Katherine Dowdell, M.S.

 

Chair, Psychology Dept. West Campus

Des Moines Area Community College

5959 Grand Avenue

West Des Moines, IA 50266

515-633-2421

Email:  kdowdell@dmacc.edu

 

Office: West Campus Room 217 E

 

Office Hours:  : 

  • Mon/Wed 9:30-10am
  • Tues 8:30-9:30am
  • Thurs 11:15am-12:45pm
  • Friday 9:40-10:40am; 12:30-1:00pm

 

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PSY 121: Developmental Psychology: Spring 2008

Section WB1 (CRN 23803)               West Campus Room 219E

 

This is a web-blended course which means that we will meet for only a portion of the typical 3 hours per week of a non-blended class.  This class will meet on Mondays and Wednesdays from 10:10 – 11:05 am at DMACC West Campus, Rm. 219E.  Class sessions will focus on discussion of course content; however, you should not expect that every topic in every chapter will be covered in class.  You will be required to read the assigned chapters in the text and are responsible for the content, regardless of whether it is covered in class.  Self-assessment journal assignments, discussion boards and quizzes will be completed online in WebCt.  Success in a web-blended class requires commitment, organization, initiative and time management skills.

 

Although some course materials are provided on this web site, please log in to WebCT to complete your assignments using the quick link on the DMACC home page (www.dmacc.edu) or via the portal (http://my.dmacc.edu).

 

PSY 121 Spring 2008 Syllabus

 

Class Schedule: 

 

Date:

Reading

Assignment due

Class Topic

Quiz by 11pm

Mon 1/7

 

 

Introduction

 

Wed 1/9

Ch. 1

Lifespan Perspective

 

Lecture Ch 1

 

Mon 1/14

 

 

Lecture Ch 1

 

Wed 1/16

Ch. 2 Biology

 

Lecture Ch 2

 

Fri 1/18*

 

Discussion 1 ends

 

 

Mon 1/21

MLK DAY

No Class; quiz due

 

Ch. 1

Wed 1/23

 

 

Lecture Ch 2

 

Mon 1/28

Ch. 3 Physical Dev and Aging

 

Lecture Ch 3

Ch. 2  

Wed 1/30

Ch. 4 Health

 

Lecture Ch 4

 

Fri 2/1*

 

Discussion 2 ends

 

 

Mon 2/4

Ch. 5

Motor, S&P Dev

 

Lecture Ch 5

Ch. 3& 4

Wed 2/6

Ch 5

 

Lecture Ch 5

 

Mon 2/11

Ch. 6 Cog Dev.

 

Lecture Ch 6

Ch. 5

Wed 2/13

Ch 6

Journal 1: Changes in Thinking

Lecture Ch 6

 

Mon 2/18

Ch. 7

Info Processing

 

Lecture Ch 7

Ch. 6

Wed 2/20

Ch. 8 Intelligence

 

Lecture Ch 8

 

Mon 2/25

Ch 8

Journal 2 Intelligence

Lecture Ch 8

Ch. 7

Wed 2/27

Review Ch. 1-8

 

Exam 1: Ch 1-8

 

Mon 3/3

Ch. 9 Language

 

Lecture Ch 9

Ch. 8

Wed 3/5

Ch 9

 

Lecture Ch 9

 

Mon 3/10

Ch. 10

Emotional Dev

 

Lecture Ch 10

Ch 9

Wed 3/12

Ch 10

 

Lecture Ch 10

 

3/17 + 19

SPRING BREAK

No Classes

 

 

Mon 3/24

Ch. 11 Self, Identity, Personality

 

Lecture Ch 11

Ch. 10

Wed 3/26

Ch 11

Journal 3: Identity

Lecture Ch 11

 

Mon 3/31

Ch. 12 Gender & Sexuality

 

Lecture Ch 12

Ch. 11

Wed 4/2

Ch. 13 Morality & Religion

Rough Draft Erikson: 1 stage

Lecture Ch 13

 

Mon 4/7

Ch. 14 Families & Parenting

Journal 4: Parenting

Lecture Ch 14

Ch. 12 & 13

Wed 4/9

Ch 14

 

Lecture Ch 14

 

Mon 4/14

Ch. 15 Peers

 

Lecture Ch 15

Ch. 14

Wed 4/16

Ch 15

 

Lecture Ch 15

 

Mon 4/21

Ch. 16

School & Work

Erikson Assignment

Lecture Ch 16

Ch. 15

Wed 4/23

Ch. 17 Death

 

Lecture Ch 17

 

Mon 4/28

Review Ch. 9-17

 

Exam 2: Ch 9-17 @10:30 am

Ch. 16 & 17

 

Chapter Notes:  Click on the chapter title to access power point notes for each class.  You should print these out and bring them with you to class.  I would recommend that you choose “handouts” instead of “slides” in the ‘Print what?’ drop down menu; otherwise you will end up with only one slide per page!

