Human Growth & Development

Summer C, 2008 --Instructor: Dr. Russell McGuff

When: (Ref# 058127:) Mon - Thu 12:10 AM - 1:05 PM
          (Ref# 058129:) Tue/Thu 7:45- 9:45 PM
Office: History and Social Sciences Building, Room 218 Phone: 201-8157
Email:  mcguffr@tcc.fl.edu FAX Number: 201-8164 (put "attn. Dr. McGuff" on it)
Webpage: http://faculty.tcc.fl.edu/hss/mcguffr/index.htm
Office hours: 1:30 - 3:00 M-H, and 6:30 - 7:30 T/H; or, just drop by. I'm actually there a lot more often.
First day of class: May 6th
Last day of class: July 17th   Final Examination: As printed in schedule of courses: _________________.

Course Objectives:

 To gain an understanding of the major theories of human development and to think critically about them.

 To begin to recognize the effect that our development has on each of our lives, on society at large, and on our environment.

 To appreciate the effects our various life tasks have on our daily experiences of relating to those around us.

 To build habits of critical and generative thinking about the human experience.

 To build written and spoken critical evaluation skills while demonstrating mastery of new knowledge about human development.

 To build a knowledge base that will permit further study in the fields of psychology, generally and human development, specifically.

Attendance Policy:

 Attendance is required and will be taken at each class. Coming to class late or leaving early will be considered 1/2 an absence.
You must be pre-certified to take each exam. Missing more than two (T/H class) or three (M-H class) classes before any exam disqualifies you from taking that exam.
A zero will be given for any uncertified/missed exam, which will be used in calculating your final grade.

 If you are absent from class you are responsible for all work assigned, and all the information provided during your absence, just as if you had attended.

 It is considered a courtesy for you to contact me in advance in the event of any absence from lecture. Your courtesy is appreciated.

 There will be no make-up of any unexcused absence that results in a missed test. You must contact me either BEFORE OR ANYTIME ON THE DAY of the test you miss to be excused, and therefore to be eligible for a make-up.

 If you are permitted to take a make-up exam it will be given at my office on Thursday, July 10th at 9:00 AM.

 TCC's attendance policy states that any student who misses more times than a class meets for any one week may be withdrawn with an AW. I will not automatically drop you due to absences.  If you just stop attending, without dropping, expect to get an "F."

 Please come see me first if you have plans to drop the course.

 Absences for military service, jury duty, college sponsored activities that were approved by the college president, and religious holidays are excusable if the Assistant Vice President for Instruction at TCC is given prior notification. See me as well and keep me informed.

Grading Policy:

Your grade will be a function of your total of scores on:
Test 1 (100 points -Multiple Choice), the Midterm (200 points -Essay test), Test 3 (100 points -Multiple Choice the final exam (200 points -Multiple Choice), and any pop quizzes (up to 20 points each) that might or might not be given during the semester.

Class participation is required, and up to 20 additional points are available to those who demonstrate extra interest, and who contribute meaningfully and most often.

IF YOU MAKE LESS THAN 140 points (a "C") on Test 2 you MUST complete TWO of the Critical Journal Review (CJR) papers described below. 

Grading Scale:

540 - 600 points = A         Test 1 ___________
480 - 539 points = B         Test 2 ___________
420 - 479 points = C         Test 3 ___________
360 - 419 points = D          Final  ___________
359.....or below = F            Total ___________

Optional/Critical Journal Review (OJR/CJR) papers:

You may also earn up to 30 additional points toward your final grade by reviewing up to two journal articles on topics in Human Development. I will provide a copy of an article and you will type a brief (350 word minimum) summary and critique of the article. YOU MAY NOT DIRECTLY QUOTE THE ARTICLE you are critiquing at any time.
You must hand the article back in to me, highlighted, along with your critique/summary. I will grade each paper on a 15 point scale. Thus, each article successfully reviewed will be worth up to 15 extra points toward your total points (600 maximum).

