Course Syllabus

Summer 2024 | PSY-1050-VO04 - Human Growth & Development

Online Class

Online courses take place 100% online via Canvas, without required in-person or Zoom meetings.

Faculty

Robert Mandatta
View Faculty Credentials
View Faculty Statement
Hiring Coordinator for this course: Kate Hughes

Browse the Canvas Site for this class.

General Education Requirements

VSCS Social Sciences

Note

Many degree programs have specific general education recommendations. In order to avoid taking unnecessary classes, please consult with additional resources like your program evaluation, your academic program catalog year page, and your academic advisor.

Courses may only be used to meet one General Education Requirement.

Course Description

This course is a survey of human growth and development throughout the life cycle including physical, cognitive, linguistic, ethical, and psychosocial dimensions.

Essential Objectives

1. Compare and contrast two major theories of developmental psychology.
2. Identify and discuss issues in human growth and development arising from differences in gender, race, and socioeconomic status.
3. Select one theory and discuss the major aspects of each stage of growth according to physical, cognitive, language, and social dimensions.
4. Explain how both environmental and genetic factors influence growth and development.
5. Apply the main concepts and principles of one developmental theory to the development of an individual.
6. Describe the process of empirical and ethical research (both cross-sectional and longitudinal) as it is commonly practiced and applied in the field of developmental psychology, including how that research informs contemporary issues.
7. Distinguish between fact and opinion, recognize unstated assumptions, and evaluate arguments according to the quality of supporting evidence in the literature.

Required Technology

More information on general computer and internet recommendations is available on the CCV IT Support page. https://support.ccv.edu/general/computer-recommendations/

Please see CCV's Digital Equity Statement (pg. 45) to learn more about CCV's commitment to supporting all students access the technology they need to successfully finish their courses.

Required Textbooks and Resources

*** This is a low cost ($50 or less) textbook or resource class. ***

PSY-1050-VO04 Link to Textbooks/Resources Information for this course in eCampus.

The last day to use a Financial Aid Advance to purchase textbooks/books is the 3rd Tuesday of the semester. See your financial aid counselor at your academic center if you have any questions.

Artificial Intelligence(AI) Policy Statement

CCV recognizes that artificial intelligence (AI) and generative AI tools are widely available and becoming embedded in many online writing and creative applications.

Integrated: This course's generative AI policy acknowledges the use of AI is an essential skill in today's world. By using genAI for specific purposes, students become equipped with relevant skills and tools necessary to thrive in a technology-driven society. Emphasizing the mastery of generative AI should empower you to harness its potential, enhancing your problem-solving abilities and preparing you for future challenges and opportunities. Be aware, however, that any time generative AI is used at any point in the assignment without attribution it may be considered a violation of CCV's Academic Integrity Policy.

Methods

No prior experience with online learning is required for this course, just a willingness to learn and the self-discipline to stay focused for this rich, multimedia immersion into the fascinating world of human development across the lifespan.

It also doesn't matter where you begin the course in terms of academic skill -- advanced or new to college level learning, all are welcome!

This course does not use Zoom or require you to be online at a specific time. Nor is it a conventional course with a textbook, quizzes, and papers that are privately submitted to the course instructor. It differs from such traditional college courses, both in person and online, in several key ways, including the following

-- The learning is interactive and peer-based, which means that all of your work will be posted at our class Discussion forums where you must interact with your colleagues in weekly Q&A sessions.

-- Instead of reading a textbook, you'll use a variety of free online sources, including scholarly journal articles, instructional videos and lectures, podcasts, and other relevant online media.

-- You'll focus on case studies, both real and fictional, including your own experience and our course case study novel,Dicey's Song by Vermonter Cynthia Voigt.

-- You'll learn how to find your own valid online sources and mixed media to use in your posts.

-- You'll explore becoming a professional psychologist or other career creating healthy human growth and development, and identify a current Vermont leader for programs and issues that affect our development by creating a mixed media presentation about their leadership style and vision.

