Week 7 (October 8 - 14)

This learning module is focused on providing students a better understanding of human development as it occurs over the lifespan from conception up to death.  Students generally come into this module with some basic understanding of what goes on at different stages of our life however students also bring into the module a lot of myths and misconceptions. 
At the end of this module students will be able to discuss the issues of development using key theories and contemporary research.

Many students are already familiar with the nature-nurture issues of development.  Does heredity make us who we are or do our environments shape who we become?  Contemporary researchers see development as a combination of both nature (heredity) and nurture (environment).  Students will also explore other developmental issues in Objective 1 and explore the nature-nurture debate in Objective 2.  Students can further explore the nature-nurture issue on the Internet by Cracking the Code of Life, exploring From DNA to A Human or listening to a podcast about the relationship between DNA and Behavior. 

Then students will continue studying development, starting with development in-utero.  Objective 3 will look at the stages of pre-natal development and explore the effects of toxins such as nicotine, caffeine, and other teratogens as they can alter healthy pre-natal development.  From there Objectives 4 - 7 will present a variety of developmental theories that focus on the cognitive and emotional effects of aging from infancy through older adulthood.  Students will also learn more about the adolescent brain and how it is a work in progress in Objective 10 and can visit the PBS website The Teen Brain and I encourage students to demystify older adulthood by reading about these myths of aging. 

Objectives 8 & 9 will get back to the developmental issue of stability-change and examine the research on temperament and personality, Objective 11 again focuses on the conflict during adolescence, and lastly Objective 12 presents students with several theories on moral reasoning, which are not presented in the book.  Students can read more about Kohlberg, Haidt, and Gilligan's theories of moral reasoning by visiting  John Haidt's Moral Instincts, Morals Authority, and Moral Reasoning Explanation on the Internet.

This lesson presents a wide range of theories which attempt to collectively explain development from conception through death and at the end students will have a better understanding of their own development.

Weekly Activities

Getting Started

• Print Module C Objectives
• Read Chapter 9 - Lifespan Development

Supplemental Materials

Students should use this tutorial in preparing for Module C Lesson 1Objective #12.  The tutorial can be viewed as a webpage or as a PowerPoint .

• Moral Reasoning Tutorial / Moral Reasoning Tutorial

 Assigned Reading

• Read Textbook Chapter 9
• Objective #12: John Haidt's Moral Instincts
• Objective #12: Morals Authority (John Haidt)
• Objective #12: Moral Reasoning Explanation

Projects

• Students enrolled in the Book Review - Why Gender Matters project should submit their book review in the Dropbox by 11:59pm Friday, post their initial thoughts on the book in their group discussion forum by 11:59pm Friday, and must discuss what they learned about gender in their group discussion forum no later than 11:59pm Sunday.
• Collaborative Project - Parenting Manual begins this week.  In Part 1 students must work together in their group to develop the content for their project.

Quizzes and Exams

• The C1 Quiz will be available 12am Friday - 11:59pm Sunday.  Use the Module C Lesson 1 Objectives for Chapter 9 to prepare for this quiz.