Syllabi for Dr. Hollister

Developmental Psychology

Developmental Psychology

DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY - DEP 2004

Full FALL  Course

 


3 credits                                                                                                          CRN # 13119

Instructor:      Dr.  Debra L. Hollister 

Mailbox:         7-1        

Phone:            407-582-7412407-582-7412

E-mail:  dhollister@valenciacollege.edu

TEXT & MATERIALS:  Human Development by Papalia and Feldman, Twelfth Edition with Myconnect code that comes with the text when bought at the bookstore. The code can be purchased separately from McGraw-Hill.

PREREQUISITES:  General Psychology.                                                                                               

FACE TO FACE STUDENT ENGAGEMENT HOURS: As Posted   OFFICE: 1-315

VIRTUAL/E-MAIL HOURS:  Monday-Friday 8:30 – 9:30 AM – If you want to contact this professor through Atlas email, be sure to identify the CRN  13119 for your course.

COURSE DESCRIPTION:  Designed to survey theory and research on development from conception through death. There is an emphasis on the biological and social variables which influences human behavior.

Course Objectives: This course is expected to provide you with an overview of developmental psychology and its relevance to daily life. It is hoped you will gain a better understanding of yourself and the world around you.

Throughout the semester we will be demonstrating and working on critical thinking skills. It is inherent in the field of psychology as well as in everyday life to be able to think and reason critically.

It is expected that you will be building your knowledge base and vocabulary so that you will be able to converse intelligently with others concerning topics of developmental psychology.

It is expected that you will have a better understanding of human development, and where you are in the process.

Attendance/WITHDRAWAL POLICYAttendance in an on-line course is mandatory and a crucial factor in your success in college.  The college requires that I maintain accurate attendance records. Attendance will be taken based on your completion of discussions and tests. You may be withdrawn after three absences.   Attendance is verified through activity in the Blackboard course. There will be an opening discussion that you will need to respond to in the first of class or I will withdraw you from class

The new Withdrawal Policy effective Fall 2010 states that students are only able to withdraw themselves up to the Withdrawal Deadline, which is November 7, 2014 for the Full Summer Term. (Withdrawal Deadlines for other parts of term are published in the Important Dates Calendar or are listed in the College Calendar link on the Valencia home page (http://valenciacollege.edu).

Please be aware there were new rules for students on Bright Futures scholarship effective July 1, 2009. Students who withdraw or are withdrawn from a class must pay the college for the cost of the class (because the college must refund that cost to the State).

Technology Requirements:

Fast-Speed Computer. DSL or cable connection preferred.

Internet Access

Web Browser with graphics capability Mozilla Firefox. NO AOL as your ISP as it is not compatible with publisher's software. You may still sign on using AOL but then you must use Mozilla Firefox as your ISP.

Word Processing Software (MS Word)

Your Valencia E-Mail is for private communication. Each student enrolled must use their Valencia E-mail address for this course. Messages from other email addresses are deleted. Students are responsible for any messages sent to their Valencia email account as this will be considered official college communication.

If you have questions about how to access Blackboard - If you have questions about how to access Blackboard Learn 9.1, please contact: webcthelp@valenciacollege.edu or 407-582-5600407-582-5600.

MAKE-UP TESTS:  All Exams and course work are administered through Blackboard.  Be sure to keep up-to-date with information posted regarding the dates and times of exams.  Make-up tests will be given at the professor’s discretion.  If you miss a test as result of an emergency, you must contact me as soon as possible.  DO NOT anticipate a make-up exam to be available to you unless you contact me first.

FINAL EXAMS: All professors are required to give final examinations to all credit students (except for those taking course work for audit) during the scheduled final examination period. The final examination for this course is noted on the course calendar on Blackboard. Students wishing to take the final examination on a date or at time different from the posted final examination schedule must receive approval from the professor and dean prior to the final examination period available at http://valencia.college.edu/calendar/.  