Evaluation Criteria

The grading system is simple: You can earn up to 5 points for each of the 9 regular Discussion weeks, 15 points for the midterm exam, and 40 points for both parts of the final exam. This is a total points system of 100 points (with no weighted assignments). For detailed information, see the Syllabus area at the course site.

When evaluating your work weekly, midterm, and endterm:

1. I assess how well you identify and explain behaviors, thoughts, opinions, beliefs, and feelings, especially when analyzing your own experience and our weekly case studies. What evidence or expert opinion do you rely upon?

(See, e.g., "Distinguishing Fact, Opinion, Belief and Prejudice" @https://writing.colostate.edu/guides/teaching/co300man/pop12d.cfm)

2. I encourage clarity of thought and cleverness of expression, as well as sound academic writing, citing, and posting with mixed media at Canvas. While I welcome brief tangents, I expect you to have addressed the point of each assignment.

3. Naturally, I prefer posts that are interesting, thoughtful, and thought-provoking, the kind that invite serious discussion with your course colleagues about the week's overall topic and related issues.

4. I gauge your interest and note how well you participate in the Discussion Q&A -- are you engaged and helping to build an online learning community with your course colleagues?

5. I ultimately evaluate the extent to which you have demonstrated growth of academic and professional skills in our field of study, as well as their application to your personal life and career goals.

Grading Criteria

CCV Letter Grades as outlined in the Evaluation System Policy are assigned according to the following chart:

	High	Low
A+	100	98
A	Less than 98	93
A-	Less than 93	90
B+	Less than 90	88
B	Less than 88	83
B-	Less than 83	80
C+	Less than 80	78
C	Less than 78	73
C-	Less than 73	70
D+	Less than 70	68
D	Less than 68	63
D-	Less than 63	60
F	Less than 60
P	100	60
NP	Less than 60	0

Weekly Schedule

Attendance Policy

Regular attendance and participation in classes are essential for success in and are completion requirements for courses at CCV. A student's failure to meet attendance requirements as specified in course descriptions will normally result in a non-satisfactory grade.

• In general, missing more than 20% of a course due to absences, lateness or early departures may jeopardize a student's ability to earn a satisfactory final grade.
• Attending an on-ground or synchronous course means a student appeared in the live classroom for at least a meaningful portion of a given class meeting. Attending an online course means a student posted a discussion forum response, completed a quiz or attempted some other academically required activity. Simply viewing a course item or module does not count as attendance.
• Meeting the minimum attendance requirement for a course does not mean a student has satisfied the academic requirements for participation, which require students to go above and beyond simply attending a portion of the class. Faculty members will individually determine what constitutes participation in each course they teach and explain in their course descriptions how participation factors into a student's final grade.

Participation Expectations

Due to the interactive nature of online learning, your work must be posted to count, and you cannot make up missed work after the week has ended. You must post at least once during the 24/7 class week to be marked Present.

I offer one Free Week of five points for any non-exam Discussion in case of a conflict (such as personal illness, family emergency, or bereavement). You also may redeem two Late Passes for non-exam weeks when you need extra time to finish your work.

If you encounter technical problems with your computer or server--which happens to all of us periodically--please post from your nearest CCV academic center, your local public library, a wifi cafe, or by using a public wifi hotspot (https://publicservice.vermont.gov/content/public-wifi-hotspots-vermont).

Please note that attendance is not the same as participation, and 100% of your final grade is earned by participating in the class meetings held at our weekly Discussions (see "Methods" above).

If you miss two or more weeks, you cannot earn academic credit for the course, although you are welcome to participate for learning's sake.

Missing & Late Work Policy

• Late work is not accepted in the discussion forum. Interacting with classmates is an essential part of online discussions and cannot be made up after the fact.

Accessibility Services for Students with Disabilities:

1. Provide disability documentation to the Accessibility Coordinator at your academic center. https://ccv.edu/discover-resources/students-with-disabilities/
2. Request an appointment to meet with accessibility coordinator to discuss your request and create an accommodation plan.
3. Once created, students will share the accommodation plan with faculty. Please note, faculty cannot make disability accommodations outside of this process.

Academic Integrity