Instructor:
Steven J. Kohn
Department of Human Development
Office: Benjamin Bldg. - Room 3238
Mailbox: Benjamin Bldg.- Room 3304
Phone: 301/405-2827
E-mail: sjkohn@wam.umd.edu
Office Hours (By appointment):
 
 

This course will explore how human development across the life-span impacts and is also influenced by different social environments and issues associated with formal and informal, contemporary societal institutions (e.g., Education, Family, Mass Media, Work/Career, The Law, Healthcare). To accomplish this, we will examine some of the classic theories of human development, and then apply them to the societal  institutions as to how they may be different or similar in terms of developmental tasks related to specific developmental periods (e.g., early childhood, adolescence, young/middle adulthood, and old age).

Course Objectives

At the conclusion of the semester, students will have acquired a basic comprehension of:

1. How societal institutional issues may be different or similar for persons at different developmental purchase points of the life-span.

2. The application of developmental theories to societal institutional issues

3. Classic theories of life-span human development

4.The fundamental methods, concepts and strategies used in human developmental research

Required Text:

Course Reading Packet available for purchase at the University Book Center located in the Adele Stamp Student Union. Additional readings and/or other materials will be distributed in class or placed on reserve in the Center for Technology and Education (CTE), located in the basement of the College of Education (Benjamin Building).
 

Course Requirements and Grading Procedure

Grade     % Points

A             89.5-100

B             79.5-89.49999

C             69.5-79.49999

D             60-69.4999

F             Below 60
 

Class Participation - (10%)

Written Assignments:

1. Reaction Papers - 20 % (4 papers @ 5% each - Total towards grade = 20%)

During the semester, students will be required to write four "reaction papers" based on four different assigned readings. Papers should reflect the students interpretation of, and feelings [i.e., reaction(s)] about a specific reading. There are no right or wrong answers. Grading will be based on logic, clarity of thought, and articulation. Students may select to write on any of the readings assigned during the semester. However, papers are due on the date that the reading is specifically assigned for. Papers turned in later than the day of the scheduled reading will be assessed a 5% grade penalty (unless prior arrangements have been negotiated) Each paper should be approximately 1-2 pages long, but NOT longer than 3 pages.

2. Term Paper - (30%)

Students will write a paper based on one of the societal institutions discussed during the semester.  Students may write on a specific topic discussed during a lecture, or may choose an issue that relates to their personal interests, academic major, or future career aspirations. Students, however, will be expected to demonstrate a basic knowledge of the material covered in this course by applying some or all (when required) of the theoretical purviews presented during the semester to the chosen paper topic. The term paper should be approximately 6-10 (double-spaced, 10 or 12 pt. typeface) pages long, but NOT longer than 10 pages. Specific guidelines for writing the paper will be distributed in class. Term paper topics must first be approved by the instructor. Students must submit their paper proposals to the instructor in writing. Written proposals are due no later than October 8, 1998. The purpose of this deadline is so that the instructor has ample time to provide each student with feedback and assistance in writing his/her papers. Term papers are due on the last day of class: Thursday, December 10, 1998 – A grade penalty of 5% will be applied to papers turned in later than the due date (unless prior arrangements have been negotiated).

Exams and Quizzes:

1. Unit Quizzes - 40% (4 quizzes @ 10% per quiz - total towards grade = 40%)

Make-ups for missed quizzes will be scheduled only in the case of extreme circumstances (e.g., written medical excuses)

2. Cumulative Final Exam - (40%)

It is a University policy that a final exam shall be given in every undergraduate course. All students MUST take the final exam.

NOTE:

For this course, test grades contributing to a student's final grade will be based on the highest values. That is, if the combined average of the four quizzes is higher than the final exam score, only the quiz scores will count towards the final grade. But if the final exam score is greater than the combined quiz scores, the exam will be weighted in determining the final grade.

The final exam for this class (EDHD 230) is scheduled for:

December 17, 1998 from 10:30 A.M. to 12:30 P.M.  in Room 2206 - Jimenez Hall
 

EDHD 230 Class Information Website

A copy of the syllabus, assignment guidelines, and miscellaneous resources (e.g., library research and online and resources) will be published

on the Internet. To access the site, go to:

http://www.glue.umd.edu/~sjkohn/EDHD 230.htm

Special Needs

If you have a registered disability that will require accommodation, please see the instructor immediately. If you have a disability and have not yet registered it with the University's Disability Support Services located in the Shoemaker Building (301/314/7682 or 301/405-7683), you should do so immediately.

