Schedule of Classes

Proposed Schedule of Classes
Summer 2009

May
Tues. 5/19 - Overview of class; Introduction to Human Development: Chapter 1
o Reading Assignment: Chapters 1,2
Thurs. 5/21 - Chapter 2: Heredity & Environment [note: 5/22 last day to withdraw with no grade]

Tues. 5/26 - Test 1 [Chapters 1 & 2]; Chapter 3: Prenatal Development & Childbirth
o Video: The Intimate Universe
o Reading Assignment: Chapters 3
Thurs. 5/28 - Chapter 3: Prenatal Development & Childbirth
o Reading Assignment: Chapters 4

June
Tues. 6/2 – Infancy & Toddlerhood: Chapters 4
o Video: The Intimate Universe
o Reading Assignment: Chapter 5
Thurs. 6/4 – Infancy & Toddlerhood: Chapters 5

Tues. 6/9 - Test 2 [Chapters 3, 4, & 5]; Early Childhood: Chapter 6
o Video: The Intimate Universe
o Reading Assignment: Chapters 6 & 7
Thurs. 6/11 – Early Childhood: Chapter 7
o Reading Assignment: Chapters 8 & 9

Tues. 6/16 – Middle Childhood: Chapters 8 & 9
Thurs. 6/18 - Test 3 [Chapters 6, 7, 8, 9]; Adolescence: Chapter 10
o Reading Assignment: Chapters 10 & 11

Tues. 6/23 - Adolescence: Chapter 11; Young Adulthood: Chapters 12
o [note: last day to withdraw with grade of “W”]
o Reading Assignment: Chapters 12 & 13
Thurs. 6/25- Young Adulthood: Chapters 12 & 13;

Tues. 6/30 - Test 4 [Chapters 10, 11, 12, 13]; Middle Adulthood: Chapters 14 & 15

July
Thurs. 7/2 - Older Adulthood; Chapters 16 & 17

Tues. 7/7 - Death & Dying: Chapter 18
Thurs. 7/9 - Test 5 - Final [Chapters 14, 15, 16, 17, 18]

NOTES: Chapter 3 - Prenatal Development & Childbirth

Chapter 3 - Prenatal Development & Childbirth

Ø Development of Parents is also a factor

Ø 50% of all pregnancies are unintended
§ often met with trepidation, anxiety, fear, mixed emotions
§ often disruptive in terms of job, career, stage of relationship

Ø Process is “biologically programmed sequence of events leading to the birth of a baby” [focus on what goes right]

Ø Many don’t make it, however:
§ 50 to 70% of fertilized eggs [one-celled zygotes] die within the first 2 weeks
§ of those that do survive, 25% will miscarry, spontaneously abort, before birth

Ø Periods & Trimesters; terms not used consistently
§ Book: “Trimesters simply break the 9 months of the mother’s pregnancy into three 3-month segments.” Each about 13 weeks.
· Health care pros.: calculate “weeks of pregnancy” from first day of last period; usually about 2 weeks before conception.
§ “periods are more specific than trimesters and reflect developmental mile stones
· Germinal period; Embryonic period; Fetal period

Ø Ova generally mature one at a time, although a woman is born with all of the ova will ever have. Men produce about 1 billion sperm cells every day, depositing approximately 300 million with each ejaculation.

Ø Generally only one will fertilize an ovum. Exception: dizygotic twins or multiples. Estimated that 80% of multiple births from 1996 & 1997 were result of fertility interventions.

Ø A mature ovum can survive for 3 -5 days. Sperm can live 2 -3 days in the vagina. This provides a period of about a week that conception can occur.

