3305 syllabus

Psyc. 3305online Syllabus, Dr. Zhan, 1

Psychology 3305/W01 & W02: Lifespan Developmental Psychology

Summer 2013 (Online course)

Instructor: Dr. Ginny Q. Zhan

Office: Room 4012 SO

Office phone: 770 423 6679

E-mail: [email protected]

Psychology Department phone: 770 423 6625

Office hours: by appointment please send me an email

Course prerequisite: Psych. 1101 Introductory Psychology

Texts:

Santrock, J. W. (2013). Life-span Development (14th

ed.) with Connect-Plus Psychology with

Learnsmart Access Card. Boston, MA: McGraw Hill.

Guest, A. (2012). Taking sides: Clashing views in controversial issues in lifespan development

(4th

ed.). Boston, MA: McGraw Hill.

Overall course objectives:

In this course, we will examine human development from conception to death,

emphasizing biological, cognitive, emotional, and social and personality development. We will

use scientific approaches for studying developmental psychology that stress the importance of

empirical research methodology and research findings. Theories of development and applications

to real-world problems will provide a context for understanding how humans change during the

lifespan. Completion of the course should enable students to:

1. Know the nature of the scientific study of developmental psychology

2. Be familiar with the main theories of human development

3. Name the main characteristics of each stage in lifespan

4. Identify major developmental milestones in physical, cognitive and socio-emotional areas

their significances

5. Demonstrate critical thinking in evaluating research articles on human development

6. Evaluate real life issues using developmental theories and research findings


Course information

Textbooks

Santrocks book will be our primary textbook. Specific chapter reading schedule is stated

in the course outline in this syllabus. I can not emphasize enough how important it is for you to

keep up with the reading material in the textbook. All the quizzes and the final exam questions

come from Santrocks textbook.

Guests book will be our secondary book. This book presents controversial topics in

lifespan development and discusses both pros and cons of a particular issue or viewpoint. Our

discussion board topics come from this book. The specific issues/topics are listed in the online

discussion section of this syllabus.

McGraw Hill Connect Site Registration Instructions

McGraw Hill Connect site is an integral part of this course. Study modules, quizzes and

the final exam are all located on the site. You MUST have access to the site to remain in the

class.

1. Go to your instructors section specific Connect web address:

http://connect.mcgraw-hill.com/class/g_zhan_summer_w01 (for section w01)

http://connect.mcgraw-hill.com/class/g_zhan_summer_w02 (for section w02)

2. After confirming the course and instructor information displayed on the right side of the

screen, click Register Now.

3. Enter your e-mail address.

4. If you are a new user,

a. if you already received an access code with your new text OR if you purchased an

access card from your bookstore, enter your code in the appropriate field and click

Submit.

b. if you dont have a code yet, click Buy Online to purchase one with a credit card.

5. Fill out the registration form.

6. Once you have completed and submitted the form, you can access your Connect homepage by

clicking on Go To Connect Now

7. At your Connect homepage you can access your assignments, study center, grades, and other

resources provided by your instructor. Study Module assignments, quizzes and the final exam

will all be taken on the Connect site.


Quizzes

There will be eight quizzes during the course, one for each week. They contain multiple-

choice questions based on the material in Santrocks textbook. Each quiz consists of 30 questions

from the specific chapter assigned for the week. All the quizzes will be taken on the McGraw

Hill Connect site. For your convenience, the quiz will be open all week so if you want, you can

take it before the deadline. But it must be completed by the due time which is indicated below.

Once started, youll have 40 minutes to complete the quiz and submit.

Just a reminder that you must take these quizzes by yourself; no collaboration of any kind

is allowed. Please refer to the Student Conduct section on p.7 of this syllabus.

Only six quizzes with the highest grades will be counted and the lowest two will be

dropped. No make-up quiz is available.

Quiz Schedule (once started, youll have 30 minutes to complete and submit)

Quiz 1: Chapter 2 Complete by 11:59pm on Tuesday 6/4








Final exam

The final exam, located on McGraw-Hill Connect site, will have 100 MC questions,

covering all the chapters studied in the summer semester although the focus will be more on the

chapters not quizzed. Its available from 6:00am to 11:59pm on Saturday July 27. Once started,

youll have two hours to complete and submit the exam. No make-up is available.

