INTERNET COURSE SYLLABUS   DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY  (PSY2023) (January 7 - April 25) Spring, 2008

COURSE PREREQUISITE:  Introduction to Psychology (PSY1113) or permission of instructor

NEXT COURSE(S) IN SEQUENCE:
Introduction to Psychology (PSY1113) is the prerequisite for most other psychology courses.  In general, other psychology courses can be taken in any order.  The TCC course numbering system suggests those courses that are more appropriate for first and second year students, but it is a very loose system.  Your specific major may require that you take a specific sequence of psychology courses.

TEXTBOOK AND OTHER MATERIALS:
Required:   Papalia, D. E., Olds, S. W., & Feldman, R.D.  (2007).  Human Development (10th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.
Bookstore price: $102.00
Note:  For those who are interested, the publisher has an electronic version of the textbook available.  It is considerably less expensive ($52.60) than the print version, and electronic texts can have other advantages.   You can choose between 'online viewing' of the textbook and downloading the electronic version of the textbook to your computer (See: http://ebooks.primisonline.com/eBookOptions.html).  Purchase information is available at the publisher's Web site.  Go to http://www.ebookstore.mhhe.com  and read the instructions carefully.

If you choose to get the eBook,:
Go to http://ebooks.primisonline.com/eBookstore/index.jsp
Select "Browse our complete ...."
Click on "Next"
Select "Social Sciences and Humanities"
Select "Psychology"
Select "Papalia et al.: Human Development, 10th Edition"
Follow the onscreen instructions.

Note:  Local textbook purchases for this course may be made at the NorthEast Campus Bookstore.  This textbook is not available at any other TCC bookstore.  Only the online version is available at the NorthEast Campus Bookstore.  The textbook is also available online from the TCC Online Bookstore, however, remember that you must purchase a new book in order to have access to the required online material.  Access the TCC Online Bookstore from http://tccstores.tulsacc.edu/SiteText.aspx?id=2713.

Virtually Required:  Few students at this point in their academic careers have developed their study skills to the point that they can be assured of academic success in courses such as this one without the assistance provided by study guides or other ancillary material developed for them.   The publisher of the textbook for this course provides three such ancillary devices.  I do not know at this time which to advise you to rely on.  The types of pedagogical devices and study activities are similar in each, but I have been told by the publisher that the specific content generally is different.   I am inclined to not recommend buying the print version of the study guide unless you simply prefer to work on paper rather than online.  Some course components require that you use the Web site.
Ciccarelli, S. K. (2004).  Study Guide to Accompany Human Development (10th ed.).  New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.
Bookstore price: $35.65
The textbook's Web site.  The publisher's site includes equivalent study guide opportunities and activities.  All content is accessible with the purchase of a new textbook.
The "Student CD-ROM".  This CD-ROM is included in the purchase of a new textbook.  It includes "Guideposts for Study", quizzing, video clips, and other pedagogical devices.
 
 

Recommended Reference Material (for Majors, Minors and Continuing Students):
    Dictionary of Psychology, J.P. Chaplin, Dell Publishing, $7.99.
    Dictionary of Psychology, Penguin Press, $12.95.
    The Encyclopedic Dictionary of Psychology, Dushkin Publishing Group, $16.60.
    The Psychology Problem Solver, Research and Education Association, $23.95.
    Psych OnLine, Patricia Wallace, McGraw-Hill, $10.00.
    Any good Dictionary, $23.95 -up.

Note — The Recommended Reference Material (for Majors, Minors and Continuing Students) is NOT required for this course.  It is intended to be for future use.  It is intended and recommended primarily as reference material for courses taken in the future.  It might, however be a benefit to current students experiencing difficulties understanding the information covered in this class.  Note that some of these are "out of print".  In some cases, though, they can still be purchased as used books (possibly even as new books) from book stores such as Amazon.com, the TCC book store or Steve's Sundries.

