Lifespan Human Development

(PSY2114- Section A)
Semester: Fall 2009

Lectures: Wednesday 19:00-22:00

Location: MRN AUD

Professor: Dr. Mariela Michel

E-mail: mmichel@uottawa.ca
Office Hours: Tuesday 17:00 - 19:00 pm (By appointment)
Room: Lamoureux 359 (or Montpetit 420B)

Teacher Assistant:
E-mail:
Office Hours: By appointment

Textbook:
Kail, R.V., Cavanaugh, J.C., & Ateah, C. A. (2006). Human
Development: A Lifespan View (2nd Canadian Edition),
Thompson Nelson Publishers.

Description of course:

The objective of this course is to provide students with a

comprehensive understanding of the basic factors that
influence human development from conception to death
and of the major theoretical perspectives relevant to
understanding the cognitive, emotional, sociocultural and
biological aspects involved in this process.

Teaching methods:

Teaching methods will include lectures, power point

presentations, audio-visual materials, and class
discussions.

Class structure:

The course will follow a lecture format which does not

exclude, however, class discussions, which are
encouraged at any time of the class. In-class video
presentations will accompany lectures to integrate theory
with real-life situations. At the end of some lectures, 5-10

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questions will be presented as a class exercise to clarify
concepts presented as part of the lectures, to stimulate
discussion and to provide practice for exams.

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Evaluation: Two in-class midterms 60% and a final exam 40 %

There will be two in-class midterms based on the text and

on material covered in lectures (including audio-visual
materials). Midterm 1 will be on October 7. Midterm 2 will
be on November 4. Each test will be worth 30%. The final
exam will be worth 40%.

All exams will be in a multiple choice format. Exams are

non-cumulative. Exam material will be drawn from the
course textbook, lectures, and in-class video
presentations. You are responsible for obtaining lecture
notes/material. Midterm Grades will be posted in WebCT;
final grades can only be released by the University.

Class attendance:

Class attendance is highly recommended. Although power

point presentations will be placed on Virtual Campus,
they will only consist of an abbreviated version of the
concepts discussed in class. They do not substitute either
class attendance or the reading of the text.

Deferrals:
In the case of illness documented with an official medical
certificate, a student may write the test at a later date. If
the final exam is missed because of an illness, there is an
official deferral form that must be completed. It is not
acceptable to write either the test or the final exam and
then produce a medical certificate after taking the test.

Course Outline
The following distribution of time is a general guide that can be
modified if necessary. Students will be notified in advance if any
changes occur through the Virtual Campus. That is why I strongly
encourage students to check it regularly.

September Introduction to course, discussion of the class N/A

9 methodology
September Human Development
10 Problems, theories & perspectives 1

September Conception and Birth:

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23 Heredity & Environment 2
Prenatal Development & Birth

September Infancy:
30 Physical and Cognitive Development. 3
Socioemotional Development. 4

October 7 Midterm 1 (Chps. 1-4)

October 14 Early Childhood: Preschool Years.

Physical and Cognitive Development. 5
Socioemotional Development. 6

October 21 Middle Childhood: School Years.

Physical and Cognitive Development. 7
Socioemotional Development. 8

October 28 Adolescence:
Physical and Cognitive Development. 9
Socioemotional Development. 1
0

November Midterm 2 (Chps. 5-10)

4
November Young Adulthood:
11 Relationships. 1
Lifestyles. 2
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3
November Adulthood: Challenges 1
18 Late Adulthood: Physical and Cognitive 4
Development 1
5
November Late Adulthood: Mental Health 1
25 Retirement: Psychosocial issues 5
1
6
December The Final Passage: Death and Dying 1
2 7
Final Exam
Period Final Exam (Chps. 12-17)

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