Just a reminder that you must take the final exam by yourself; no collaboration of any kind

is allowed. Please refer to the Student Conduct section on p.7 of this syllabus.

Study Modules

McGraw-Hill Connect site contains a section called LearnSmart where there is a study

module for each chapter. These are useful tools to help you remember the chapter contents. The

coverage of these questions is very thorough for each chapter.

Eight study modules are selected, one for each week, as graded assignments. Each


module takes about 40 minutes on average to complete. There is no time pressure or limits on

how many attempts you can make. To receive full credit of 10 points for each module, you must

reach the level of 80% passing for that chapter. If you reach 100% passing the 10 points will

show immediately; if you reach 80% passing the 10 points will only show after the deadline

passes.

Like quiz, each module will be open all week so feel free to start anytime. But you must

complete it before the deadline to receive points. Please note there will be no make-up for these

assignments so please complete them in a timely fashion to receive points. Due time is indicated

below.

Study Module 1: Chapter 3 Complete by 11:59pm on Tuesday 6/4








TV program evaluation

This assignment is for you to watch a school-aged childrens program and then evaluate it

on certain aspects. Any TV program that is intended for preschool to high school aged children is

appropriate for this homework. The instruction for this assignment, the worksheet and grading

rubric are posted in Dropbox on D2L. Please fill out the worksheet and attach it (as a word

document) and click submit button. You can submit as many times as possible before the

deadline and I will grade the last version submitted. In the rare case if for some reason, the

submit function doesnt work properly, you can send it to me as a word attachment via my

D2L email or my KSU email, before the deadline. It is due by 10pm on June 29. 20% points will

be deducted if submitted late, and after 24 hours, no points will be given.

Reflection paper on Discovery Psychology Video

There are six Discovery Psychology: Seasons of Life documentaries posted on D2L for

your viewing. They are a great supplement to this course. In the course schedule Ive suggested

the time frame for viewing these documentaries. Please watch all of them but pick one of the

videos for this assignment. This paper is about your reaction and reflection on the specific video.

Discuss themes in the video and link them to the relevant contents in the textbook. If you can,


apply what youve learned from the video to real life examples. Minimum length is two pages.

Instructions and grading rubric will be posted on D2L in Dropbox. Submit your completed paper

as a word document by 10pm on July 23. You can submit as many times as possible before the

deadline and I will grade the last version submitted. 20% points will be deducted if submitted

late, and after 24 hours, no points will be given.

Discussion Board

There are three categories in the discussion board. The first one is the weekly discussion

of a specific topic. Participation in these discussions is required and is graded. A topic/question

is posted for each period. The deadline is 11:59 on each Tuesdays. No points will be given for

posts past the deadline.

The first topic is self-introduction. Everyone is required to introduce yourself and tell

us a little bit about your interest, career goals, hobbies etc. (a minimum of 100 words is required;

please indicate word count at the end of your post). Upload a photo if you wish. Please respond

to at least three others.

The topics in the following seven weeks will be based on Guests Taking Sides book so

make sure you read the assigned articles before you post anything. 300-350 word minimum is

required in your initial post. Please include word count at the end of your post. Each response

should be at least a paragraph (3+ sentences).

For 2013 summer semester, each week starts on a Wednesday and ends on a Tuesday!

You should participate in the discussion board on a regular basis during each week. To

get full 10 points, you must post your initial comments and then post responses to at least three

of your classmates posts AND meet the criteria specified below.

1. Your initial thoughts/comments have to demonstrate substantial thinking process and

well formulated arguments and reasoning. You MUST refer to the original

articles/authors and their viewpoints. References need to be more substantial than I

agree with Guesss book You need to state specifically what points/arguments

you agree or disagree with, and state why. 300-350 word minimum is required for

your initial post.

2. When responding to your classmates, you are free to agree or disagree with their

views but again must state your reasoning as to why. Your responses need to be at

least a paragraph (3+ sentences) with substantial content. A one liner such as I cant

agree with you more or I feel the same is not going to work and will result in

reduced points.