Ø Germinal Period: fertilization to implantation - about 2 wks.
§ Zygote splits 3X, one cell becomes 8; forms a “blastula” in about a week
§ Blastula – fluid-filled sphere of undifferentiated cells
§ Differentiation – cells separate according to function: those that will become new human & those that develop into support structures [placenta, etc.]
§ Support structures support secrete hormone [hcg, human chorionic gonadotopin] which shuts down ovulation & menstrual periods]
§ Implantation – blastula burrows into uterus wall

Ø Embryonic Period – lasts about 6 weeks. Begins when implantation is complete
§ Two simultaneous process occur:
(1) Outer layer of cells begin producing all the tissue for support structures [amniotic fluid & sac, umbilical cord, placenta]
(2) Inner cells become embryo itself
§ Embryo develops legs, arms, fingers, toes, face, a beating heart, brain lungs & all other major organs.
§ By end of this period embryo is recognizably human
§ By end of 2nd trimester embryo/fetus reaches “the age of viability” & has a 50/50 chance of survival outside the womb

Ø Fetal Period – lasts from start of 3rd month to birth – about 7 months

Ø Summary
o 1st trimester – Basic structures are beginning to be formed
o 2nd trimester – organs mature, especially the brain
o 3rd trimester – major maturation of brain & “rehersal” or “trial run” of organs & systems

Ø Developmental Trends or Growth Patterns
o Cephalocudal [SI-FOE-LO-CODL] – head down; top to bottom
o Proximodistal [PROX-A-MO-DIS-TAL] – near to far; middle of body out
o Gross to specific - with generalized, whole body movements at first, with these responses becoming more local and specific later

Prenatal Environmental influences
Ø Maternal age
o Older mothers are at greater risk for miscarriage
o Teenage mothers have increased risk since their bodies may not be able to sustain a healthy developing child
o Older women have older ova that could be defective

Ø Maternal health & nutrition
o Malnutrition during pregnancy can cause babies with low birth weight, smaller head size, and smaller overall size
o Reduced brain development can occur
o Temporary malnutrition usually has no long lasting effects

Ø Prenatal health care
o 5 or more visits to a doctor is one of the best predictors of delivering healthy babies
o Health care has been shown to be effective in reducing infant mortality and premature birth rates

Ø Critical periods the period of development during which the effect of a teratogen occurs
Ø TERATOGEN – toxic agent of any kind that potentially causes abnormalities in the developing child
o Teratogens and their effects
§ Maternal diseases
· Among the most devastating teratogens
· Diseases that are contracted by the mother and are passed along to the developing embryo or fetus
· Because the placenta keeps the mother’s and baby’s blood supplies separate, it can screen some larger disease molecules and keep them from being passed from mother to baby
· HIV is transmitted by infected mothers about 25% of the time; if treated this can be reduced to 5%
§ Prescription and over the counter drugs
· Sometimes a drug can be harmless to the mother but dangerous to the baby
· The drug may arrest or interfere with developing organ systems, but not have an affect after development is complete
§ Alcohol
· FETAL ALCOHOL SYNDROME – a set of congenital abnormalities, including small size, low birth weight, certain facial characteristics, and possible mental retardation that result from maternal alcohol consumption during pregnancy
· FETAL ALCOHOL EFFECTS – similar to FAS, although with milder abnormalities; due to drinking alcohol during pregnancy
§ Tobacco
· Spontaneous abortion, still birth, and premature birth are significantly more likely if the mother smokes
· Damage to the placenta caused by smoking interferes with nutrient transmission
· ANOXIA – lack of oxygen; can cause brain damage
§ Marijuana
· May affect central nervous system
· May later damage the neurological and cognitive control
§ Cocaine and other amphetamine drugs
· Infants have a higher risk of prematurity, growth retardation, mental retardation, and neuromotor dysfunction
· Discontinuing cocaine use can limit the damage



Childbirth Stages
Ø initial labor - the first stage of labor, during which the cervical opening of the uterus begins to dilate to allow for passage of the baby [cervix: 0-3 cm. dilation]

o false labor/Braxton-Hicks contractions; generally diminish if the mother walks

o Average initial labor for first born is 12 -15 hours; 6 – 8 for subsequent children; Can be anywhere from 15 minutes - 30 hours

o contractions 15 -20 min. progressing to 3 - 5 min

o release of mucus plug sealing the cervix; “bloody show” or “showing”

o “water breaks” – amniotic sac ruptures & fluid is released [gushes]

Ø 2nd stage [again: terms used inconsistently] Active Phase [cervix: 4 - 7 cm.]
o stronger, longer, more regular contractions – every 2 to 3 minutes

Ø Transition stage- briefest stage [cervix: 8 -10 cm. dilation]
o Longer and more intense contractions; Contractions last 1 to 2 minutes with only ½ to 1½ minutes “rest”
o Very intense
o Lasts 10 to 60 minutes
o The head emerges from the birth canal
o EPISIOTOMY – an incision to enlarge the vaginal opening: done less often in Europe than U.S.