Valencia Student Core Competencies: Valencia faculty has defined four interrelation competencies (Think, Value, Communicate, and Act) that prepare students to succeed in the world community.  These competencies are outlined in the College Catalog.  In this course, through classroom lecture and discussion, group work, and other learning activities, you will further your mastery of those core competencies. Additional information is available in the College Catalog or online at http://valenciacollege.edu/catalog

Internet Research: Wikipedia is not an acceptable source for this course. For the purposes of this class, only scholarly journals are acceptable for research.  Because of the variety of sources, ease of publication, lack of central control and proliferation of commercial information on the free Internet, it is often hard to tell if the information is reliable.  Many sites contain research and information of high quality.  However, unlike traditional print publications or library-based electronic resources, there is usually no process of peer review, nor is there an editor verifying the accuracy of information presented on the Internet.  There are an increasing number of sites containing information that may be incomplete, anonymously written, out-of-date, biased, fraudulent, or whose content may not be factual. Students should, therefore, use caution in use of the free Internet for their research needs.  For academic topics that are addressed in scholarly literature, use of electronic databases or visiting the library may better meet your needs. See the following tutorial for more information: http://faculty.valenciacollege.edu/infolit/evaluation/default.htm

Discussion Question Responses: You will have eight (8) discussion questions throughout the semester. You will be expected to have two postings to the discussion board.  One response that you post will be to be your response to my question and the second one to respond to one of your fellow students. You must have 250 words in your response, reply on two different dates, and cite any sources that you use to answer the question. The discussion board is open for one (1) week. Please make your first posting during the first 3 days of the posting and the second one may be done after that. An automatic 2 point deduction will be made for not answering in the first 3 days and if another 2 points will be made if you do not have separate posting dates.  Rubric for discussions: 

Rubric for Discussions

Points

on topic

2

250 words

2

sources cited in APA format

2

response to another student

2

posted on different days

2

 

There are MyConnect exercises that are due prior to the test that the chapters are over. There are 19 different MyConnect exercises to coincide with each chapter that we are going to cover. For your grade – each chapter is worth 5 points for the  MyConnect  exercises.  The MyConnect exercises are worth 95 points.  Do NOT forget to give yourself time to complete these exercises prior to taking the test. Once the MyConnect exercise closes, it will not reopen.  I have found that the students who complete the exercises, actually perform better on the tests! The MyConnect exercises close the same day as the corresponding test closes.

Grading policy:  Grades are noted in the Grade book that you can access through your Blackboard account under My Grades.

Final Grades: Each test will be worth 50 points. Eight test scores (total 400 points); Nineteen (19) MyConnect chapter exercises (total 95 points); and eight (8) Blackboard discussions (total 80 points) will constitute your final grade.  This   will total 575 points. Your final grade will be determined on the following scale:

 

      A = 518 - 575

      B = 461 - 517

      C = 403 - 460

      D = 346 - 402

      F = less than or equal to 345

 

Required On-Campus Attendance: Students are required to come to the campus during the semester for their hybrid class meetings.

Online Classroom Behavior- In general, I like the classroom environment to be informal so all students can feel free to share thoughts, opinions, and questions.  To achieve this, I ask that all students treat one another and me in a respectful manner, without the use of profanity. 

Contribution to the class is an important part in every person’s experience.  Contribution to discussion is not measured by volume and frequency, but by quality and that can be broken down into salience, responsiveness to what has been said, by quality of analysis, thoughtfulness, and tact. 

Valencia College is dedicated to not only to the advancement of knowledge and learning, but also are concerned with the development of responsible personal and social conduct. By enrolling at Valencia College, a student assumes the responsibility for becoming familiar with and abiding by the general rules conduct.  The primary responsibility for managing the classroom environment rests with the faculty.  Students who engage in any prohibited or unlawful acts that result in disruption of a class whether in person or online may be directed by the faculty member to leave the class.  Violation of any classroom or Valencia’s rules may lead to disciplinary action up to and excluding expulsion from Valencia.  Disciplinary action could include being withdrawn from class, disciplinary warning, probation, suspension, expulsion, or other appropriate and authorized actions. You will find the Student Code of Conduct (Policy 10-18) in the current Valencia Student Handbook or online at http://valenciacollege.edu/policies.  In addition, we ask that you follow college policy relating to children on campus.  Please make arrangements for childcare outside of classrooms or labs. 

