Evaluation:

Blackboard Orientation Quiz (Mandatory—5 Points): There will be a brief 5 question quiz regarding the syllabus that must be completed in the first week of class. The due date for this quiz is Tuesday January 23rd by 11:59 PM. The test is worth 5 bonus points.

Tests (500 points): There will be 5 tests given during the course of the semester. They will each be worth 100 points apiece. They will consist of multiple choice, matching and true/false questions. Each test will have a total of 50 questions, making each question worth two points each. The exams will cover the readings assigned and the topics discussed in the PowerPoints.  The test reviews will point you to the material that you need to study the most. The tests will open for a 3-day window (usually over a weekend); which is specified in the course schedule below. If you do not complete the test within that time frame, you will receive a 0 for the test. Please be aware of when tests open and close. I will send out a reminder on BB/email, but it is up to you to remember to take the exams.

Test Reviews: I will make sure that you have a test review for each section that points you towards the most important information for each test. I will also make notes available to assist you in your studying. These reviews will be available to you as soon as a Unit opens up.

Extra Credit (20 Points):

A bonus exam worth 10 points, made up of questions from the first 3 units will be made available after the 3rd unit (check lecture schedule for specific date) and will be open until the last day of the semester (Friday March 8th by 11:59 pm). Because the bonus test will cover so much material, you will have 3 opportunities to take the exam and the highest score will be the one that counts.

The second extra credit assignment (also worth 10 points) asks you to visit a website where you can take a free personality trait assessment. You will then write a 1-2-page paper regarding your results. More details will be fond under the “Extra Credit” link on BB. This paper will also be due on the last day of class (Friday March 8th at 11:59 pm). You will turn in your assignment using the same link on BB. Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns turning in an assignment in this way.   

Evaluation Breakdown

                                                Possible Points                                  

Test 1                                      100 _____

Test 2                                      100 _____

Test 3                                      100 _____

Test 4                                      100 _____

Test 5                                      100 _____

_____________________________

Total Possible Points             500_____ +

BB Orientation Quiz             5   _____ +

Extra Credit                           20 _____

Total                                       _____/500 = _____ Final Points

FINAL COURSE GRADE

After the semester is over, ACC’s Office of Admissions and Records will post your final course grade. This office may also send your final course grade to your physical mailing address. The instructor will NOT post final course grades online or give final grades via email or phone.

Remember that, as specified in previous sections, the score for tests not taken is zero.

Withdrawls and Incompletes:

WITHDRAWAL FROM COURSE

Students who fail to take tests or fail to meet other course requirements will need to withdraw from the course. It is the student's responsibility to make the withdrawal official by filling out the required ACC withdrawal form and submitting it to the Office of Admissions and Records. Failure to OFFICIALLY withdraw from a course while failing to meet the course requirements constitutes an automatic F in that course. Withdrawn courses appear on the student's record with a “W”. According to ACC’s academic calendar, the official deadline to withdraw from a course is Monday, March 4th at 5:00 PM. The first three required tests must be completed before the withdrawal deadline, or you may be dropped from the course or receive an “F”.

Although I reserve the right to withdraw a student due to unsatisfactory performance or failure to meet course requirements, keep in mind that I may not withdraw the student. Therefore, it is important for students in this situation to officially withdraw themselves from the course in order to avoid a possible “F”. Students are encouraged to keep a copy of the withdrawal form.

IMPACT OF WITHDRAWALS AND F’S

The students are responsible for understanding the impact that withdrawing from a course or receiving an “F” may have on their financial aid, veterans' benefits, international student status, and academic standing. The students are urged to consult with an advisor or counselor before making schedule changes. Also, per state law, students enrolling for the first time in Fall 2007 or later at any Texas college or university may not withdraw (receive a “W”) from more than six courses during their undergraduate college career. Some exemptions for good cause could allow a student to withdraw from a course without having it count toward this limit. For additional information on this issue, students will need to contact an advisor or counselor.

INCOMPLETE GRADE (“I”)

To obtain an incomplete grade (I), extenuating circumstances need to be present and the student must have taken four of the five required tests. It will be the student's responsibility to contact the instructor via email before the current semester ends. Only completion of required tests applies for the removal of the incomplete grade; the optional bonus-points activities do not. Incomplete grades not removed by the deadline turn automatically into “F”. Therefore, students should consider withdrawing if they find that they cannot maintain the pace of the course.

Prior to the end of the semester in which the (I) is to be awarded, the student must meet with the instructor to determine the assignments and exams that must be completed prior to the deadline date. This meeting can occur virtually. Once agreed upon, the instructor will complete the Report of Incomplete Grade form.

SCHOLASTIC HONESTY/ETHICAL CONDUCT

Students are expected to produce their own work. That is, students' academic work must be the result of their own thoughts, research, and self-expression. Plagiarism, collusion, or any other type of dishonest behavior on tests, written assignments, or other required tasks will be sufficient cause for the student to receive a zero or F on that task. Also, students may be reported to the appropriate ACC official and be dropped from the course or receive an F in the course.

Plagiarism is the appropriating, buying, receiving as a gift, or obtaining by any means another person's work and the unacknowledged submission or incorporation of it in one's own work. Collusion is the unauthorized collaboration with another person when working on assignments, tests, or when performing other required tasks for fulfillment of a course. More information on this issue can be found in ACC's Student Handbook.

INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORT SERVICES

BLACKBOARD SUPPORT

For Blackboard support, you may contact the ACC Student Help Center (512-223-4636) or a computer technician at any ACC Learning Lab. For this course, you must be able to access the Announcement section of Blackboard, as well as the links created for the posted materials.

