Psychology 3215-B Development in Infancy & Early Childhood ...

Psych 3215
Course Syllabus
These activities are best done at a quiet location with no distractions, where you can relax
and focus on the assignment. Please wear comfortable clothes in which you can move freely.
Most of these exercises are done lying down on your back, preferably on the floor (on a
blanket, towel, or yoga mat). Each exploration will last between 20 and 50 minutes.
IMPORTANT: always consider your own level of comfort and physical needs as you are
doing these exercises. If you have some physical condition that would prevent you from
doing these lessons, or if experience discomfort or pain, please contact the instructor.
After doing each experiential lesson, you will write field notes on your experiences during the
experiential lessons lesson and then submit them via the Assignments tool. Your answers are
only read by the instructor and are confidential so please be open and honest about your
experiences, both positive and negative. Instructions include:
Describe the sensations, movements, thoughts and emotions – or lack thereof – that occurred
to you during the lesson. Report on any awareness you might have about prenatal, infant, or
early childhood learning. Your description should have sufficient detail so that the reader can
re-construct what you did during the lesson.
Describe some potential meanings of this lesson. Each lesson carries different meanings and
different significances to participants – even to the same participant at different points in
time. Such things as current mood, life history and attitude, can affect your experience. How
you were affected (or not) by the lesson? What factors could have influenced your response?
Which of those factors are in your control and can be changed? Who might benefit (or not)
from a lesson such as this?
Further explorations outside of class may give you additional insights into developmental
processes. Thus, they are recommended, but not required. Additional lessons can be found at
the end of most chapters in the textbook (“Awareness through Movement” sections). The
more you practice, the more aware you may become aware of yourself and the process of
learning experientially.
NOTE: It is required that each assignment be submitted through the Blackboard assignment
tool. Assignments not submitted correctly will not be accepted. In addition, all assignments
are to be in Word format ( .doc or .docx) or an .rtf file if using other word processing
software (other format types will not be accepted unless prior arrangements with the
instructor have been made).
PAPER:
The paper will be a case study on a question of your choice, related to development in the
prenatal, infancy, or early childhood periods. This case study can be about an infant or young
child that you know (ages 0 to 6 years), about your own infancy or early childhood, or about the
prenatal period. Examples of topics are attachment, temperament, day care, development of a
sense of self, cognitive development, TV, etc. You will be required to do an interview (e.g., with
your parent(s) and/or siblings; with a parent of a young child, with a pregnant woman) or an
observation (e.g., of an infant or young child; of a daycare center). Integrate materials from class
and at least two additional research articles with your findings. The paper should be between 3
and 6 pages long (single-spaced to save paper), including references. You can find more detailed
University of Utah 4
Psych 3215 © Nov 2010