3. You will have points taken off if you consistently (i.e., two weeks in a row) wait till

the last day and/or last hours to post your initial and/or responding comments as such

practice defeats the purpose of discussion.

4. You must post your initial comments and the responses to others on two separate days

to ensure youve visited the discussion board at least twice a week. Be prepared to

have points taken off if consistently all your posts are done on the same day.

Topics for discussion board:

Week 1: Self introduction (100-word minimum)

Weeks 2: Issue 1 in Taking Sides: Environment or genes? (300-350 words)

Weeks 3: Issue 6 in Taking Sides: Infants and TV? (300-350 words)

Weeks 4: Issue 7 in Taking Sides: Gender differences in learning? (300-350 words)

Weeks 5: Issue 11 in Taking Sides: Brain development and risk taking. (300-350 words)

Week 6: Issue 12 in Taking Sides: Emerging adulthood? (300-350 words)

Weeks 7: Issue15 in Taking Sides: More values on marriage? (300-350 words)

Week 8: Issue 18 in Taking sides: Civil engagement among older adults (300-350 words)

Please follow online communication etiquette outlined in Read me first posted on D2L.

Each online discussion is worth a maximum of 10 points, with a total of 80 points for the

summer semester. At the end of each discussion period, I will evaluate your performance and

assign points.

The second category is for course related questions and answers. This is not graded.

Please post your questions or comments related to this course in this setting. I will visit it often to

respond. Other students may also want to respond.

The third category is the general chat/coffee house where everyone is welcome to post

their comments of a general, non course related nature. Remember to follow online

communication etiquette.

*A checklist is posted on D2L for your convenience. It contains all the information on what

tasks need to be completed each week and by when*

Grading

There are a total of 500 points. The distribution is illustrated as follows:

Quizzes (6x30) 180 points

Final exam 100 points


Study Modules (8x10) 80 points

TV homework 30 points

Reflection paper 30 points

Online discussion (8x10) 80 points

__________________________________________________________________

Total 500 points

Your final grade will be based upon the percentage of the total number of points you earn:

A = at least 90% of 500 = 450 points

B = at least 80% of 500 = 400 points

C = at least 70% of 500 = 350 points

D = at least 60% of 500 = 300 points

F = less than 60% of 500 = 299 points or less

Department of Psychologys Plagiarism Policy

According to Kennesaw State Universitys Code of Conduct, every KSU student is responsible

for upholding the provisions of the Student Code of Conduct, as published in the Undergraduate

and Graduate Catalogs. The Student Code of Conduct addresses the University's policy on

academic honesty, including provisions regarding plagiarism and cheating; unauthorized access

to University materials; misrepresentation/falsification of University records or academic work;

malicious removal, retention, or destruction of library materials; malicious/intentional misuse of

computer facilities and/or services; and misuse of student identification cards. Incidents of

alleged academic misconduct will be handled through the established procedures of the

University Judiciary Program, which includes either an "informal" resolution by a faculty

member, resulting in a grade adjustment, or a formal hearing procedure, which may subject a

student to the Code of Conduct's minimum one semester suspension requirement.

Plagiarism and Cheating

According to the Student Code of Conduct:


No student shall receive, attempt to receive, knowingly give, or attempt to give

unauthorized assistance in the preparation of any work required to be submitted for credit

(including examinations, laboratory reports, essays, themes, term papers, etc.). Unless

specifically authorized, the presence and/or use of electronic devices during an

examination, quiz, or other class assignment is considered cheating. Engaging in any

behavior which a professor prohibits as academic misconduct in the syllabus or in class

discussion is cheating. When direct quotations are used, they should be indicated, and

when the ideas, theories, data, figures, graphs, programs, electronic-based information or

illustrations of someone other than the student are incorporated into a paper or used in a

project, they should be duly acknowledged. No student may submit the same, or

substantially the same, paper or other assignment for credit in more than one class

without the prior permission of the current professor(s).

