Lifespan Growth and Development Psych
2314
Dr.
Nancy Masterson, Instructor
Spring
2010 Office located in the Del Rio Academic Building, Room 110
Phone
703-1552 with VOICE
Email Address
nemasterson@swtjc.edu. For the quickest response beginning with the
orientation please email any questions regarding the course work to me using
the WebCT email program.
Office Hours:
M-W-F:
8:30-9:00 AM
Additional hours will be posted during the first
week of class
Virtual hours :
To be determined. Hours will be posted during the first week of
class. You can get an immediate response
to email and phone calls at 830-703-1552 during virtual office hours.
Course address
http://webct.swtjc.net
Textbook:
Experiencing the Lifespan Janet Belsky. Worth Publishing, 2007.
COURSE
OBJECTIVES
This
course focuses on the physical, mental, and emotional characteristics of the
individual from the prenatal period through late adulthood.
1. Students will gain
an understanding of the major concepts and behavioral principals relevant to
the field of human growth and development.
2. Students will gain
an understanding of psychology as a science and how the scientific method is
used to formulate theories and explanations of human behavior.
3. Students will
master the basic vocabulary relevant to the field of human growth and
development.
4. Students will gain
an understanding of the physical, intellectual, and social/personality
influences on human behavior and how these factors come to influence an
individual's behavior throughout the life span.
5. Students will gain
an awareness of the field of developmental psychology as it is presented in
print and electronic media.
6. Students will gain
the ability to effectively use computer-mediated technology to facilitate the
learning process.
Required
materials:
The textbook, Experiencing
the Lifespan Janet Belsky. Worth Publishing.The books are available in the SWTJC
bookstore.
Access to a computer with a 486 or higher processor.
Access to a web browser such as Internet Explorer or Netscape
Navigator.
Access to the Internet.
Access to word processing software such as Microsoft Word or Word
Perfect. If you use Word perfect, Note Pad, or Word pad you must save
files as html or rtf; otherwise I will not be able to open them.
Access to portable storage device/s/ such as
diskettes, a jump drive, or writable CD's
An email account.
An adventurous spirit, curiosity, and self-direction.
Course
format:
In
an online course a web site is used as our classroom. You will find course
information, assignments, and all the other information you need to complete
this course at our WebCT web site located at http://webct.swtjc.net. You will also
use that site to participate in class discussions and to work in small groups.
You will visit other Internet sites to complete interactive activities and find
important information. All assignments and class work except for the
final exam will be submitted electronically. Mastery of the computer
skills covered in the Orientation to Online Instruction is very important for
your success in this class. The ability to perform these skills and the ability
to type will greatly reduce your frustration level.
In
the online environment, students choose when they will work on class materials;
however the class has structured deadlines for the completion of the
modules. All assignments will be uploaded to WebCT
assignment boxes. PLEASE NOTE it is a good idea to make two copies of your
work. Keep one on your hard drive and one on a diskette or some other type of
portable storage device. If you are doing your work somewhere other than
your own computer be sure to save a copy of your
work on two different diskettes or storage devices. Many things can
happen and your work can be lost. Having back up files will allow you to
resubmit your work. Some students have asked if they need their own computer to
take this class. You will need to spend at least 6 hours per week on course
activities. Using a friend or relative's computer is fine as long as you are
able to use the system when you need it. Access to computers and the Internet
is also available at the SWTJC library and in some computer labs. Using a
computer other than your own will require advanced planning and storing your
work on a portable storage device [3˝ floppy diskettes, CD's, or a jump drive].
Attendance:
It
is important that you attend (login to) the virtual classroom at least every
two days; every day is even better. You need to check your WebCT email and the home page for announcements. You also
need to participate in the discussion forums. WHEN you login is up to
you. The discussion forum and quiz for each module have a closing date and all
work related to them needs to be posted by that time for you to receive credit.
Your participation in the discussion forums and completion of your assignments
make up your attendance in this class. Failure to do this will bring about the
same consequences as missing face-to-face classes—falling behind, confusion,
penalties for missed assignments, mega-stress trying to catch-up and an overall
lower grade. I strongly suggest you plan for and schedule a time for working on
the course assignments. Procrastination
can be one of the biggest problems students face in an online course.
Everything seems to take longer than we originally think it will.
Course
activities and grading scale:
FOR
EACH CHAPTER YOU WILL:
1. Read the assigned text material, online
articles, and lecture notes.
2. List 3-5 facts that you have learned and
tell how you can use the information in your own life as assigned.
3. Complete an online quiz.
4. Complete the homework and/or Internet assignment/s/.
5. Participate in the discussion forum as
assigned.
6. Take an in-person midterm and final exam at
your closest SWTJC center or with an approved proctor.
Making
the grade:
All
course material except for the exams will be turned in electronically.
Please save a copy of all your work somewhere other than your hard drive.
If you have a copy of your work and there is a problem you will not have to do
the work again. You can send your saved copy. Your grade will be based on
600-800 points.
Course
Requirements and approximate points: Specific distribution of points
and activities are subject to change. You can earn a 5 point bonus for
completing all the assignments and quiz on or before the suggested due date and
time set for that module.
Class
activities include:
Orientation
Chapter quizzes: [approximately 20 points each, open book, may take two times; your score is the average of the two
attempts.]
Discussion forum or other similar activity [15 points each]
Home work assignments
Internet activities
Key Needs Assignments/capstone assignments
Facts learned and applied to life
Midterm and final exam [closed book, face-to-face]
Grading
Scale:
90%
of points possible =A; 80% of points possible = B; 70% of points possible = C;
60% of points possible =D; below 60% is not passing
All
course material except for the exams will be turned in electronically to
a WebCT homework/assignment box. Please
save a copy of all your work somewhere other than your hard drive. If you have
a copy of your work and there is a problem you will not have to do the work
again. You can send your saved copy. The number of the points you earn on
the following activities will determine your course grade. Your grade will be
based on 600 to 800 points.
You
can earn a 5 point bonus for each unit turned in before the suggested closing
date/time set for each Unit.
You can earn a 5 point bonus for each module turned
in before the suggested closing date/time set for each Unit.
The cutoff date for work to be counted toward
midterm grades is Monday, March 8th at 8:00 am and will include work
from units 1-3 plus the orientation. Work for Units
4-6 is due Thursday, May 6th at 8:00 am.
Exams:
There will be 2 closed book exams in this class.
You need to plan to travel to your closest campus to take the midterm and the final
or discuss with me the process of getting an approved proctor. There will
be at least 2 time options and you can choose the one that is most convenient
for you. A final exam schedule will be posted later in the semester as
soon as the IT department determines testing room availability. If you do not
live near a SWTJC campus, it may be possible to make arrangements to take
the exam with an approved proctor or supervisor. These arrangements need
to be made in advance.
Academic
Honesty
You
are expected to do your own work. While it is fine to work with another
student, it is not acceptable for two or more people to submit the same or
substantially the same file unless it is a group project. If this occurs
all parties will receive a 0 for the assignment. Repeated occurrences may
result in an F for the course.
American
with Disabilities Act [
Any
student with a documented disability needing academic adjustments is requested
to speak directly to the Counseling Department (see below) as early in the
semester (preferable within the first week) as possible. All discussions will
remain confidential.
Crystal City Idalia De La Cruz (830/374-2828)
Del Rio Marilyn Casson (830 775-1560)
Eagle Pass Brenda Hoffman (830/758-4102)
Uvalde Melissa Deleon (830/591-7352)
Revised
January, 2010
Dr.
Nancy Masterson
Lifespan
Growth and Development Instructor