HDFS 230

Human Development through the Life Span

3 credits
Spring 2015
Tuesdays 5:00pm-7:20pm
FAMLIFEC410
Instructor:
Office:
Office hours:
Phone:
Email:

Courage Mudzongo
The Graduate Center, 1241 12th Ave. N. #108B
Tuesday 11am-12pm, or by appointment
(701) 231-5546
courage.mudzongo@ndsu.edu

I check email regularly and encourage your use of email for communication.
Important course related information will be communicated to the students using 1) Announcements posted on
Blackboard, 2) Email using the email address Blackboard uses (so make sure that Blackboard generated email
does not go into your spam box & check your spam box regularly), and 3) Announcements made in class.
Students are responsible for all information communicated using one of these mechanisms.
Course Description:
This course will cover fundamental issues related to human development that arise throughout the lifespan. The
continuity and change within the developing individual across cognitive, social, emotional, and physical
domains from birth to death will be examined. This course also satisfies Category 5a: Social & Behavioral
Sciences for your general education requirement.
The goal:
The goal of this course is to empower students to actively participate in informed discussions about human
lifespan development, i.e., to communicate what has been learned by describing the surprises discovered about
human lifespan development through the readings, to demonstrate the skill to seek and report on sources of
information about human lifespan development, and to discuss issues in human lifespan development which are
of concern and importance to you and to the society.
Learning outcomes
At the completion of this course, you should:
1. Demonstrate an understanding of the stages of human development & factors that influence it.
2. Locate and use information for making appropriate personal and professional decisions.
3. Demonstrate an understanding of the major theoretical approaches in human development & how they
apply to human behavior.
4. Comprehend concepts and methods of inquiry in science and technology, and their applications for
society.
5. Application of the knowledge in own life and real world situations
6. Communicate effectively in a variety of contexts and formats.
Draft10/20/15

Required Text:
1. Berber, K. S. (2013). Invitation to the Lifespan. New York: Worth Publishers. Second Edition.
(SBN:1464128928)
Additional Course Materials/Grades:
2. Posted on Blackboard
Course Format:
The class sessions will include discussion, lectures, videos, in-class activities, and presentations. Please be
aware that you will be expected to participate regularly in class sessions.
TeacherResponsibilities
a.Preparationoflectures,discussions,andexercises
b.Facilitationofaneffectivelearningenvironment
c.Preparationofclassassignmentsandexams
d.Evaluations:promptfeedbackonexams,assignments&classparticipation
StudentResponsibilities
a. Read this syllabus thoroughly, and ask any questions that arise or make suggestions for inclusion.
b. Be respectful of the instructor, fellow students, and the educational mission of the course.
c. Attend all classes and arrive on time.
Any unexcused absences not discussed with the professor will automatically result in a lowered
participation grade for the course.
d. Completingrequiredassignmentsandexams.
e. Askingforhelpwhenthereisaquestionorproblem.
f. Keepingcopiesofallpaperwork,including:thesyllabus,handouts,andallreturnedexamsandassignments.
g. Listeninginclass.Takingnoteswhenappropriategettingnotesfromaclassmateifabsent!
***Note:Theuseofcellphones,pagers,orcomputersisprohibitedduringclass.Returnfromthebreak
promptlysothatwecancontinuediscussion.
Course Requirements:
1. In-class activities (50 points / 10%)
a. There will be brief writing assignments. These will not be announced ahead of
time. There will be no makeup assignments (10 points x 5 = 50).
b. The in-class writing assignments are brief reflections of the material learned
in class and they will also help me assess what students have grasped.
Superficial work will not receive full credit.
c. The in-class activities will take different forms and will require collaboration
and facilitate students to also lead aspects of class.
2. 10 Multiple Choice Quizzes (50 points total / 10%)
a. Thequizzesaredesignedtohelpyoukeepontrackwithyourreading.Itis
importantthatyoucompleteallthereadingassignments.Thereadingmakes
upthebulkofyourhomeworkeachweek.Itmayseemlikeadragtohaveto
takeaquizeachweek,butweeklyquizzeswillhelpyoukeepupwiththe
reading.Quizzesareacriticalmotivatorforgettingthereadingassignments
doneontimeandhelpsthemmasterthecoursematerial.Plus,researchshows
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thatstudentsperformbetteronexamswhentheytakeweeklyquizzeson
assignedreading.Thequizzeswillbeadministeredweeklyandwill
correspondtoeachofthechapterswecoverinthetextbook.
***Note There will be 11 quizzes, however, only 10 of the best grades will be retained.
3. Group Project: Human Development Brochure (100 points total / 20%)
Studentswillberequiredtoworkingroups,andpresentinclassfor810minutesonahumandevelopment
topicdiscussedinclassoftheirchoiceanddevelopabrochure.Youwillalsowriteareflectionpaperonthe
informationyouprovidedinthebrochure,suchaswhyyouchosetheparticulartopic,whotheaudienceis,what
informationyouwishtoconveyandwhythetopicisimportant.Seethedetailedrubricbelow.Itwillalsobe
madeavailableseparatelyonBlackboard.Youwillbeassignedtoagroup.Examplebrochureswillbeposted
onblackboard/andorsharedinclass.Thesewillbedueon4/26 at5:00PM.Thepresentationshouldbeone
thatwouldbeunderstandablebylaypeoplewhohavenopriorknowledgeofhumandevelopment.
Project Evaluation: Rubrics will be posted on blackboard.
4. IndividualReflectionPaper(100points/20%)
5. Exams: (50 points each - (200 points / 40%)
a. There will be 5 exams that will consist of 40 multiple choice questions worth
1 points each, and will include 2 short answer essay questions, each worth 5
points. None of the exams will be cumulative; however, alloftheexamsare
required. Questions will come from the readings and the lecture. You may
drop 1 exam, but NOT the final.
b. There will be NO MAKE UP EXAMS! If you miss an exam, that will be your
dropped exam.
*****Students must bring an Op-Scan Sheet and pencil to each exam.
Grading System
This is a 3-credit, letter graded course and there are 500 total points based on the following grading scale:
A- 450 - 500
B- 400 - 449
C- 350- 399
D- 300 - 349
E- 299 and below
Note: If a students grade is between two letter grades, the instructor reserves the right to assign a letter grade
based on the students attendance, class participation, and general effort.
Class Policies
Attendance
In accordance with the university polices you may NOT make up classroom activities, quizzes, or exams for
which you are absent unless you notify the instructor PRIOR to class, AND
Within one week provide written documentation that your absence that complies with the NDSU policy.
In extremely exceptional circumstances, the prior notification requirement may be waved.
All make-up activities and learning checks must be completed as soon as possible.
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Official Course Communication:

Information regarding the course will be available via announcements made in class, postings on Blackboard,
and NDSU emails. The heading must be HDFS 230. Please be professional and courteous when communicating
via email. Email is official communication.
Accommodation of Students with Special Needs:
Any students who need special accommodations for learning or who have special needs are invited to share
these concerns or requests with the instructor as soon as possible. For more information please contact the
Disability Services Office at 231-8463 or go to: http://www.ndsu.edu/disabilityservices/
Academic Honesty Policy:
All work in this course must be completed in a manner consistent with NDSU University Senate Policy, Section
335: Code of Academic Responsibility and Conduct. www.ndsu.nodak.edu/policy/335.htm
Various techniques will be used to test for plagiarism / cheating in students papers. Papers displaying
plagiarism of any amount will automatically receive ZERO points for that assignment.
Format of written work
With the exception of in-class assignments, all student work must be typed and printed. Students should use
12-point, Times New Roman font, double-spacing, and one inch margins.
Please use APA formatting for citations and references.
Extra Credit
Opportunities for extra credit are not guaranteed. If an opportunity arises, details will be announced in class.
(2% maximum, 9 points). Details to be announced in class and posted on Blackboard.
Course Schedule:
Date
Week 1 (1/12)

Topics and Readings

a. Introduction and overview
b. Understanding Human Development / Theories of Human Development Ch: 1

Week 2(1/19)

a. Quiz 1 (Ch: 2)
b. From Conception to Birth (Ch: 2)
a. Assignedtogroupsforprojects

Week 3 (1/26)

a. Quiz 2 (Ch: 3)
b. The First Two Years: Body and Mind
c. Project topic Approval

Week 4 (2/2)

a. Quiz 3 (Ch: 4)
b. The First Two Years: Psychosocial Development (Ch: 4)

Week 5 (2/9)

a. Exam 1 (Ch: 1-4; bring pencil and op-scan)

b. Early Childhood: Body and Mind (Ch: 5)

Week 6 (2/16)

a. Quiz 4 (Ch: 6)
b. Early Childhood: Psychosocial Development (Ch: 6)
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Week 7 (2/23)

a. Quiz 5 (Ch: 7)
b. Middle Childhood: Body and Mind (Ch: 7)

Week 8 (3/1)

a. Middle Childhood: Psychosocial Development (Ch: 8)

b. Exam 2 (Ch: 5-8) (bring pencil and op-scan)

Week 9 (3/8)

a. Quiz 6 (Ch: 9)
b. Adolescence: Body and Mind (Ch: 9)
c. Reflection papers due (Friday March 15, 2016: 1159pm)

Week 10 (3/15)

Spring Break (no classes)

Week 11 (3/22)

a. Quiz 7 (Ch: 10)

b. Adolescence: Psychosocial Development

Week 12 (3/29)

a. (Ch: 11)
b. Emerging Adulthood: Body, Mind and Social World
c. Exam 3 (Ch: 9-11) (bring pencil and op-scan)

Week 13 (4/5)

a. Quiz 8 (Ch: 12)

b. Adulthood: Body and Mind
c. First Draft - Project Follow Up 2

Week 14 (4/12)

a. Quiz 9 (Ch: 13)

b. Adulthood: Psychosocial Development (Ch: 13)

Week 15 (4/19)

a. Quiz 10 (Ch: 14)

b. Late Adulthood: Body and Mind

Week 16 (4/26)

a. Quiz 11 (Ch: 15)

b. Late Adulthood: Psychosocial Aging
c. Exam 4 (Ch: 12-15) (bring pencil and op-scan)
d. Project Presentations / Submission of Brochure and Brochure Reflection
Paper. Yourpapershouldbecompletedandsubmittedby4/26:5:00pm.Any
submissionsbeyondtheduedatewillreceivea10%perdaylatededuction.

Week 17 (5/3)

a. Death and Dying

b. Exam review

Week 18 (5/10)

Final Exam: May 10 FLC 410: 530PM (bring pencil and op-scan)

***Note: This schedule is subject to change at the instructors discretion.