LEARNING RESOURCE CENTER

Students will need a current ACC ID to be able to check out textbooks and other materials from the ACC Learning Resource Centers (libraries). The Learning Resource Centers have additional policies and rules that must be followed. For more information check ACC’s homepage.

STUDENT ACCESSIBILITY SERVICES

Students needing special accommodations must contact the Student Accessibility Services Office at one of the main ACC campuses. Each campus offers services for students with documented physical and/or psychological disabilities. The students must inform the instructor of any special arrangements made and provide a copy of the approved request form. Previously this office was referred to as Office of Students with Disability (OSD). More information can be found in ACC's Student Handbook.

OTHER SUPPORT SERVICES

Other student support services include Academic Advising and Personal Counseling, as well as specific services for Veterans and International Students. In addition, ACC’s Office of Student Life provides students with co-curricular learning opportunities as well as leadership and social opportunities in different areas. For these and other student services, you may want to check the following website: www.austincc.edu/support-and-services/services-for-students or go directly to ACC’s homepage. Additional helpful websites are included below.

Food pantries available at all campus Student Life offices (https://sites.austincc.edu/sl/programs/foodpantry/).

Assistance paying for childcare or utility bills available at any campus Support Center (http://www.austincc.edu/students/support-center).

Counselors available at any campus if student experiences a personal or mental health concern (http://www.austincc.edu/students/counseling). All services are free and confidential.

Emergency assistance through the Student Emergency Fund for sudden, unexpected expenses that may cause student to withdraw from one or more courses (http://www.austincc.edu/SEF).

Help with budgeting for college and family life available through the Student Money Management Office (http://sites.austincc.edu/money/).

Required Text/Materials:

• Sigelman and Rider. Life-Span Human Development (Cengage Learning) (Required Textbook) (9th Edition preferred - 8th Edition accepted). MindTap feature is optional. Check posted note about MindTap.
  • This text is available through the ACC Bookstores but also multiple online sources (Amazon, eBay, etc.).
• Ramos-Cancel, M.L. Instructor-developed Materials for the Course (Revised 2020) (Provided by Instructor via Blackboard). Materials for each of four instructional units include such things as topic outlines, instructor’s notes on those topics, or learning objectives.

Lecture Schedule for Spring 2024:

Unit #1

Chapter 1 Understanding Life-Span Development: This chapter covers topics such as understanding how we think about development and how development is studied. Basic research terms will be reviewed along with trends in human development research.

Chapter 2 Theories of Human Development: The Nature v. Nurture debate is discussed here along with the various theories of human development that we will discuss throughout the semester.

Chapter 3 Genes, Environment and Development: The topics discussed for this chapter will include: inheritance, heredity, mutations, genetic/environmental influences and behavioral genetics.

Unit #2

Chapter 4 Prenatal Development and Birth: This chapter discusses the formation of a life, prenatal stages, perinatal and neonatal environment. Discussions concerning breast feeding and risk/protective factors will also be present.

Chapter 5 Body, Brain and Health: We will discuss what happens on a neurological level throughout a life span. We will discuss the brain’s plasticity and growth as well as the changing brain and theories on why we age and die.

Unit #3

Chapter 7 Cognition: We will review the cognitive theories of Piaget and Vygotsky. We will discuss abstract thought and review how cognitive skills change over the lifespan.

Chapter 8 Memory and Information Processing: We will discuss the different types of memory and how they develop. We will look at memory development across the lifespan and we will review the different types of forgetting and why some people forget.

Chapter 9 Intelligence and Creativity: We will review what IQ is and ways to measure IQ. This chapter covers the factors that influence intelligence. We will discuss the different types of intelligence and discover that there is more to intelligence than just an IQ score. We will also discuss intellectual disabilities and giftedness.

Chapter 10 Language and Education: How does language develop and how does it continue to develop across the lifespan? We will review ways developmental psychologists measure language development and academic achievement. What makes an effective school and how does education continue for humans as they age?

Unit #4

Chapter 11 Self and Personality: We will define what a personality is and review the different theories of personality. Topics discussed will be self-esteem, self-concept, midlife crisis and personality through the lifespan.

Chapter 12 Gender Roles and Sexuality: We will discuss the difference between sex and gender, gender roles and stereotypes. The chapter also reviews sexuality and sexual maturation as well as changes in sexuality.

Chapter 13 Social Cognition and Moral Development: What is the theory of mind, perspective taking and social cognition? How do we develop a system of morals?

Chapter 14 Emotions, Attachment and Social Relationships: How do emotions develop in humans? How do emotions change with aging (or do they)? We will discuss attachment theory along with social networks and romantic relationships.

Unit #5

Chapter 16 Developmental Psychopathology: What makes development abnormal? We will look at disorders including autism spectrum disorder, depression, ADHD, substance use disorders, eating disorders, suicide and dementias.

Chapter 17 The Final Challenge: Death and Dying: How do we cope with our own and other’s mortality? We will discuss perspectives on dying and bereavement at every age level. We will discuss ways people cope with death and dying.

The study of developmental psychology is essential to understanding how humans learn, mature and adapt.  The objective of this course is to look at human development through different theories, models and concepts that best try to explain how a human grows and matures. This course covers everything from the conception of life to the development of a child to coping with death. You should leave this class with a better understanding of how human beings grow from an infant to a fully functional adult and what changes take place at each of the stages of life.