Child Psychology Syllabus for 2023-2024
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Instructor Information

Course Information

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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

Amarillo College Tutoring for Success Policy:

Tutoring for Success applies to any student whose overall performance in the course falls below 75%. The instructor will create the task in the Student Engagement Portal (Watermark) to direct the student to the appropriate tutoring service, which may be faculty- or SI-led, discipline-specific, and/or general. The tutoring service assigned, the due date for when the tutoring must be completed, and the amount of tutoring required are at the discretion of the instructor. Additionally, the task will alert the student’s success team. Students who do not fulfill the assigned tutoring task may be subject to program- and course-specific penalties that could result in a grade reduction and/or in not being allowed to progress in the course until the tutoring requirement has been satisfied.

Administrative Drop Policy

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

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

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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

On Campus Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

Textbook: Child Psychology, 9th edition. Feldman access code instructions and link are available in announcement in Blackboard

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 4^th floor of the Ware Student Commons or in the Underground.. You exams will be given online so you need to make sure you have reliable internet access. I do not allow make-up exams

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

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 950possible 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%950-855= A

89-80% 854-760= B

79-70% 759-665= C

69-60% 654-570= D

Below 60% Below 570= F

The points will be earned:

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

60 points for chapter quizzes

140 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: 950 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 60 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.
• 140 points in class 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. You will need to get verification of your volunteer hours which will be turned in online for 50 points.
  • 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.

Calendar

Additional Information

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

I will hold office hours Monday -Thursday 8:00-8:50 am. Dutton 202L

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

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.