Syllabus
Psychology 310.002 Child Psychology
Fall, 2008 - Dr. Karen Hartlep
1:45 – 3:05 PM, MWF; Science II /Rm. 343
http://www.csubak.edu/~khartlep
Office: DDH/D115 Office Hours: 11:00 AM-12:30 PM, MWF
Phone: 654-2371 e-mail: khartlep@csubak.edu
Texts:
Shaffer, D. R. & Kipp, K. (2007). Developmental Psychology. Belmont, CA; Wadsworth. (ISBN 0-534-63252-1)
Freiberg, K. (2008). Annual Editions Human Development 08/09. Guilford, CT; McGraw-Hill/ Dushkin. (ISBN 0-07-339751-2)
Goals of the Course:
The course will survey the work of developmental psychologists working with children from birth through adolescence. From the course the student should gain:
1. An awareness of the methods used in studying children.
2. A survey of the findings within the topic areas of physiological, cognitive, perceptual, social, and personality development.
3. A general knowledge of some of the most famous theories in child psychology, including Piaget, Information Processing, Freud, Bandura, and Erikson.
4. Some awareness of why the study of human development is important, of what is to be gained by it, and where the "growth areas" are in the field.
5. Finally, information gained in this course should provide the student with some practical guides to working with and understanding children.
Schedule of Events:
Part I. Theories, Methods, Prenatal Development, Birth, and Physical Development.
A. Reading Assignments:
In Shaffer & Kipp, read Chapters l-4 and 6.
In Annual Editions, read the following articles: 1) The Identity Dance; 3) What Makes Us Different; 4) The Age of Genetic Technology Arrives; 7) Not Always “The Happiest Time”; 8) Who’s Raising Baby?; and 9) Reading Your Baby’s Mind.
B. A Project from Group 1 is Due October 1, 2008.
C. Last day to withdraw from classes without a "W" being recorded on official transcripts is October 3, 2008.
D. Exam over Part I will be on October 6, 2008.
Part II. Perception, Cognition, Learning, Intelligence, and Language.
A. Reading Assignments:
In Shaffer & Kipp, read chapter 5 and 7-10.
In Annual Editions, read the following articles: 10) 20 Ways to Boost Your Baby’s Brain Power; 11) Long-Term Studies of Preschool: Lasting Benefits Far Outweigh Costs; 12) Accountability Comes to Preschool; 15) Why We Need “The Year of Languages”; 17) Ten Big Effects of the No Child Left Behind Act on Public Schools; and 19) The New First Grade: Too Soon?
B. A Project from Group 2 is Due October 24, 2008.
C. Exam over Part II will be on October 29, 2008.
Part III. Emotional Development, the Self-Concept, Social Development, Gender and Personality Development, Aggression, Moral Development, the Family, etc..
A. Reading Assignments:
In Shaffer & Kipp, read Chapters 11-16.
In Annual Editions, read the following articles: 13) Raising a Moral Child; 23) Brown v. Board: A Dream Deferred; 24)
Girls Gone Bad; 25) Disrespecting Childhood; 26) Parents or Pop Culture? Children’s Heroes and Role Models; and
28) Understanding Street Culture.
B. Last day to withdraw from classes for a "serious and compelling reason" is October 31, 2008. Please check the CSUB Catalog for the definition of "serious and compelling". Poor grades in a course are specifically excluded.
C. A Project from Group 3 is Due November 14, 2008.
D. Exam over part III will be on November 21, 2008.
IV. The Final Exam for this course will be cumulative. It is scheduled for Monday, November 24, 2008, from 5:00-7:00 PM.
Grading:
1. Four exams, including a comprehensive final exam, are scheduled. I will count the highest three exam scores for your course grade. I will drop your lowest score. If you miss an exam, there will be no make-ups. The exam you miss will be the score I will drop in figuring your overall grade. Each exam I count will be worth 25% of your grade.
2. Three Projects are also assigned. The projects are available on the Web at http://www.csubak.edu/~khartlep. There are a total of 14 different projects described. They are listed by name and number below, along with the date each would be due during the quarter. (Note: If a project refers to a table or study, the appropriate table or reference is provided for you in the project, on the pages following the project’s instructions.)
Group 1 - Choose One - Due 10/1/08
Project 1: Observation of a Child
Project 2: Observation of a Newborn Nursery
Project 3: Observation of Turn-Taking During Feeding
Group 2 - Choose One - Due 10/24/08
Project 4: Development of the Object Concept
Project 5: Conservation of Number, Mass, and Weight
Project 6: The Pendulum
Project 7: The Game of 20 Questions
Project 8: Beginning Two-Word Sentences
Project 9: Conversation Between Mother and Child
Group 3 - Choose One - Due 11/14/08
Project 10: Television Aggression
Project 11: Sex Roles on TV
Project 12: Observation of Altruistic Behavior
Project 13: Observation of Children's Play Groups
Project 14: Understanding Friendship
You are to choose three of these to do for your grade, One From Each Group. The project summaries and descriptions are to be typewritten, and a minimum of two pages. Any raw data and materials should be attached to the back. Handwritten projects will not be accepted. Each of the three projects will be worth 8.33% for a total of 25% of the final grade.
3. Attendance. In class you will be asked to respond in writing to thought questions, apply a concept, provide an example, or participate in other written activities. These will be collected in class as evidence that you were there. If you miss more than three classes, a percentage point will be taken off your final grade in the course for each additional class that is missed.
In Summary, the Final Grade will be weighted as follows:
Three Projects 25%
Grades are given on a percentage basis using the following scale:
A = 93-100% C = 73-77%
A- = 90-92% C- = 70-72%
B+ = 88-89% D+ = 68-69%
B = 83-87% D = 63-67%
B- = 80-82% D- = 60-62%
C+ = 78-79% F = 59% and below
Policy on "Incompletes": I will not allow a student to take an incomplete in this course. Since you are permitted to drop one exam score already, to miss more would be excessive. Students who miss two exams must repeat the course. Projects may be turned in ahead of the due date but late projects will not be accepted. You will simply receive a zero for that portion of your grade.
Policy on Academic Dishonesty: Any student caught in an act of academic dishonesty, including plagiarism, will receive an "F" for the course, and their action will be reported in a letter to the Dean of Arts and Sciences. Please refer to the CSUB Catalog for the full details and definitions of what actions qualify under this policy.