Assignments:  All assignments must be received complete on the due date.  Reading assignments are expected to be completed before you complete the discussions and exams.   Plagiarism and intellectual dishonesty are unacceptable in this program and may result in withdrawal.  NO LATE WORK WILL BE ACCEPTED.  It will be your responsibility to respond to information on WebCT within the time frames given as part of the directions in class and/or on the course calendar. Once a test or a discussion closes, it will not reopen.  Please note the opening and closing dates of all assignments.

Because of the flexibility in an online course, you have the opportunity to work ahead if needed. (Instructor should be notified so that the chapter can be made available early.) You may turn in any assignment early, but the indicated due dates are the FINAL accepted date. NO LATE WORK will be accepted. All assignment due dates are given up front. Again, early assignments are expected and welcomed.

Students with Disabilities: Students with disabilities who qualify for academic accommodations must provide a letter from the Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) and discuss specific needs with the professor, preferably during the first week of class.  The Office for Students with Disabilities determines accommodations based on appropriate documentation of disabilities.  Offices may be found at the following locations:

East Campus
Bldg. 5, Rm. 216
Ph: 407-582-2229407-582-2229
Fax: 407-582-8908
TTY: 407-582-1222

 

West Campus
SSB, Rm. 102
Ph: 407-582-1523407-582-1523
Fax: 407-582-1326
TTY: 407-582-1222

Osceola Campus
Bldg. 1, Rm. 140A
Ph: 407-582-4167407-582-4167
Fax: 407-582-4804
TTY: 407-582-1222

Winter Park Campus
Bldg. 1, Rm. 212
Ph: 407-582-6887407-582-6887
Fax: 407-582-6841
TTY: 407-582-1222

 

Academic HonestyAll forms of academic honesty are prohibited at Valencia.  Including, but not limited to:  plagiarism, cheating, furnishing false information, forgery, or misconduct during a testing situation.  Violations can result in failure of an assignment or the entire course.  Each student is expected to be familiar with the college policy on academic honesty as stated in the Valencia Student Handbook or online at http://valenciacollege.edu/policies/PDF/10-16.pdf

For additional information:

 

BUCKLEY AMENDMENT:  Generally, Valencia faculty may not release information regarding the education of students to another person without the student’s written consent. 

DISCLAIMER:  Changes in the syllabus or Course Calendar may be made at the discretion of the professor.  When absent, it is your responsibility to find out what, if any announcements or changes are made to the calendar or syllabus.

Full Term Hybrid Developmental Psychology Course Calendar

WEEK 1                     Week beginning August 25

Complete Blackboard  tutorial on Blackboard…Student Introductions through the ungraded mandatory discussion …Review Chapter 1 and begin chapter 2

 

WEEK 2                     Week beginning August 31

Test 1 covering chapters 1 & 2

Discussion 1 opens

WEEK 3                     Week beginning September 7

Study chapters 3, 4 

WEEK 4                     Week beginning September 14

Study /review chapters 5, 6

Test 2 covering chapters 3,4,5,6

Begin chapter 7

Discussion 2 opens

 

WEEK 5                     Week beginning   September 21

Finish chapter 7, and begin chapter 8

Discussion 3 opens

WEEK 6                     Week beginning    September 28

Test 3 opens covering chapters 7, 8

Study chapters 9, 10

WEEK 7                     Week beginning    October 5

Test 4 covering chapter 9, 10

Discussion 4 opens

 

WEEK 8                     Week beginning October 12

Study chapters 11, 12

Discussion 5 opens

WEEK 9                     Week beginning    October 19

Test 5 covering chapters 11, 12

Begin chapter 13, 14

WEEK 10                   Week beginning October 26

Study chapters 13, 14

Discussion 6 opens

WEEK 11                   Week beginning   November 2

Test 6 opens covering 13, 14

 

Week 12                      Week beginning November 9

Study chapters 15, 16

Discussion 7 opens

Week 13                      Week beginning November 16

Test 7 is due on November 28

Begin studying chapters 17, 18, 19 

 

WEEK 14                   Week beginning   November 23

Discussion 8 opens

Begin studying chapters 17, 18, 19

 

Week 15                      Week beginning November 30

Continue studying chapter 17, 18, 19 

Week 16                      Week beginning December 7

Final (Test 8) is due on December 10 covering chapters 17, 18, 19