 

Chapter

Chapter Notes

1

Introduction

2

Biological Beginnings

3

Physical Dev/Aging

4

Health

5

Motor, Sensory, Perception

6

Cognitive Dev

7

Information Processing

8

Intelligence

9

Language

10

Emotion

11

Self, Identity, Personality

12

Gender & Sexuality

13

Morality, Values, Religion

14

Families, Lifestyles, Parent

15

Peers

16

School, Achievement, Work

17

Death & Grieving

Course Evaluation:

 

Discussion Boards:    You will be required to participate via WebCt in two Discussion Board Topics, each worth up to 10 points.  Your contribution to each discussion should include at a minimum a thoughtful, thorough response to the question posed, as well as specific feedback to two of your classmate’s postings.  Replying, “I agree” or something equally simplistic will not earn any credit.  Please note that Discussions will conclude on Friday by 11pm on the due date. 

 

Self-Assessment Journals:

The textbook companion web site http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/0073133760/student_view0/

contains a number of self-assessment exercises which you will complete as assigned.  These assignments will be accessed and submitted in WebCT.

  • A one-page, typewritten journal response per self-assessment exercise is required.  This response should be a thoughtful and thorough reaction to the exercise, and must include your responses to the discussion questions or topic in the Learning Module (WebCt).
  • Each self-assessment journal entry is worth up to 10 points.  Journals are due by 11pm on the date specified in the schedule.  Late journals will be accepted for half credit within 1 week of the original due date. 

 

Written Project:  Erikson Application Assignment

  • You will write a paper focusing on Erikson’s eight psychosocial stages in your own development.  This application assignment will help your instructor and the DMACC Psychology department to assess student mastery of the two general education competencies of:

·        Understanding and demonstrating effective communication.

·        Understanding and demonstrating logical and critical thinking.

·        Click on the detailed assignment sheet for more info.

 

Quizzes and Exams 

  • There will be 17 chapter quizzes taken online using WebCT. Quizzes consist of 10 multiple-choice questions. Each question is worth ˝ point, for a total of 5 points per quiz.  Occasionally a quiz will contain a “bonus” 11th question. You may use your books and notes for quizzes. Quizzes have a 15-minute time limit and are due each Monday before 11pm beginning Jan. 21.

·        There are no make-up opportunities for online quizzes. You can prevent “computer problems” from interfering with meeting deadlines by 1) submitting your quizzes well before the deadline; and 2) making sure the computer you chose to use is technically capable of performing what is required.  It is your responsibility to meet the deadlines.

  • There will be 2 unit exams taken in class.  Exam 1 will cover material from chapters 1-8 and exam 2 will cover chapters 9-17.  Each exam will be worth 45 points.
  • Exams require the use of a #2 pencil and a pen.  Students who arrive late to class will not be allowed additional time. A make-up exam will be allowed only with advance permission of the instructor and will require documentation of the reason for the absence (i.e., doctor’s excuse, subpoena). Unexcused and/or undocumented absences will result in a loss of half the points earned on the make-up exam. Any exception to this policy will be at the sole discretion of the instructor. 

 

Extra Credit:  You may earn extra credit by completing a self-assessment journal other than the ones already assigned.  You may also bring in a news article relating to any topic in the course. An oral presentation of the material is worth up to 3 points; a written summary is worth up to 5 points per article.  The maximum number of points you may earn from extra credit is 15.  All extra credit must be submitted on or before April 21, 2008.

 

Final Course Grade: 

The grading system is based on the percentage of points earned from 17 chapter quizzes (85 points), 2 unit exams (90 points), 2 discussion board topics (20 points), 4 self-assessment journal assignments (40 points) and the Erikson written project (45 points).  Grades are based on the maximum 280 points available and are as follows:

 

Grade

Percent

Grade

Percent

A

93.3%

C

73.3%

A-

90.0%

C-

70.0%

B+

87.7%

D+

67.7%

B

83.3%

D

63.3%

B-

80.0%

D-

60.0%

C+

77.7%

F

<60%