Plagiarism

Plagiarism - whether it entails passing off another person's ideas as your own; submitting work for this class that has been previously submitted for another class (even if it is your own); or violating the UMCP's Code of Academic Integrity in some other form or fashion - will not be tolerated (see page 259 of the UMCP' Undergraduate Catalogue). Judicial matters include, but are not limited to the loan or purchase of papers, the use of the same paper(s) for more than one course, plagiarism, fabrication, and facilitating academic dishonesty.

Final Note

The policies of this course and the syllabus are subject to change. If you are absent, it is your responsibility to find out about such changes.

       Course Outline, Schedule, Assigned Readings, and Assignment Deadlines

Week 1
9/1 (Tu) - INTRODUCTION

9/3 (Th) - Lecture Topic: THE SYSTEM OF DEVELOPMENT

Read: Anderson,  Dynamics of development: System in process., pp. 25-46.
 

Week 2
9/8 (Tu) - Lecture Topic: WHAT IS LIFE-SPAN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT?

Read: Papalia & Olds  About human development,  Ch.1, pp. 1-12, 24-41

9/10 (Th) - Lecture Topic: RESEARCH METHODS IN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
                                               (What's a theory, a hypothesis, a variable?, etc.)

Read: Papalia & Olds  About human development,  Ch.1, pp. 12-23
 

Week 3
9/15 (Tu) - Lecture Topic: DEVELOPMENTAL STAGES: Psychosocial Development.

Read: Erikson, Ch. 7,  Eight ages of man, pp. 147-174

9/17 (Th) - Lecture Topic: DEVELOPMENTAL TASKS, SOCIAL ROLES and STRUCTURE

Read: Elkind, The child  yesterday, today  and  tomorrow, pp.3-8.
          Riley & Riley, Beyond productive aging: Changing lives and social structure, pp. 15-19.
 

Week 4
9/22 (Tu) - QUIZ 1

9/24 (Th) - Lecture Topic: BEHAVIORAL EFFECTS ON DEVELOPMENT:

Read: Bandura, Social cognitive theory, pp. 1-60.
 

Week 5
9/29 (Tu) - Lecture Topic: ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ON BEHAVIOR

Read:  Heller, K., et al., Ch. 5, Ecological and environmental influence the individual,
 pp. 117-143.

10/1 (Th) - Lecture Topic: ECOLOGY OF HUMAN DEVELOPMENT

Read:  Bronfenbrenner & Crouter, The evolution of environmental models in developmental  research.,  pp. 378-401.
 

Week 6
10/6  (Tu) - QUIZ 2

10/8 (Th) - Lecture Topic: Societal Institution: EDUCATION, Fundamentals and Functions

Read:  Linney & Seidman, The future of schooling, pp. 336-340.

 Collins & Kuczaj, Contexts of social development: Family, school, and mass media,
                                          pp. 412-423.

            Spitz, Fundamental education: The coherent object as a developmental model, pp. 43-63.
 

Week 7
10/13 (Tu) - Lecture Topic: Societal Institution: EDUCATION, The Older Adult

Read: Moody. Late-life education, pp. 190-212.

10/15 (Th) - Lecture Topic: Societal Institution: EDUCATION, Bettering Society

Read: Bronfenbrenner, Alienation: And the four worlds of childhood, pp. 152-156.
 

Week8
10/20 (Tu) - Lecture Topic: Societal Institution: FAMILY: Roles,  Relationships and Structure

Read: Collins & Kuczaj, Contexts of social development: Family, school, and mass media,
                                          pp. 395-412.

           Bronfenbrenner, Ecology of the family as a context for human development: Research                                        perspectives, pp.723-742.

10/22 (Th) - Lecture Topic: Societal Institution: FAMILY, Later Life Issues

Read: Smith, Preventative approaches to building competencies, pp. 221-234.

          Hooyman & Kiyak, The importance of social supports: Family, friends and neighbors,
                                           pp. 266-286.
 

