at least begin assignments. I rarely grant extensions on due dates; however, I will always open things up early for you, if that would fit better into your schedule. Most of my assignments are open throughout the course. If you can click on it to access it, you can work ahead and submit assignments before their deadlines.
You can check your grades in our course in Blackboard. For your final overall course grade, I will round up at the standard .5 and above. Grading will be on the grade scale:
100-89.5% = A
89.4-79.5% = B
79.4-69.5% = C
69.4-59.5% = D
59.4% and below = F
The points will be earned:
45% of overall grade – Exams (4)
20% of overall grade – Social Responsibility Assignment
20% of overall grade – Reading Quizzes (19 total, but 4 can be skipped or dropped)
15% of overall grade – Participation & VidGrid videos (2)
Kuther, Tara L. Lifespan Development: Lives in Context. 2nd ed., SAGE, 2019.
Attendance is measured not only by attending in-person classes but also by way of your completion of assignments by their due dates. If you do not attend our first class, then you must complete the first assignments in this course by their deadlines or communicate with me about why you are not participating, or you will be dropped from the class altogether. Automatic withdrawals occur if non-attending students do not submit their first assignments through Blackboard during the first week of classes.
Although I do not require attendance at every class and there is no strict attendance grade, I will award participation points for knowledgeable participation in class discussions, and by attending classes, you will also benefit from my explanations of information that could be on your exams.
Periodically, I will make announcements, which will be posted in our class on the “Announcements” page in our course and also sent out via email, so checking your email regularly is also highly recommended.
If you feel sick, please do not come to class. We are still coping with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, and I do not require attendance toward your course grade.
Dates |
Chapters Covered |
Content |
Assignments Due |
Week 1 |
Chapter 1 |
Theories |
VidGrid videos for Chapters 1 & 2 Due Saturday, 3.26 |
Chapter 2 |
Biological & Environmental Foundations |
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Chapter 3 |
The Prenatal Period, Birth, & the Newborn |
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Chapter 4 |
Physical Development in Infancy &Toddlerhood |
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Monday, March 28 |
Census Day. This means if you haven’t completed an assignment by now, you’ll be automatically dropped from this course. |
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Week 2 March 29 & 31 |
Chapter 4 |
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Reading Quizzes 1-5 Due Tuesday, 3.29
EXAM 1, covering chapters 1-5 Opens Wednesday, 3.30 Closes Tuesday, 4.5
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Chapter 5 |
Cognitive Development in Infancy & Toddlerhood |
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Chapter 6 |
Socioemotional Development in Infancy & Toddlerhood |
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Week 3 April 5 & 7 |
Chapter 6 |
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Part 1 of the Social Responsibility Assignment Tell me the name of the agency where you plan to volunteer. Simply email me the name. Due Friday, 4.8 |
Chapter 7 |
Physical & Cognitive Development in Early Childhood |
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Chapter 8 |
Socioemotional Development in Early Childhood |
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Week 4 |
Chapter 8
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Reading Quizzes 6-10 Due Tuesday, 4.12
EXAM 2, covering chapters 6-10 Opens Wednesday, 4.13 Closes Tuesday, 4.19
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Chapter 9 |
Physical & Cognitive Development in Middle Childhood |
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Chapter 10 |
Socioemotional Development in Middle Childhood |
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Friday-Sunday, |
This will not affect our class, but Amarillo College will be closed Friday-Sunday for the Easter holiday. |
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Week 5 |
Chapter 11 |
Physical & Cognitive Development in Adolescence |
Part 2 of the Social Responsibility Assignment Works Cited page. Please submit to me, through Blackboard, your Works Cited page, with the required TWO citations. There is a Blackboard drop-box where you can turn in the Works Cited page. It can either be a standalone page OR you can complete only the last page of the template and upload that full document (even if the rest is not yet completed – I will only evaluate your Works Cited page at this point). Following MLA style, you will need to cite 2 sources – one to our textbook and the other for your agency. Due Wednesday, 4.20 |
Chapter 12 |
Socioemotional Development in Adolescence |
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Tuesday, |
Last day to withdraw from 8-week classes. Sometime during week 6, talk to your instructor to begin the process. Along with your instructor, you must sign a form. You must then submit that completed form to your advisor and the Registrar, all BEFORE the drop date. Simply telling your instructor or advisor that you plan to drop is not enough. |
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Week 6 |
Chapter 12 |
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Reading Quizzes 11-14 Due Tuesday, 4.26
EXAM 3, covering chapters 11-14 Opens Wednesday, 4.27 Closes Tuesday, 5.3
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Chapter 13 |
Physical & Cognitive Development in Emerging & Early Adulthood |
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Chapter 14 |
Socioemotional Development in Emerging & Early Adulthood |
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Week 7 |
Chapter 15 |
Physical & Cognitive Development in Middle Adulthood |
Social Responsibility Assignment Submit your completed template through Blackboard. You must also submit your signed form verifying the 4 hours you volunteered (you can scan and upload it to the Blackboard drop-box for this hours form) or you will receive a 0 for this assignment overall. Due Wednesday, 5.4 |
Chapter 16 |
Socioemotional Development in Middle Adulthood |
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Week 8 May 10 & 12 |
Chapter 17 |
Physical & Cognitive Development in Late Adulthood |
Reading Quizzes 15-19 Due Tuesday, 5.10
EXAM 4, covering chapters 15-19 (NOT cumulative) Opens Wednesday, 5.4 Closes Thursday, at NOON, 5.12
Note: I am required to submit final grades (in all psychology classes) by end of day, Thursday, 5.12. ALL assignments in my course are due by NOON on Thursday, 5.12, which is the last day of the course and of this semester. |
Chapter 18 |
Socioemotional Development in Late Adulthood |
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Chapter 19 |
Death & Dying |
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Thursday, May 12 |
Final grades will be submitted BEFORE 4 PM. If you have questions about your grade, you will need to ask me by Thursday MORNING. After final grades go in (that afternoon) it will be too late to accept any additional work. |
Please contact me if you have questions or problems that are impacting your performance in this class. As much as possible, I will be happy to help you. My contact information is below.
I will hold office hours by appointment. I am happy to schedule times that are convenient for you, even after-hours or on weekends. If you are unable to meet with me in person, we could arrange a time for a call or a Blackboard Collaborate session (like Zoom).
The best way to reach me is by sending me an email (mseder@actx.edu).
You can also contact me on my office phone (806)345-5582, but that will only work during typical business hours. I typically work 7:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Mondays-most Fridays. If you do not reach me when calling, leave me a message. I will check voicemail messages periodically throughout most workdays. If you do not leave a complete message, I may not be able to help you. Please tell me your full name and which class you are attending (for example, “Sue Smith in General Psychology 10:30 Monday/Wednesday class”).
I cannot guarantee that I will respond to any messages after 5:00 p.m. I can guarantee that I will not respond to any messages left on my office number after 4:30 p.m. or to very many messages sent via email after 8:00 p.m.
03/15/22 3:41 PM
03/15/22 3:44 PM