Ø AFTERBIRTH – the third and last stage of childbirth, typically occurs within 20 minutes after delivery during which the placenta and the umbilical cord are expelled from the uterus
o Approaches to childbirth
§ The changing views of childbirth
· MIDWIFE – a woman who is experienced in childbirth, with or without training, who assists with home delivery
· TRADITIONAL CHILDBIRTH – hospital labor and delivery
§ Contemporary childbirth practices
· NATURAL OR PREPARED CHILDBIRTH – childbirth based on procedures developed by Fernand Lamaze, a French obstetrician
· BIRTHING CENTER – place designed to accommodate the entire birth process, from labor through delivery and recovery


o Advances in technology
§ Prenatal screening
· ULTRASOUND – a technique that uses sound waves to produce a picture of the fetus in the uterus
· AMNIOCENTESIS – the withdrawal and analysis of amniotic fluid with a syringe to obtain discarded fetal cells for testing
· CHORIONOIC VILLUS SAMPLING – the withdrawal and analysis of cells from the membranes that surround the fetus, either with a syringe or with a catheter. Because more cells are collected in this procedure than in amniocentesis, the test can be completed more quickly
§ High technology for high risk pregnancies
· FETAL MONITOR – the external monitor records the intensity of uterine contractions and the baby’s heartbeat by means of two belts placed around the mother’s abdomen. The internal monitor consists of a plastic tube containing electrodes that is inserted through the vagina and attached to the baby’s head
· External monitors record the intensity of uterine contractions and the baby’s heartbeat by means of two belts placed around the mother’s abdomen
· Internal monitoring is more invasive that records directly by placing tubes containing electrodes into the vagina and on the baby’s head
o Complications in childbirth
§ BREECH PRESENTATION – the baby’s position in the uterus where the head will emerge last; assistance is sometimes needed in such cases to prevent injury to the infant, including anoxia
§ CESAREAN SECTION – surgical procedure used to remove the baby and the placenta from the uterus by cutting through the abdominal wall
§ APGAR SCORING SYSTEM – a standard scoring system that allows physicians to evaluate an infant’s condition quickly and objectively
§ Premature birth
· PRETERM STATUS – an infant born before a gestation period of 35 weeks
· SMALL FOR DATE – a full term newborn who weighs less than five pounds, eight ounces

Ø The evolving family
o The transition to parenthood
§ Adjustments for the mother
· May feel nauseated, experience fullness or tingling in her breasts
· May be fatigued and emotionally hypersenstive
· Physical discomfort and emotional burden
· Uncertainty about the future
· Wonder whether or not they will be able to fulfill the expectations of everyone who will need them
§ The fathers changing role
· Some may feel left out while others feel excited and prideful
· Expectant father may also go though some of the symptoms of their wife’s pregnancy
o The arrival of the neonate
§ NEONATE – baby in the first month of life
§ The trauma of being born
· Normal full term babies are well prepared to cope with the stressful time
· First breaths may be difficult because of amniotic fluid in the lungs
§ Size and appearance
· FONTANELS – the soft bony plates of skull connected by cartilage
· External genitalia may appear enlarged due to presence of hormones
· Vernix caseosa may be present
· Weighs between 5 pounds 8 ounces and 9 pounds 8 ounces
· Between 19 and 22 inches long
§ The first few days: a period of adjustment
· Significant adjustments in respiration, blood circulation, digestion, and temperature regulation
· Digestion changes radically
· Breathing can cause coughing and sneezing to clear the mucus and amniotic fluid from the lungs
· Reflexes
o SURVIVAL REFLEXES – biologically programmed behaviors, such as breathing, rooting, and sucking, that are related to the neonate’s ability to survive
o PRIMITIVE REFLEXES – biologically programmed behaviors without immediate survival value, but which may have been associated with survival in our evolutionary past
§ The beginning of attachment
· ATTACHMENT – the reciprocal emotional bond that develops between a child and caregivers
· Attachment is reciprocal
· Establishes the foundation for later social and personality development

