PSY-201-N1 Child Psychology

Dear ONLINE Child Psych 201 Course Students:  Spring 2013

Welcome to the ONLINE course entitled "Child Psychology" (PSY 201-N). I am Marvin Tobias and I will be your "facilitator" for the course. I am here to guide and direct you through the course and to answer your questions about the assigned material. My office is 1104-O located in the Social Science Building and my phone number is 636-922-8552. My office hours will be in your syllabus, and I can also be there on an appointment basis.  I can also be reached by Moodle email (Click on “compose” under “email list” on the right side of the page.  Then click on “contacts” and choose your instructor, type your email, and click “send”.)

"Child Psychology" is an integrated distance education course. This course will require that you take timed quizzes online during a designated number of days and that you post answers to discussion questions (termed "hits") during the same time period. There are also some additional assignments that have specific due dates, as well as a timed final exam (also taken online). 100% of this course is online. There are no on-campus meetings. This course requires that you are able to time manage and be self-directing in many ways. An online course provides you with a great deal of flexibility, but that can be a problem instead of an asset for some students. You need to consider this before starting a course of this type. In addition, 12-week courses move very quickly and will require that you are self-disciplined and stay current with your assignments.

If you are not sure how to use Moodle

If you are not familiar with using Moodle, go to the college website at http://www.stchas.edu and access the Moodle page. Click on “Student Help” and open the “Moodle Quick Start Reference Guide” and/or watch the available videos and tutorials.

Getting Your Moodle Password

Go to the SCC home page and access the Moodle Page.  Click on “Student Help” and scroll down to “Moodle FAQ.”  This will explain to how to get your new login and password.

STUDENTS TAKING AN ONLINE COURSE MUST HAVE ACCESS TO THE INTERNET.

Unless there is an area power issue, or a time in which Moodle itself is down, no extensions on assignments will be made for a student due to lack of Internet availability. Public libraries and SCC have computers for your use should your individual computer have a problem. DO NOT WAIT UNTIL THE LAST HOUR TO POST YOUR WORK OR YOU MAY HAVE A PROBLEM WITH YOUR INTERNET CONNECTION!

Computer Skills and Equipment Requirements:

You need….

• A high speed Internet connection, 3.0 are higher.
• Firefox preferred browser.
• Shockwave Player, latest version.
• Flash Player, latest version.
• QuickTime Player, latest version.
• Adobe Acrobat Reader, latest version.

Many students have issues with work, family and friends that require them to be away from home. So do I. However, you are still 100% responsible for assignments to be posted on time. Every assignment will have at least a nine day window of availability. If you will NOT have computer access while you are away, and are unable to post the assignments prior to leaving, DO NOT TAKE THIS CLASS.  You will have to have the work done by a specific deadline.  You have some flexibility to do things at your own pace but you must be directed and self-motivated to get things done in time. 

You may ask yourself the question: Is an online class right for me?  Click the following website and take a short assessment.  You can include some of the results with me on line when the class begins.

http://stchas.smartermeasure.com/

ORIENTATION

• Orientation will be conducted ONLINE.
• Official start date:  Feb. 8, 2013

Required Textbook

Berger, Kathleen S. (copyright 2012) The Developing Person: Through Childhood and Adolescence (9th ed.). New York: Worth Publishing

This is a NEW edition of the text.  If you chose to buy an older edition, please be aware that no exception will be made for lack of access to information not in that edition, nor will the pages necessarily align with the new one. That said, I do know that books are expensive and that some of you may take that option.

Sincerely,

Marvin Tobias
Child Psychology Online Course Facilitator