Class Schedule Spring 2011:

Please note that this schedule is tentative and may change at the discretion of the instructor. Check back regularly to make sure you are up to date.

Introduction to course

Mon. 1/31

The Construction of Childhood and Adolescence

Wed. 2/2:

Reading: A Weird Way of Thinking Has Prevailed Worldwide

Mon. 2/7:

Neil Postman’s The Disappearance of Childhood (postman_intro_1_2)

Wed. 2/9

Neil Postman’s The Disappearance of Childhood (Ch’s postman_4,postman_8_9)

Mon. 2/14

Epstein_Ch1 from Epstein’s The Case Against Adolescence

“What Is It About 20-Somethings?”

Developmental Psychology: An Overview

Wed. 2/16 (Theories)

LCC Chapter 1 (textbook)

Miller, P.M. Theories of Developmental Psychology. Introduction (**available in the course documents section of Blackboard)

Mon. 2/21  President’s Day: College is closed

Wed. 2/23  (Theories)

Miller, P.M. Theories of Developmental Psychology. Introduction (**available in the course documents section of Blackboard)
Bergen, D. Human Development: Traditional and Contemporary Theories.Chapter 1

Mon. 2/28 (Methodology)

Bergen, D. Human Development: Traditional and Contemporary Theories. Chapter 2

Nature/Nurture: Genes and Culture

Wed. 3/2 (Genetic Evolution)

LCC Chapter 2

Mon. 3/7 (Bio-cultural foundations)

LCC Chapter 2

Lessons from Infancy  (Chs 4-6)

Wed. 3/9 (The brain and development)

LCC pgs. 124-130, 140-148, 162-177

Mon. 3/14 (Learning and Development)

LCC pgs 177 – 198

Wed. 3/16 (The social world)

LCC pgs 148-157, Ch 6

Midterm

Mon. 3/21

Short Answers

LCC Chapters 2; 4 (pp. 124 – 130; 140-159); 5; 6

Essays

The midterm will include 2 essay questions, which will be answered in class on the day of the midterm. The questions will be posted on the class blog 1 week before the exam.

• LCC Chapter 1
• Neil Postman’s The Disappearance of Childhood
• Epstein’s The Case Against Adolescence
• Miller, P.M. Theories of Developmental Psychology.
• Bergen, D. Human Development: Traditional and Contemporary Theories.

Essay Questions. You will have to answer both of these questions during the exam time. You will not be able to bring any materials with you to the exam.

1. Which fundamental issue/question has the greatest implications for how we understand child and adolescent psychology? What are the theoretical and practical implications of how we answer this issue/question?

2. Consider your own “theory/ies” of human development. Which of the three epistemological frameworks – rationalist, empiricist, socio-cultural – does your theory/ies fit? Which theory/perspective comes closest to your own theory/ies? Explain your choices.

Learning and Development

LCC Ch’s 7, 8 (skip 270-274), Ch’s 11 (skip pp 387-395), 12; Ch 14 (only pp 523-531)

Wed. 3/23

• Language: Chapter 7

Mon. 3/28

• Language: Chapter 7

Wed. 3/30

• Cognitive Development: Chapter 8, 11, (395 – 414 ),14 (only pp 523-531)

Mon. 4/4

• Cognitive Development: Chapter 8, 11, (395-414),14 (only pp 523-531)

Wed. 4/6

• Cognitive Development: Chapter 8, 11, (395-414),14 (only pp 523-531)

Mon. 4/11

• Intelligence, School, and “Schooling” Chapters 11 (414-421) and 12

Wed. 4/13

• Intelligence, School, and “Schooling” Chapters 11 (414-421) and 12

Friday 4/16- Tuesday 26: Spring Break

Social and Emotional Development

LCC Chapters 9, 10, 13, 15

Wed. 4/27

Mon. 5/2

Wed. 5/4

Mon. 5/9

Wed. 5/11

Mon. 5/16

Wed. 5/18