Week 9
10/27 (Tu) - Lecture Topic - Societal Institution: Work/Career: Career Development

Read: Osipow, Super's developmental self-concept theory of vocational behavior, pp. 152-191.

           Young, et al., Parents, adolescents and career development: An ecological framework for                                    action, pp. 48-52.

 Kohn, Job complexity and adult personality, pp.193-210.
 

10/29 (Th) - Lecture Topic - Societal Institution: Work/Career: Work in Later Life

Read: Mor-Barak, The meaning of work for older adults seeking employment: The generativity factor, pp. 325-344.

Week 10
11/ 3 (Tu) - Lecture Topic: Societal Institution: Healthcare: Children's Interpretations

Read: Harbeck-Weber & Peterson, Children's conception of illness and pain, pp.133-161.

11/5 (Th) - Lecture Topic: Societal Institution: Healthcare: Older Adults' attitudes and needs

Read:   Jensen, et al., Elderly health beliefs, attitudes and maintenance, pp. 483-497.

             Kastenbaum, Healthy, wealthy, and wise? Health care provision for the elderly from a                                          psychological perspective, pp. 307-326.

Week 11
11/10 (Tu) - Quiz 3

11/12 (Th) - Lecture Topic - Societal Institution: Law/Criminal Justice: Implications for Parents                                                and children

Read:   Froust, What kind of justice? Should violent young offenders be getting stiffer punishment? pp. 10-12.

             Gibbs, Seeking the criminal element, pp. 101-107.

             Schaffner, Families on probation: Court ordered parenting skills for parents of juvenile offenders, pp. 412-437.

Week 12
11/17 (Tu) - Lecture Topic - Societal Institution: Law/Criminal Justice: Elderly Victims, Elderly                                    Offenders, and Elderly Convicts (Ageism or Justice?)

Read:   Pelosi, Age of innocence: A glut of geriatric jailbirds, pp. 15-17.

 Johnson, If only: The experience of elderly ex-convicts, 191-208.

           Pertierra, Do the crime, do the time: Should elderly criminals receive proportionate                                         sentences? Pp.793-818.

 Benson, The older adult and fear of crime, pp. 25-31

 Butterfield, Aging prison population presents a new burden for jailers across the U. S.

           Number of elderly inmates grows as new laws take effect, experts say
 

11/19 (Th) - Lecture Topic - Societal Institution: Law/Criminal Justice: Children of Convicts

Read: Boswell & Wedge, Imprisoned fathers and their children, pp. 16-18.
 

Week 13
November 24 (Tu) - Lecture Topic: Societal Institution: Mass Media: Television: Function,               Impact, and Use Across the Life-Span

Read:    Collins & Kuczaj, Contexts of social development: Family, school, and mass media,
                                          pp. 423-428.

              Hepburn, The power of electronic media in the socialization of young Americans:
                            Implications for social studies education, pp. 71-76.

             St. Peters, et al., Television and families: What do young children watch with their                                          parents?, pp. 1409-1423.

             Fouts, Television use by the elderly, pp. 568-577.

             Dail,  Prime-time television portrayals of older adults in the context of family life,
                     pp. 700-706.

November 26 (Th) - No Class - Happy Thanksgiving!
 
 
 

Week 14
12/1 (Tu) - Lecture Topic: Societal Institution: Mass Media: Computers and the Internet:                                             Cutting-Edge Implications for Life-Span Human Development

Read:   Jaberg, The Internet comes to the nursing home.

            Wolfe, Cyberseniors// They're booting up, logging on and heading off into cyberspace.

            Whelan, A computer for Grandma.

             Losee, How to make your child PC literate, pp. 161-172.

             NetTech kids online: District 20 Web projects.

              The Nettech interviews: Kids (and teachers and parents) talk about the impact of computers in the schools.

12/3 (Th) - Lecture Topic: Human Development and Societal Institutions in the 21st Century:
                                              Where are we going?

WEEK 15
12/8 (Tu) - QUIZ 4
 

12/10 (Th) - Lecture Topic: Review, Synthesis, and Summation
                                          TERM PAPER IS DUE
 

12/17 (Th)  - FINAL EXAM - 10:30 A.M. - 12:30 P.M. - Room 2206 - Jimenez Hall