Page 1 Course Outline Code: PSY203 Title: Introduction to Human Development Faculty of Arts, Business and Law School of Social Sciences Teaching Session: Semester 1 Year: 2018 Course Coordinator: Dr Prudence Millear Room: T2.05 Phone: (07) 5430 1243 Email: pmillear@usc.edu.au 1. What is this course about? 1.1 Course description In this course you will cover the major theoretical and methodological approaches in the study of human development. Utilising a chronological approach, you will learn about prenatal development, infancy, childhood, adolescence, and adulthood. In doing so, you will learn about the physical, cognitive, social, personality, emotional, and moral development across the lifespan. The major life issues, milestones, and transitions from conception to death will be explored. 1.2 Course content What is human development and how is it studied? theories, research, and methodologies in human development physical development cognitive development social development personality development emotional development moral development lifespan prenatal infancy childhood adolescence adulthood death and dying life issues, events, milestones, transitions 2. Unit value 12 units
Page 2 3. How does this course contribute to my learning? Specific Learning Outcomes On successful completion of this course you should be able to: Assessment Tasks You will be assessed on the learning outcome in task/s: Graduate Qualities Completing these tasks successfully will contribute to you becoming: Understand and explain the theories that underpin the study of human development Critically analyse issues and research conducted in developmental psychology Demonstrate a clear and concise argument that is supported by psychological research, alone and with peers. 1, 2 and 3 Creative and critical thinkers. 1, 2 and 3 Creative and critical thinkers. 2 and 3 Empowered. 4. Am I eligible to enrol in this course? Refer to the Coursework Programs and Awards - Academic Policy for definitions of pre-requisites, corequisites and anti-requisites 4.1 Enrolment restrictions Nil 4.2 Pre-requisites PSY100 and PSY101 4.3 Co-requisites Nil 4.4 Anti-requisites Nil 4.5 Specific assumed prior knowledge and skills As per pre-requisites 5. How am I going to be assessed? 5.1 Grading scale Standard High Distinction (HD), Distinction (DN), Credit (CR), Pass (PS), Fail (FL)
Page 3 5.2 Assessment tasks Task No. Assessment Tasks Individual or Group 1 Weekly online quizzes Weighting % What is the duration / length? When should I submit? Individual 30% N/A Friday 11pm in Weeks 2 to 7 and 9 to 12 2 Essay Individual 40% 1800 words Week 9, Friday 11pm 3 Video Group 30% 5 to 6 minutes Weeks 7 and 13 vignettes (A) (video (video (Video Vignettes) and vignette) vignettes) Week 15, Monday Reflections and 2 x 300 words 11pm (Reflections) on the individual (Reflections) lifespan (B) (Reflections) 100% Where should I submit it? Blackboard Blackboard Blackboard *Work of submissions 10% over the word count will not be read and will not contribute to the final grade for the task. This does not include Reference lists. Assessment Task 1: Weekly online quizzes Goal: Product: Format: To assess your learning about Human Development through multiple-choice questions. You will complete the online quizzes to demonstrate and apply your knowledge to factual, applied and conceptual questions. Weekly online quiz Online quiz, multiple choice questions. There are 10 quizzes, each worth 3%. The quizzes will be held at the end of Weeks 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12 and will be based on the Hoffnung et al. textbook chapters appropriate to that week of the course. You will be advised in Week 1 of the specific times when the quizzes will be open for completion. Criteria accuracy of responses knowledge and comprehension of related course content recognition and application of theories within various contexts Generic skill assessed Skill assessment level Problem solving Assessment Task 2: Essay Goal: Product: Format: The goal of this assessment is to communicate your understanding of a topic in developmental psychology in an academic and formal way, using current research literature to analyse the essay question. Essay The word count is 1800 words (± 10 percent) and includes any headings and in-text citations (in and out of brackets), but not the title page, abstract, or reference list. Include the word count on your title page. Please note that the calculation of word counts can vary between courses and you should ensure that you are aware of any differences.
Page 4 You will be provided with an essay topic in Week 1 and asked to critically analyse current research in human development on the topic. Further information will be provided on Blackboard at that time. Criteria This task will be assessed according to level of achievement in the following: Abstract: informative and concise summary of the purpose and content of the essay Essay: situation of essay in topic area, definition of key terms, and direction of essay identification and use of appropriate developmental theory extent and relevance of current experimental research applied in the essay correctness and accuracy of relevant information that is without omission evidence of critical analysis of the research literature and demonstration of original thinking structure and cohesion of argument established throughout the essay careful and accurate use of APA referencing and style use of formal, academic language Generic skill assessed Skill assessment level Problem solving Organisation Assessment Task 3: Video vignettes and reflections on the Lifespan Goal: Product: Format: The goal of this assessment is to communicate your understanding of Developmental Psychology by producing two short video vignettes and then reflecting on two stages in the lifespan: adolescence and older adulthood. Part A: Two Video Vignettes, one on adolescence and one on older adulthood Part B: Reflective writing Time will be allocated in the weekly workshops for you to develop your ideas for the video vignettes and to develop your reflections on these lifestages. You will work in groups on the video vignettes and each student is expected to be actively involved in their conception and production. However, your reflections are to be your own work. Video vignettes (Part A): It is expected that the video vignettes will be between 5 and 6 minutes in length and will be presented in class in Week 7 (on adolescence) and Week 13 (on older age). You can base your video vignettes on your own or someone else s (e.g., family, friends, or someone famous) experiences. Please ensure that the file formats (e.g., MP4) can be shown on the university s computer system. You and your group will receive formative feedback from staff and peers on content of the vignettes (rather than their production values) during the class times. Reflections (Part B): The two reflections, each with a word count of 300 words (600 in total, ± 10%), will be submitted to Blackboard in Week 15 (i.e., the first week of exams). Based on your experiences of making and watching both of the video vignettes, you will reflect on what you have learnt about these two stages of human development. Your argument will situate your reflections within the appropriate developmental theory and in the current research literature about each life stage, to explore the factors that influence the interactions between individuals and their different environmental settings, and the opportunities and challenges that can arise in the complexities of human development.