"Continuing Students" is used to describe students who are going to be taking three or more psychology courses over the course of their academic career.

CATALOG DESCRIPTION:
A theoretical and research based psychology course that covers social, emotional, physical and cognitive aspects of human development throughout the life-span. Lecture 3 hours. No Laboratory. Prerequisite: PSY 1113 or permission of instructor.

GENERAL EDUCATION GOALS STATEMENT:
The General Education Goals are designed to ensure that graduates of Tulsa Community College have the skills, knowledge, and attitudes to carry them successfully through their work and their personal lives.  General Education Goals relevant to this course include: Critical Thinking; Effective Communication; Civic Responsibility; Global Awareness; Computer Proficiency.

DISCIPLINE GOALS:
 Students will develop an understanding of core psychological concepts and theories, as well as the scientific study of behavioral and mental processes.

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

• Define the term developmental psychology and demonstrate command of the basic vocabulary of the discipline.
• Describe the major areas in the field, and identify the parameters of this discipline.
• Distinguish between the major perspectives (behavioral, psychoanalytic, cognitive, physiological, and sociocultural) on human thought and behavior.
• Appreciate the variety of ways psychological data are gathered and evaluated.
• Gain insight into human behavior and into one's own personality or personal relationships.
• Explore the ways that psychological theories are used to describe, understand, predict, and control or modify behavior.

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT INTERNET CLASSES:
1. You must be realistic about the amount of time required to do the coursework.  Plan to spend 3 to 5 clock hours per week for every credit hour (double that for an 8-week class).  This is a 3-hour course so that means 9 to 15 hours per week.
2. You should schedule class time just as if you were attending class on-campus.
3. You must turn in your work ON TIME.  Early is better.  Extensions are never granted.
4. Online is NOT easier!
5. You are required to participate actively in the class.
6. You need to use the chat and the discussion list to communicate often with your instructor and other classmates.
7. You should log onto the class at least 3 times a week (every day is best).
8. You must never allow yourself to fall behind in your assignments.
9. It is important that you always ask for help when you need help.

TEACHING METHODS:
"Teaching" might be stretching the point a bit.  Particularly in the context of the Internet course, I will be functioning more as a "Facilitator" than a traditional "Teacher".  I have searched the Internet for sites that provide information that is relevant to this course and will provide you with the URLs for those sites.  It is my hope that you will better learn the subject matter of psychology as a result of visiting those sites.  In addition, I think you will find that visiting those sites will be an enjoyable experience.

The textbook will still be the primary source of information about developmental psychology.  The material at the textbook site and in the Study Guide should help you to master the psychological concepts, theories, and findings presented in the textbook.  The sites you visit are intended to expand on the material in the textbook, provide further explanation of that material, and introduce you to material that the textbook does not cover — much as I would do in the classroom.

Study Guides typically employ such pedagogical devices as (descriptions based on a previous study guide):
 

1.	Chapter Overview — a brief description of the contents of the chapter.
2.	Guided Study/Learning Objectives — a list of things you should know or be able to do by the time you have finished the lesson.
3.	Chapter Review — provides you with the opportunity to test yourself to see if the proper terms come to mind as you try to fill in the blanks.  (If you have done your job well, they should.)
4.	Progress Tests — Two practice tests, composed of multiple choice and matching items, to test your understanding of the material in the chapter.  Use the first after you have studied the material for the first time and the second after you have reviewed the chapter later.
5.	Thinking Critically about Chapter * — a third test to be used after a final review of the chapter the day before the exam.
6.	Key Terms — the terms and concepts you should know after studying each unit.

EVALUATION TECHNIQUES:
Site Visitations —  There will be some sites that you will be required to visit.  You will also be required to visit some sites selected from a list of optional sites.  You will write and post a brief report based on the content of some of these sites.

