Seasons of Life
PY-232, Developmental Psychology - Telecourse
Grand Rapids Community College
Summer, 2004

INSTRUCTOR: Frank L. Conner, Ph.D.
OFFICE: 310 Main
PHONE: (616) 234-3612
EMAIL: fconner@grcc.edu
HOME PAGE: web.grcc.edu/fconner

INTRODUCTION
Welcome to the telecourse in Developmental Psychology. This may be your first telecourse experience or even your first college experience and as a result you may feel somewhat apprehensive. The key to success in a telecourse is staying on schedule, this means do not procrastinate, it is really easy to fall behind in this course. Your learning will be independent and self-directed. You must purchase both the study guide and text book. For a telecourse, the study guide is very important to success in the course. There are four scheduled review sessions and they can be very helpful to supporting your success in this course.

 BASIC REQUIREMENTS

1. View the video tapes. You may do this via Comcast cable channel 28, on campus, or you may rent the tapes (see information below.)

2. Purchase and read the textbooks:

Berger, K. S. (2001) The Developing Person Through the Life Span, 5^th ed.

Straub, R. (2003) Telecourse Student Guide to accompany Transitions Throughout the Life Span

3. Attend the introductory session. (optional.)

4. Attend the four review sessions (optional.)

5. Take the four tests.

COURSE ORGANIZATION, REVIEW SESSIONS, AND TESTING
There will be four class sessions and unit test. Each session will be two hours in length. The first hour is devoted to discussion and review and the second hour is for testing. Attendance at the review sessions are optional, however, there is a strong positive relationship between attendance and success in the course. I urge you to attend the review sessions if at all possible. You may also attend the review session and take the test later in the Assessment Center. The schedule is as follows:

Unit One        

Lessons 1-7 in the study guide and video tapes 1-7

Tuesday, May 11, 2004; 3:00-5:00 p.m.

Room 316 Main

Unit Two        

Lessons 8-13 in the study guide and video tapes 8-13

Tuesday, May 25, 2004; 3:00-5:00 p.m.

Room 316 Main

Unit Three     

Lessons 14-19 in the study guide and video tapes 14-19

Tuesday, June 8, 2004; 3:00-5:00 p.m.

Room 316 Main

Unit Four       

Lessons 20-26 in the study guide and video tapes 20-26

Tuesday, June 15, 2004; 3:00-5:00 p.m.

Room 316 Main

VIDEO TAPE INFORMATION

This course consists of 26 half hour video tapes that explore special topics within each lifespan period. Do listen and take notes on each of these as this information is helpful in understanding the material.

TESTING

You must take all four tests to complete the requirements for this course. If you cannot attend a session, you can take the test at the Assessment Center in the Student Community Center (SCC) Room 358.

A picture ID is required as the Assessment Center. You will be asked to sign in and indicate which test you are taking. See the attached flyer for more details on the Assessment Center, including dates when it is closed.

All tests will be available in the Center at the beginning of the semester and will remain there until June 21, 2004.

TYPE OF TEST
Each Unit Test will have 10 questions for each chapter. The questions will be a combination of multiple choice, matching, or fill-in-the-blank. The questions will be similar, if not exactly, as those in the study guide.

 GRADING
Your course grade will be determined by the percentage of correct answers out of the total number of questions on all four tests. You must take all four tests to receive a passing grade. If you fail to complete all the tests in the allocated time, you may request an “I” (Incomplete). You must have completed and passed at least two test to receive an “I” and you must request the “I” in writing to the instructor before June 21, 2004 (email is sufficient and preferred.). An “I” grade must be completed before the last day of the following semester. If you do not request an “I” or you do not complete an “I”, you will receive the grade dictated by the grading policy stated above.

 Students will not be dropped by the instructor from the class. College policy allows a student to initiate a "W" (Withdrawal) at the registrars office up until 70% of the class has been completed. After that point, the student will receive his or her appropriate, earned grade.