Page 5 The format for Reflections will be as follows: a title page, the two Reflections (each starting on a new page), and a reference list that combines all of the references that you have used. The word count for the Reflections includes all headings, words, and citations, but does not include the title page or reference list. You are not required to write an abstract for the Reflections. Further details will be available on Blackboard in Week 1. Criteria The video vignettes (Part A) will be assessed according to level of achievement in the following: Content is thoughtful, engaging, and interesting Content is appropriate for the developmental stage under consideration Vignette utilises an appropriate developmental theory and relevant research literature to frame the content Content demonstrates critical analysis of situations and individual experiences The Reflections (Part B) will be assessed according to level of achievement in the following: Reflections on what you have learnt about each life stage Situation of the life stages in relevant theoretical and current research literature and definitions of key terms Exploration of issues that occur in the life stages Critical analysis and synthesis of your understanding Use of formal, academic language, and APA referencing and style Generic skill assessed Skill assessment level Communication Information Literacy Collaboration 5.3 Additional assessment requirements Assessment Preparation Word limit +/- 10% Essay 1800 words Reflections on the lifespan 600 words The word count for your assignment is based on the body of the assignment, excluding the title page, abstract (where included in the assessment), and reference list. Every word is included: the title, the words of your answer, and all of references (in and out of the brackets). Please give the word count on the title page of the assignment. Marks will be deducted for assignments that are more than 10% over or under the word limit. Referencing Style Appropriate Manual Format APA Style Page Margins Font Style Font Size Line Spacing Submission Requirements APA style American Psychological Association. (2010). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (6th ed.) Washington, DC: Author. 2.5cm Times New Roman for text and running head 12pt Double line spacing and no additional spacing between paragraphs Assignment must be submitted electronically (through Blackboard) no later than 11.00 pm of the stated day. Penalties apply for not adhering to submission requirements.
Page 6 Plagiarism In order to minimise incidents of plagiarism and collusion, this course may require that some of its assessment tasks, when submitted to Blackboard, are electronically checked through SafeAssign. This software allows for text comparisons to be made between your submitted assessment item and all other work that SafeAssign has access to. Eligibility for Supplementary Assessment Your eligibility for supplementary assessment in a course is dependent of the following conditions applying: a) The final mark is in the percentage range 47% to 49.4% b) The course is graded using the Standard Grading scale c) You have not failed an assessment task in the course due to academic misconduct 5.4 Submission penalties Late submission of assessment tasks will be penalised at the following maximum rate: 5% (of the assessment task s identified value) per day for the first two days from the date identified as the due date for the assessment task. 10% (of the assessment task s identified value) for the third day 20% (of the assessment task s identified value) for the fourth day and subsequent days up to and including seven days from the date identified as the due date for the assessment task. A result of zero is awarded for an assessment task submitted after seven days from the date identified as the due date for the assessment task. Weekdays and weekends are included in the calculation of days late. To request an extension you must contact your course coordinator to negotiate an outcome. 6. How is the course offered? 6.1 Directed study hours Lecture: 1 hour online per week and workshop preparation activities Tutorial: 2 hour workshop per week 6.2 Teaching semester/session(s) offered Semester 1 Sippy Downs 6.3 Course activities The following key concepts are presented and addressed during lecture/seminars and tutorials. Lecture/seminars and the tutorial workshops begin in week 1. Individual and class activities relating to the key concepts are stated in the course Backboard. Week # / What key concepts/content will I learn? Module # Module 1 The science and theories of lifespan development Module 2 Heredity, prenatal development and birth Module 3 Development in early childhood, middle childhood and adolescence Module 4 Development in early adulthood, middle adulthood, and older adulthood Module 5 Death dying and bereavement Module 6 Considering the development of adolescents and older adults in different contexts Please note that the course activities may be subject to variation.
Page 7 7. What resources do I need to undertake this course? 7.1 Required and recommended readings Lists of required and recommended readings may be found for this course on its Blackboard site. These materials/readings will assist you in preparing for lectures, tutorials and assignments, and will provide further information regarding particular aspects of your course. Please note that you need to have regular access to the resources listed in Blackboard throughout the semester to assist you in completing the course requirements. 7.2 Specific requirements N/A 7.3 Risk management There is minimal health and safety risk in this course. It is your responsibility to familiarise yourself with the Health and Safety policies and procedures applicable within campus areas. 8. How can I obtain help with my studies? In the first instance you should contact your tutor, then the Course Coordinator. Additional assistance is provided to all students through Peer Advisors and Academic Skills Advisors. You can drop in or book an appointment. To book: Tel: +61 7 5430 2890 or Email: studentcentral@usc.edu.au 9. Links to relevant University policies and procedures For more information on Academic Learning & Teaching categories including: Assessment: Courses and Coursework Programs Review of Assessment and Final Grades Supplementary Assessment Administration of Central Examinations Deferred Examinations Student Academic Misconduct Students with a Disability http://www.usc.edu.au/university/governance-and-executive/policies-and-procedures#academic-learningand-teaching 10. General enquiries In person: Sippy Downs - Student Central, Ground Floor, Building C USC SouthBank - Student Central, Building B, Ground floor (level 1) USC Gympie - Student Central, 71 Cartwright Road, Gympie USC Fraser Coast - Student Central, Building A Tel: +61 7 5430 2890 Email: studentcentral@usc.edu.au