Written Assignments — One or more written assignments exit for each major topic area covered in this course.  Some of these assignments will be based specifically upon the site visitations, while others will be based principally on material from the textbook.  In some cases, information from both the textbook and the visited sites will be used to complete the assignments. Written assignments will be submitted to the instructor via email.  See the "Rules" page for more specific requirements.  Some assignments are required of all students, but in most cases, students will select the assignments they wish to complete.  See the "Assignments" page for specifics.  Some assignments are required of all students, but in most cases, students will select the assignments they wish to complete.   15 points per exam unit = 60 total points for the semester.

Participation — Your active participation is required in this course. A regularly scheduled chat session, a Question of the Week on the BlackBoard Discussion Board, and the DevPsych3K email discussion list may be used for participation.
Chat —  Participation involves attending the chat session and discussing the course material, the sites visited, administrative matters, and the assignments.
Discussion List —  Participation will involve sending email to the class members asking substantive questions about the course content, providing answers, or discussing answers provided by others.
Discussion Board —  Participation involves responding to questions posted by the professor.  Acceptable responses will usually require more substantive, detailed explanations than the chat or discussion list.

See the "Rules" page for more specific requirements and limitations.

A total of 100 participation points is required.  Twenty (20) discussion board responses/discussion list contributions/chat sessions @ 5 points per = 100 total points for the semester.

DevPsych3K
This list is a private list, for members of this class only. Subscription to DevPsych3K is a course requirement.  Do not subscribe to DevPsych3K with any email address other than your MyTCC email address.  Also, do not use any "cute" UserName when subscribing to Yahoo.  Use a UserName that clearely identifies you by name.  If your name is already taken, for example, add a number or TCC after it.

The process of subscribing to the class discussion list is an involved, multi-step process.  It is set up that way to protect your privacy and to prevent spamming.  I have posted step-by-step instructions for subscribing to the discussion list.
 
 

DevPsy
This list is for Developmental Psych students from anywhere. You are encouraged, but not required, to subscribe. I would think that you would find it interesting to be able to discuss Dev Psych topics with students from around the country, or even around the world.  Participation on this list will not, however, count toward participation points for this course.
The easiest way to subscribe is to go to my MegaPsych DISCUSSION LISTS FOR PSYCHOLOGY STUDENTS page at: http://www.tulsa.oklahoma.net/~jnichols/stulists.html and subscribe from there.

Chapter Quizzes — The publisher provides a web site for users of the textbook.  The site offers several features that you may find interesting and useful, but the only feature that will be a required component of this course is the Chapter Quizzes.  Chapter Quizzes should be completed before any assignments for that chapter are submitted, and are due before the "Absolute Deadline" for that unit as shown on the Assignments page.
There is one multiple choice quiz per chapter.  Each multiple choice quiz completed with a score greater than 60% will be worth 2 points.  Scores of 60% or less will earn no credit.  There are also True/False and Essay quizzes for each chapter.  No credit will be given for these quizzes, however, you will probably find that they are helpful in preparing for the exam.  Do not send the results of these quizzes to either the class address or the backup address.
To receive credit for the quizzes, you must enter your MyTCC email address in the "Me" box at the bottom of the "Results Reporter" page.  Be sure to fill in the class address (DevPsych3K@inbox.com) in the "My Insrtuctor" box on the Results Reporter page.  Failure to enter these addresses, or failure to enter them correctly, will result in a loss of credit.  As always, it is a good idea to also send the results to the backup address (JNichols@Oklahoma.net).  Enter this address in the "Other" box.  If you wish to have the results sent to you at an address other than your MyTCC address, enter that address in the "My TA" box.
Note:  Do not access the Quizzes from within BlackBoard.  There is a compatability issue between BB and the publisher's site that sometimes prevents the Quiz Reporter from successfully sending the report to some addresses.  Access the quizzes directly from my site, using the link on the DevPsych Psytes page.

Exams — Four objective exams will be given during the semester. Each exam will consist of 50 multiple-choice questions covering material in the reading assignments in the textbook.  A few questions may originate from the sites visited.  Each exam will be worth 100 points.   The lowest of the four scores will be dropped.