Syllabus

Psychology 2960: Human Growth and Development
Summer Semester 2009
May 19 – July 9, 2009
Syllabus

Instructor: Dennis Montgomery, M.A.
Email: dennismontgomery@hotmail.com
Office hours: available by appt. & by e-mail
Room: 314, Northwest Technical College
Meeting Time: Tues. & Thurs., 9 - 6 PM

Course Description
This course will examine contemporary research and theory, as well as everyday applications, in the study of human development over the life-span. We will discuss major topics, issues and controversies in the field. The course will focus on the continuity and change within the individual over the course of the lifespan in areas of cognition, affect, attachment, learning, and development of personality, social interaction, and language. Students will be encouraged to develop an informed, critical view of the process and influences that determine who we are as individual human beings at a particular point of development.

Course Objectives
At the completion of the course students will be expected to:
Describe, compare, contrast and critique various models and theories of human development.
Carry on an informed discussion of major factors influencing child and adolescent development.
Discuss theories of continuing adult development and issues associated with aging.
Discuss how personality, behavior, cognition, and emotion may change or remain consistent over an individual’s lifetime.

Required Text
Craig, Grace J. & Dunn, Wendy L. (2006). Understanding Human Development (First Ed.). Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Prentice Hall.

Course Requirements
Students are expected to be fully engaged in the learning process. This includes attendance and participation in classroom lectures, activities and discussions, as well as reading the assigned text and preparing for examinations.
Students will work in small groups to deliver an in-class presentation on a specific, related topic of interest.
There will be periodic un-announced “pop” quizzes and in-class assignments during the semester. These quizzes and assignments cannot generally be made-up.
Students will take five (5) exams scheduled throughout the semester, including a final exam.

Missed tests, re-testing , & late assignments
Missed tests must be made up before the next class period or as soon as possible with approval of the instructor. Make-up exams taken after the next class period may be penalized 5 points. Students who do poorly on a test may re-take the test before the next class period or by arrangement with the instructor. The final score on a re-taken test will be reduced by 10 points. Students will not be allowed to re-take more than 2 tests during the semester. There will be no make-up or re-take opportunity for the final exam without special arrangements. Late assignments may also incur a 10% penalty.

In-class Presentations
Working with at least one other student, students are expected to deliver an in-class presentation on a human developmental topic of particular interest to them. Presentations with discussion should be approximately 30 minutes and may include audio-visual aids, in-class exercises or other creative approaches. If you use power point or other electronic technology in making your presentation, be sure you know how to “make it work”.

Presentations will be evaluated by the following criteria:
1. Accuracy, completeness & logical organization of information
2. Presenters demonstrate a clear understanding of material
3. Information is presented clearly & holds the audience’s interest
4. At least three appropriate references are used and documented
5. Presenters are ready when scheduled & use technology effectively
6. Presenters demonstrate teamwork & shared responsibility.

Each presentation team must submit a written outline and reference list to the instructor at the time of the presentation. Be sure to include the date of the presentation and the full names of all presenters.

Grades & Exams
Exam & quiz scores, written assignments, quality of in-class presentation, attendance and engagement in the learning process, will determine grades for the course. There is a total of 500 points possible during the semester:
50 – 100 points for each exam (including the final) X 5 =500 (70%)
50 points for in-class presentation = 75 (10%)
50 points for engagement/participation = 75 (10%)
In-class assignments & quizzes = 75 (10%)
TOTAL 725 (100%)

Letter grades will be earned according to following scale.
725 Possible Points (entire course):
A = 675 to 725 points
B = 600 to 674 points
C = 525 to 599 points
D = 450 to 524 points