TTE 301 C

EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY 301c

Contact: Email is the preferred method of contact for your instructor. When contacting the instructor, please include your full name and course number. Due to privacy concerns, the instructor will not answer questions by email or phone that require revealing individually-identifying grade information, such as grades earned on assignments or exams.

Text: Eggen, P. & Kauchak, D. P. (2010). Educational Psychology: Windows on Classrooms. Pearson Publishers.

Course Description: This course surveys human development from conception through early adolescence with an emphasis on early and middle childhood, and integrates principles of development with early childhood and elementary pedagogy. Theories of child development will be discussed, compared and contrasted. Students will explore how various theories and issues in child development directly and indirectly affect classroom applications such as curriculum decisions, instructional methods, classroom management, and assessment. Active participation in class discussion and activities is required.

Course Requirements:

Grading:                                  400 points possible
A = 360 or more points (at least 90% of possible)
B = 320 - 359 points (80-89% of possible)
C = 280 - 319 points (70-79% of possible)
D = 240 - 279 points (60-69% of possible)
F = less than 239 points

Introduction survey: By 1 February 2011, students are required to go into D2L to respond to a brief survey through the “surveys” link at the top of the page. Surveys are incomplete if students do not hit the “submit” button at the end of the survey. Each student will receive 5 points for completed surveys.

Attendance and Tardy Policy: Dependability and punctuality are critical qualities in the profession of teaching and your regular attendance and punctuality are important to your success in this class. You are allowed one excused absence from class for illness or personal
emergency. In order for this absence to be excused, a) You must notify me before class or on the day of the absence. b) The reason for the absence must be justifiable and for the most part unplanned and unavoidable. Doctor's appointments, vacations, family events, or conflicts with work schedules do not constitute excused absences.
Under most circumstances, more than one excused absence or any unexcused absences will result in lowering your grade by one full letter. For example, if you were receiving an A in the course, the highest grade you could receive is a B. More than two excused absences are a serious cause for concern; they will necessitate a conference with me and may result in a failing grade for the course. As per university policy, "EXCESSIVE OR EXTENDED ABSENCES from class is sufficient reason for the instructor to recommend that the student be administratively dropped from the course."
Arriving to class on time and prepared is also very important. We will start class promptly each day. If you arrive more than 5 minutes late, or leave more than 5 minutes early, this will be noted. 3 or more late arrivals or early departures constitute an unexcused absence. Again, please be aware that excessive absences will result in significantly lowering your grade, and/or dropping you from the class. If you are sick or have an emergency that requires you to miss or be late for class, you should notify me as soon as possible (prior to class). You should make arrangements for another student to gather handouts and take notes for you. You are responsible for catching up on any missed material.
All holidays or special events observed by organized religions will be honored for those students who show affiliation with that particular religion. Absences pre-approved by the UA Dean of Students (or Dean's designee) will be honored (for example, absences required of athletes).
Finally, this attendance policy also applies to your applications placements. Your arrivals and departures along with attendance will be noted on a time sheet in the classroom. If your tardies, early departures and absences in applications exceed the attendance policy described above, your grade will be lowered to a full grade in EACH of your courses. For example, if you were receiving a B in each of your courses, you would receive a C in EACH of your courses.
To earn a passing grade in your courses, you must successfully complete the associated application experience. Successful completion involves attending practicum every week and making up missed hours, receiving positive evaluations from your cooperating teacher regarding your classroom performance and professionalism, and completing all required practicum assignments.

Exams: The four exams given during the semester may include multiple choice, matching, true/false, short answer, and essay item formats. Material on the exams will come from lectures, the text, and supplemental readings -- information from one may not be covered in the others.

Make up exams will only be given in cases of documented illness or emergency. Contact the instructor immediately if a make-up exam is needed. Make-up exams must be taken prior to the review of the exam in class (usually within a week). See the schedule for exam dates.

Assignments: Guidelines related to assignments on development and behavior modification will be given through D2L. Student will choose one and only one of the assignments to complete. These are 3-4 page papers with due dates provided on the schedule on page 5.

Developmental Activities (Signature Assignment): The signature assignment involves creating an activity guide for parents and teachers of children within a specified age range. Students will need to research their age range to create and find activities that can be done in the home and in a preschool setting. The activities must be developmentally appropriate and be mapped onto emotional, social, cognitive, and/or physical skills. Age range determinations and more specific guidelines will be given later. This assignment is due 3/1.