Comprehensive Final Exam  —  This 100 multiple-choice question objective exam will be worth 200 points.  It cannot be dropped.
 
 

All testing will be done online via BlackBoard.  See the Online Testing page for details.

Exam grades are never available by phone or email.  Raw exam scores will be reported when the exam is submitted and will be posted on BlackBoard "Grades" page.

GRADING SYSTEM:
Each exam will be graded on a percentage scale according to the following guidelines:
     90% - 100% = A
     80% - 89%   = B
     70% - 79%   = C
     60% - 69%   = D
       0% - 59%   = F

Course grades will be based on the same scale.
 
 

LATE ASSIGNMENTS AND MAKE-UP TEST POLICY:
Written Assignments will not be accepted after the Absolute Deadline for that unit, which is Midnight, the day  before the exam begins.

THERE IS NO PROVISION FOR “MAKING UP” MISSED EXAMS, OR IN CASES WHERE STUDENTS EXPERIENCE TECHNICAL PROBLEMS ON THEIR END.  THE DROPPED EXAM SCORE TAKES CARE OF MISSED EXAMS.  Additional missed exams will be scored as zero.  You should remember, however, that material will be included on the final exam.

Exams that are missed because of technical problems that are TCC's "fault" will be handled as authorized makeup exams on the last exam date shown on the Exam Schedule above whenever possible.  Authorization will require that students immediately and individually contact the professor at the class email address, with an explanation of the problem encountered and whatever details the student can provide (date, times, etc.).  Use the Unsuccessful Exam Effort Report Form to report the details about the problem.  Follow the instructions at the bottom of that page.

Makeup exams will be password protected.  The password will be provided only to those who make that contact.

WITHDRAWAL:
The last day to withdraw or change to Audit status is Friday, April 4. If you should decide to discontinue work in the course for any reason (i.e. low grades, lack of time to devote to studying, etc.), it is imperative that you officially withdraw or change to audit status via the Student Web at  https://sis.tulsa.cc.ok.us, or through the Counseling Office at any campus to avoid receiving a failing grade in the course. You must go to the Counseling Office in person and sign a withdrawal form.

PERSONAL ADVICE:
Although students generally feel uncomfortable talking to their instructors about dropping a course, it is very much to your advantage to do so.  I have found that students often drop a course thinking that they are doing very poorly when in fact, they are doing much better than they think.  This is especially true of students who are trying to "protect" a good G.P.A.

STUDY GROUPS:
I have found that reviews are generally of little or no value to students. There is a study technique, however, that I have found to be very helpful. Students who voluntarily band together in small groups of four to six to study together before exams usually see significant increases in exam performance.  You can set up study groups by emailing class members and working together to ensure that everyone knows the material.  Study groups seem to work best in face-to-face settings, but they may also be beneficial when conducted electronically.  The DevPsych3K chat room could be used for this purpose.

COMMUNICATION:
Whenever you have questions, try to get those questions answered quickly.   Developmental Psychology is (as are most survey courses) time-consuming and, at times, downright difficult. Attempting to complete the course via the Internet may be an even more difficult task requiring a great deal of motivation and constant self-discipline. The quicker you can seek clarification on something you do not understand, the better.  It is probably best not to save up questions as this may lead to overwhelming confusion.

There are few questions that you are likely to come up with that I have not anticipated.  Carefully search the pages I have created to help ensure your success in this course before calling or emailing me with your questions.

If you are unable to find the answer to your questions by carefully reading the material I provide, ask your classmates before calling or emailing me with your questions.  Someone else who has the same question can, therefore, learn the answer.  That is one of the purposes of the class discussion list, and one of the reasons subscription to the DevPsych3K discussion list is a course requirement.

The weekly chat session is also a good way to get information quickly.  Since the information can be exchanged immediately, lingering confusion can be quickly addressed.  The information is also seen by everyone present, and the transcript will be available to students who cannot be there "live".  Someone else who has the same question can, therefore, learn the answer.