(https://web.kennesaw.edu/scai/content/ksu-student-code-conduct)

Specifically within the Psychology Department

Although the Psychology Department supports multidisciplinary and focused scholarly

interests, we do not ordinarily allow students to turn in (or modify) a paper from a previous

course or use the same paper for multiple courses. Students should meet with their course

instructor(s) to clarify their individual policies regarding this matter as well as to ensure

violations do not occur. Also, refer to the current edition of the Publication Manual of the

American Psychological Association for specific guidelines on APA format regarding citations

and references.

Student-Friendly How Not to Plagiarize Web sites

http://library.apsu.edu/guides/1_3_20.htm

http://www.indiana.edu/~istd/test.html

Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct (APA, 2002)

http://www.apa.org/ethics

disAbled Support Services

Any student who, because of a disabling condition, may require some special

arrangements in order to meet the course requirements should contact the instructor as soon as


possible to arrange the necessary accommodations. Students should present appropriate

verification from KSU disAbled Student Support Services (located in the Student Center room

267). No requirements exist that accommodations be made prior to completion of this approved

University process.

Contact the instructor

If you have a personal question or concern, please email me via course email or my KSU

email. I will try my best to get back to you within 1-2 business days. However, if your questions

or comments are related to the course content, please post them in the course related online

discussion board so other students can see as they may have similar questions. I will try to

answer questions as frequently as possible. If you need to see me, please email me to set up an

appointment.

Study tips on how to be successful in this class

After you finish reading Read me first, please read this syllabus. I suggest you print out

a hard copy of the syllabus and keep it handy at all times throughout the course. One of the most

important elements associated with success in online classes is ORGANIZATION. Make a plan

to stay organized and stay on top of all the deadlines (discussion board, quizzes, study modules,

assignments, etc.). Check the calendars on both D2L and McGraw-Hill Connect site frequently.

Get on D2L and McGraw-Hill Connect site as soon as possible: The sooner you get on our

course sites, the better because you can start working on some assignments right away. Do not

delay purchasing the access code to McGraw-Hill Connect site as it is an integral part of this

course and access to the Connect site is essential.

Keep a copy of the checklist handy: Itll help you stay on top of each weeks tasks and

deadlines.

Read the textbook: Please read Santrocks textbook carefully, more than once if necessary. At

the minimum, be familiar with where specific information is located in the book.


Follow the chapter power point: They provide a nice outline for each chapter. Please use these

to guide your reading of the Santrock textbook content.

Complete quizzes on time: Be mindful there will be no make-up quizzes available. Please stay

on top of the deadline for each quiz and complete on time.

Complete Study Modules: Eight study modules are assigned for grades, but I would recommend

that you complete all the chapters we cover in the semester, if possible. They really help you

familiarize with detailed contents in each chapter.

Keep up with the discussion board: Read and follow the instructions carefully on how to receive

the maximum 10 points for each topic. Again, be mindful of the deadlines.

Watch videos: These are supplemental documentaries to help us comprehend our reading

material better. As we move along the different age groups, please watch the corresponding

program provided. Watching them will help with your understanding of the course contents.

Pace Yourself: While an online course gives you some flexibility in scheduling your study time,

you need to keep up with the studying on a regular basis. Dont wait to finish your assignment

till the day of the deadline or cram the night before each quiz. Give yourself plenty of time.

Ask questions: If you are not sure of something, please ask me.


Course Outline

Dates Topics & Readings

Week 1 Beginnings & prenatal stage

5/29-6/4 Santrock Chaps. 2-3

Watch Lifes greatest miracle

Week 2 Infancy

6/5-6/11 Santrock Chaps. 4, 6

Week 3 Early childhood


Watch Infancy & early childhood in Discovery Psychology

Week 4 Middle and late childhood


Week 5 Adolescence


Watch Childhood & adolescence in Discovery Psychology

Last Day to Withdraw Without Academic Penalty 6/28

TV assignment due by 10pm on June 29

Week 6 Early adulthood


Watch Early adulthood in Discovery Psychology


Week 7 Middle adulthood


Watch Middle adulthood in Discovery Psychology

Week 8 Late adulthood


Watch Late adulthood in Discovery Psychology

Reflection paper due by 10pm on July 23

Final exam due by 10pm on July 27

Version May 2013

3305 syllabus

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