Writing

Plagiarism (the use of someone else's IDEAS OR WORDS without giving proper credit) is cheating. Plagiarism or any other form of cheating will result in a zero on the work and disciplinary action from the school.

CELL - FREE CLASSROOM POLICY:
Cell phones, i-Pods and text messaging have become a near daily distraction in many college classrooms. Their interruptions are disruptive to classes and impede learning. The following policy shall apply throughout the semester:
Classrooms in the History & Social Sciences Building are CELL PHONE-FREE academic learning environments. Cell phones, PDA's, beepers, i-Pods, etc. may not be used in the classroom, nor will they be permitted to disturb the learning of others at any time. All cell phones and electronic devices must be turned off and put away upon entering the classroom. Cell phones, etc. should not be visible on desks or in students' hands or laps in our classroom. Any student who violates this policy and/or anyone whose cell phone rings during our class must immediately leave class, will be counted absent, and may not return until the following class meeting. If it happens during a test, that person's test will be considered complete and immediately collected.
TURN OFF AND PUT AWAY YOUR CELL PHONE, PDA, i-Pod, etc.BEFORE YOU WALK IN THE DOOR. NEVER USE IT IN THE CLASSROOM.

CLASSROOM ETIQUETTE:

Be respectful of others and of their opportunity to learn. We will not waste much time on idle chit chat. Everything we talk about is part of the course. Be prepared to learn from others and to share what you know as well.
Do not come late to class. Do not leave early. Do not leave the room except in a true emergency. When I arrive, class has begun --pay attention; I often announce important things and hand back papers at the beginning of class. If you have inadvertently arrived late, slip in as quietly and unobtrusively as possible; take a seat near the door, no matter where you might usually sit.
Turn off and put away (or leave at home) all beepers, cell phones (see policy above), i-pods, CD players, cassette recordings, radios, etc. Feel free to tape/record the class in order to assist you in reviewing your notes, but let me know if you are doing so. You may use a laptop in class only for course related work such as taking notes; if your laptop use becomes distracting to others it will be prohibited.
Do not carry on private conversations with others around you. Do not "hit on" or try to date your classmates while in class. You can do that at other times and elsewhere.
Raise your hand and be prepared to keep it up; I try to call on everyone eventually. Do not hesitate to ask questions offer comments or share insights; we will all benefit when you do so.
Be prepared and well equipped. Always have a notebook, two number two pencils and a pen handy. Thus, you will never let yourself be surprised by a test, quiz or other class activity.

Text:
Feldman, Robert S. (2005). Human Development Across the Life Span; 4th Edition. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.
............Plus supplemental outside readings as assigned.

 Read the material in advance so you will obtain maximum benefit from class discussion.
Offer comments, questions and input in every class. Class participation is a requirement of the course!!!

Date:_____________________Topics and Readings

As an academic community devoted to the life of the mind, this class requires of every student complete intellectual honesty in the preparation and completion of all assigned academic work.

Honor, integrity, honesty and effort benefit everyone. I hereby recognize that my honor as a student of this class is dependent on my integrity, honesty and effort. Therefore, I will not cheat, plagiarize or otherwise misrepresent the work I submit. I shall neither give nor receive unauthorized aid on any piece of work, nor knowingly tolerate any violation of the Honor Code of this class.

I hereby certify that all the written work I submit in this course shall be my own original writing, that I will use no idea, fact, information, or phrasing from any source without giving credit by citing that source in my work, and that I shall strive to make as plain as possible the sources used in my work.

I hereby certify that the responses I give on tests in this course shall reflect only my own knowledge, study, effort and belief. I will not attempt to copy the work of others, and will not tolerate any attempt of others to copy my work. If I detect that any student in this class is attempting to copy my work or that of others, I will report my belief to my instructor immediately and without fear of the consequences for doing so.

I hereby pledge my honor, integrity, honesty and effort as a student, as a fellow human being and as a member of the academic community in this class.
Pledged on this day, ____/____/____         _______________________________