Only if you are unable to get the answer to your question those ways should you call or email me with your questions.  As a matter of fairness, I do not favor providing one student with information that the others do not have access to.  Also, I am not a fast typist.  Composing the answer to a question of any complexity can take me a very long time.  If your question is personal and involves more than a two or three sentence response, you should probably call my home office.  Never call my office at TCC.  If you think that there is a reasonable likelihood that other students might have the same question, however, and it is not too personal a matter, it would be best to post your question to the Class Discussion List.

I have voice mail in case you call when I am unable to answer the telephone myself.   If, for some reason, I have not returned your call within a reasonable amount of time, try again to reach me.

Whenever you call, be prepared to leave the following information:
1. Your name, Student Identification number, and which course you are taking.  (You are in the 16-week "Developmental Psychology".)
2. Phone number(s) at which you can be reached.
3. Time(s) when you can be reached.
4. Description of the general nature of your problem.

Note:  I have a general policy of NOT returning calls to persons who do not provide me with this information in a voicemail message or who leave no voicemail message at all.  The call could be from a telemarketer or from a person who has misdialed a number.  Further, if the call is from one of my students, I do not wish to waste my minutes having to look up information that might be needed to properly answer that student's question.
 
 

STATEMENT OF UNDERSTANDING:
I expect you to be thoroughly familiar with the contents of this syllabus and the Web pages created for this course, especially the "Rules" and the "Online Course Orientation" pages. This syllabus, along with those pages, constitutes the procedures and rules of the course. By remaining in the course, you are tacitly agreeing to accept these procedures and rules. If any of these procedures and rules are not acceptable to you, it is your responsibility to withdraw from the course.

So that I know that you have found this syllabus and read it carefully, and are familiar with its contents, email me now at the addresses shown in the course/Instructor information box at the top of this syllabus.  In the "Subject:" line of that message, enter "Syllabus (date)".  You do not have to make the message any more complicated than something like: "I have read the syllabus."

PSYCHOLOGY-RELATED STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS
Contrary to popular expectation, what goes on in the classroom is not the bulk of your education. It is a minimum level of exposure that all students experience, providing only a part of the real education. Most of the real education occurs outside the classroom. Student and professional organizations exist to provide experiences beyond those available in class, exposure to ideas and concepts that are often not covered in classes, and social opportunities that are particularly uncommon at “commuter” schools such as TCC.

If you are a psychology major or minor, or if you are simply interested in the field, you should consider becoming a member of either or both of the two psychology-related student organizations available at TCC. In addition, if you are a psychology major, you should consider becoming a member of the student divisions of the state and national professional psychology organizations at the earliest possible date.

TCC Behavioral Sciences Association (BSA)
The TCC Behavioral Sciences Association (BSA) is open to any interested student. There are no membership requirements beyond application and payment of dues. Dues can be paid by the semester ($3.00), year ($5.00), or a lifetime membership is available for $10.00.

PSI BETA
PSI BETA is the national psychology honor society for students at two-year colleges. As an honor society, PSI BETA has established strict membership requirements. Applicants must have completed General Psychology and a minimum of 12 credit hours of college course work, have at least a 3.0 (B) average in all psychology courses completed, and have at least a 3.0 (B) average in all college courses completed. There is a one-time $25.00 membership fee for the national PSI BETA organization, and dues for the TCC Metro Chapter are $5.00 per semester.

Please note:  The Metro Campus chapters of both BSA and Psi Beta are inactive.  If you are interested, contact the Northeast Campus Student Activities Office for contact information.

State and National Professional Psychology Organizations
The Oklahoma Psychological Association (OPA) and Oklahoma Psychological Society (OPS) both encourage and welcome student members, as do the American Psychological Association (APA) and American Psychological Society (APS). All four of these professional organizations offer student memberships at greatly reduced rates, and student members receive professional publications and greatly reduced convention registration rates.