Human Development: Childhood and Adolescence (201-0-20)

Instructors

Lauren Adams Tighe

Meeting Info

Annenberg Hall G02: Mon, Wed 11:00AM - 12:20PM

Overview of class

In this course, we explore the fundamental question, "What drives developmental change from early childhood to adolescence?" To do this, we will draw primarily on an ecological framework in which human development is based on the interplay between individuals and multiple, intersecting systems of influence.

The course is divided into two parts. First, students will learn about the foundations of human development including neurological, cognitive, social, emotional, and language development. Second, we will consider how context across systems, such as families, peers, teachers, schools, programs, and policies, affect the well-being of children and adolescents. As each new topic is introduced, we will want to understand the quality of available evidence, how the evidence informs our understanding of child development, and how the science of child development can apply to the real world. More specifically, we will critically evaluate scientific research through a social justice, anti-racist lens with an eye towards a more inclusive and collaborative field of human development and education.

This course will combine lecture and seminar format. Class discussions will complement the material presented in the lecture, encourage you to reflect on your own developmental experiences, and focus on how you can apply the scientific knowledge of child development to your future practice. These materials and discussion may help you to challenge assumptions you may unknowingly hold and gain insight on how it has shaped your perspective and behavior. As such, the course is designed to better prepare you for your role as educators and policymakers of tomorrow.

Evaluation Method

Participation, discussion posts, in-class activities, short papers, final project