Late Policy: Assignments submitted after the beginning of class will considered late. A 10% deduction from the points available for the assignment will be made for every 24 hours late up to one week after the due date.

Presentations: After the activity books have been submitted and returned to students, students who are working in the same age ranges will collaborate on which activities they want to share with their classmates in a 10-15 minute class presentation. The group will also create a one page handout to share with classmates as part of this presentation. Presentations will be 3/22.

Extra Credit/Bonus Points: Any opportunities for extra credit are at the discretion of the instructors. Students will not be allowed to make up extra credit assignments. Individual opportunities for extra credit will not be allowed.

Course Web Site: d2l.arizona.edu

Lecture notes, assignments, course-related information, and changes in the schedule will be posted to the course D2L web site as soon as the instructors can get to it. It is advisable to check the web site at least weekly and within a few days of missed classes. Every effort to keep the web site updated will be made.

Course Objectives and Standards: By the end of the semester, the successful student will be able to:

• Identify and competently discuss topics essential to the field of child development (Arizona Standards for Teaching: 1.4, 1,8; NAEYC Standard: 1).
• Delineate developmental milestones, tasks, and skills in the physical-biological, cognitive, and social-emotional domains (NAEYC: 1; Arizona Early Learning Standards: Physical, Health, and Safety, Strand 1).
• Identify developmental theorists and the theories with which they are associated including theories of cognitive, social-emotional, learning, and motivational development (AZST: 1.8, 1.9, 2.6, 3.7, 8.7; NAEYC: 1; AZELS: Physical, Health, and Safety, Strand 1).
• Relate developmental theory to current issues in child development and the education of preschool through primary grade children (AZST: 1.8; NAEYC: 1, 4).
• Understand the developmental needs of diverse groups of children including children of various ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds as well as children with exceptional learning needs (AZST: 1.4, 1.8, 1.9, 3.3, 3.7, 3.7, 3.8, 8.5, 8.11; NAEYC: 1, 4).

Resources/ references: Other books that may assist your understanding of the material in this course:

• Slavin, R. (2005). Educational Psychology: Theory and Practice, 8^th ed. Allyn & Bacon.
• McDevitt, T.M. & Ormrod, J.E. (2006). Child Development and Education. 9^thEd.
• www.myeducationlab.com

Please let me know of any other resources that aid your understanding of the material.
Cheating Policy: Students who attempt to cheat or turn in another person's work as their own will receive a zero on that assignment or exam. There may be additional penalties. All students involved in the incident must see me in order to continue in this course. The University’s Code of Ethics and Conduct will be followed: http://dos.web.arizona.edu/uapolicies/
Withdrawal Policy: It is the student’s responsibility to get any necessary signatures to withdraw from the course. Lack of attendance and failure to withdraw from class will result in a failing grade for the course.

Incomplete Policy: Occasionally, otherwise successful students meet with unfortunate and/or unforeseen circumstances that disrupt their academic progress. Students must have earned at least half of the available points in the course in order to be eligible to receive an incomplete grade, otherwise it is the students' responsibility to withdraw themselves.
The student must request the INC grade in person before 10 am on 22 March 2011. The student needs to be prepared to discuss the circumstances of the request and why s/he should be considered eligible for the INC grade.
The assignment of an INC grade is at the discretion of the instructor. The INC grade will NOT be given to simply allow the student to raise a grade.
ADA Statement: As soon as possible, please let the instructor know of any conditions or circumstances that may affect your performance in this class. If you have or suspect you have a disability, please contact the university’s disability resources center at http://drc.arizona.edu/ to arrange for accommodations.
Other Information: The instructor will make every attempt to follow the procedures and schedules provided in the syllabus, but reserve the right to make changes. Students will be notified of any changes as soon as possible. This schedule may be revised based on the materials covered and the pace of the class. The class will be mostly lecture/discussion format with some in-class exercises and group work. The class will parallel the text readings, but each may offer information not presented in the other.
Your success in this course will depend on your ability to keep up with readings and assignments. If you get behind in the material, please come see us immediately so we can discuss options for catching up. Learning new material depends on understanding of previous concepts. Please contact us if we can facilitate your understanding in any way.

Good luck and have a wonderful semester!

Tentative Schedule