Lifespan Growth & Development Syllabus for 2023-2024
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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 Enrollment Center, Suite 700. 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:

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

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-2314-006 Lifespan Growth & Development

Prerequisites

Course Description

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

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: Lifespan Development: Lives in Context 3rd edition Tara L. Kuther

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 the Underground. .

Student Performance

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 understanding, 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.

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. You need to check online every day to check for assignments and announcements regarding the class. Turn the ringer on your cell phones off and mute your mics. If you are waiting on an important call just let me know. If you need to leave the classroom to answer the phone please do. If they call again, I suggest you get your stuff and leave because obviously it is super important and you need to take care of your life. If you leave and come back, you have interrupted my class twice and that is kind of rude. NO texting, selfies or snap chat please! I like you to have access to your phone, you can look important things up on your phone and I think that is wonderful, just be respectful. 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. Having someone help you on your online exams is cheating!! 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 950 possible points for the semester. I do not plan on changing the amount of points possible, but please check your points often and check online often in case there is a change. If the amount of points possible changes the amount of points needed to earn a certain grade will also change. You will be able to check your grade on AC Online. To calculate your grade you will divide the number of points you have earned (usually the smaller number) by the number of possible points that you could have earned in the class (the larger number). Grading will be on the standard grade scale:

100-90% = 950- 855 points and above A

89-80% = 854-760 points B

79-70% = 759-665 points C

69-60% = 664-570 points D

Below 60% = below 570 points F

The points will be earned:

500 points for exams (5 100 points exams and you get to replace your lowest exam with your highest exam score)

150 points social responsibility learning project

300 points for attendance and in class assignments throughout the 8 weeks.

Total points possible: 950 points

  • 4  50 question multiple choice exams in class; each exam is worth 100 points and you will get to replace your lowest test grade with your highest test grade
  • The class assignments: 300 points
    • We will do doing different in class assignments that will be worth a differing amount of points. If you know that you will not be attending class that day or you wake up sick please let me know and you can complete the assignments on your own. I will not do make-up in-class assignment.
  •  150 points for social learning project
    • You will be required to complete 4 hours of community service. You will turn in a versification sheet which will be worth 50 points
    • You will answer 4 questions with short essays. The essays are worth a total of 100 points.  You will be able to access the rubric when you are uploading your essays. You will reflect on your time volunteering

Attendance

Attendance policy:

It is college, but it is an 8 week course, so you cannot skip. You will need to show up to pass the class. I will take attendance and we will do some assignments during our class and you will receive points. I understand that things come up, but please try you best to be in class and be on time!!! This class moves really quickly and if you miss once sometimes you feel very behind. Just come to class and everything will be easier. 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 late work and no make-up exams.

Calendar

Class Schedule/Outline:

The instructor reserves the right to change the syllabus and/or calendar if needed.

 Date                                          Lesson/Lecture/ Assignments

Monday March 18th                     Welcome/ Introduction to developmental psychology

Tuesday March 20th                      Chapter 1 Understanding Human Development:

Approaches and Theories

Wednesday March 21st               Chapter 2 Biological and Environmental Foundations

Thursday March 22nd                    Assignment on Theories of development

Monday March 25th                     Chapter 3 Prenatal period, birth and the newborn

Tuesday March 26th                      Birth defect assignment

Wednesday March 27th              Review

Thursday March 28th                     Exam 1 in class. It will cover chapter 1-3. You will need a pencil. Once you finish the exam you will be able to leave           

Monday April 1st                             Chapter 4 Physical development in infancy and toddlerhood

Tuesday April 2nd                           Chapter 5 Congtive development in infancy and toddlerhood

Wednesday April 3rd                     Chapter 6 Socioemotional development in infancy and toddlerhood

Thursday April 4th                           Chapter 7: Physical and Cognitive in early childhood 

Monday April 8th                            Chapter 8 Socioemotional development in early childhood 

Tuesday April 9th                            Finish chapters

Wednesday April 10th                   Preschool assignment

Thursday April 11th                         Exam 2 in class. It will cover chapter 4-8. You will need a pencil. Once you finish the exam you will be able to leave

Monday  April 15th                         Chapter 9 Physical and Cognitive in middle childhood

Tuesday April 16th                          Chapter 10 Socioemotional development in middle childhood

Wednesday April 18th                   Debate Middle childhood topics in class

Thursday April 19th                         Chapter 11 Physical and Cognitive in adolescence

Monday April 22nd                        Chapter 12 Socioemotional development in adolescence

Tuesday April 23rd                          Chapter 12 Socioemotional development in adolescence

Wednesday April 24th                   Adolescence: Suicide assignment

Social Learning Project is due Wednesday April 24th . This includes the 4 hours of community service and the essay portion all turned in online by 11:59 pm.

Thursday April 25th             Exam 3 in class. It will cover chapter 9-12. You will need a pencil. Once you finish the exam you will be able to leave 

Monday April 29th                          Chapter 13 Early adulthood: Physical and Cognitive

                                                            Chapter 14 Early adulthood: Social and Emotional

Tuesday April 30th                          Chapter 15: Middle adulthood: Physical and Cognitive

                                                            Chapter 16: Middle adulthood: Social and Emotional

Wednesday May 1st                     Finis chapters

Thursday May 2nd                           Exam 4 in class. It will cover chapter 13-16.  You will need a pencil. Once you finish the exam you will be able to leave  

Monday May 6th                            Chapter 17 Late adulthood: Physical and Cognitive

                                                            Chapter 18 Late adulthood: Social and Emotional

Tuesday May 7th                            Chapter 19: Death and Dying- Life review

Wednesday May 8th                     Exam 5 in class. It will cover chapter 17-19.  This is your final. You will need a pencil. Once you finish the exam you will be able to leave  

Good luck on your finals. Have a safe Summer Break! 

Additional Information

Office Hours:

I Hold office hour Monday-Thursday 8:00-8:50 am

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

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

We can always try to set-up an appointment that will work for both of us. Email first and if I do not respond you can call (806)371-5192. When I am not in class I will be in my office willing to meet with you. Please just email and we can set up an official appointment to make sure we can get everything handled.

Syllabus Created on:

02/15/24 12:42 PM

Last Edited on:

02/15/24 12:46 PM