Main -> In the Classroom: Development

Do Perfect Parents Make Perfect Children? (courtesy of Beth Benoit via TIPS Listserv, 9/30/2014)

"[This activity] is from Freakonomics, by Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner, and students seem to find many of the points interesting and surprising. I give out copies of the first document (available here) and have them break up into small groups of about four or five and come to conclusions about which - if any - of the points in the handout have  a strong correlation with academic test scores in kids.  Then they share the conclusions their groups reached." Answers available here.

How to Memorize Kohlberg's Stages of Moral Development

In this episode from The Psych Files podcast, psychology professor Michael Britt shows students how to use mnemonics to memorize the order and key ideas in each of Kohlberg's 8 Stages of Moral Development. 

A Compendium of Engagement Activities for Child and Adolescent Psychology

In this eChapter by Richmond and Kindleberger Hagan (2011) the authors list, categorize, and describe more than 25 published articles on how to engage students in developmental courses such as child and adolescence. Richmond and Kindleberger Hagan categorize all the articles by role-playing, films, writing, discussion and debates, experiential learning, and observations.If you wish to engage your students, this is a great resource. 

Upgrade your KWL Chart to the 21st Century

How to Use Service Learning to Engage Kids

 100 Ways You Should Be Using Facebook in Your Classroom 

Lots of alternatives to think/pair/share

 iPad App Aims To Make Lecture Halls More Intimate and Students More Engaged

Things You Should Know About Blogging

Technology enhances, doesn't replace great teaching

Identity Crisis

Society for Research in Child Development Oral History Project

"Launched 25 years ago, the Oral History Project of SRCD is now available on this website to members of the Society as well as other interested scholars.  Interviews of 135 major figures in the fields of child development and child psychology, as well as other related fields, are included in the collection.  Sixteen of some of the earliest obtained oral histories are posted here and others will be incorporated in the near future.  Each person was interviewed by someone whom he/she selected, and the recordings were then transcribed, edited for accuracy, and approved before inclusion in the collection.  Some scholars in this project are now deceased, while others are alive and well; many played key roles in the governance or service of SRCD.  Approximately 50 more interviews are now in progress."

Case Study Method in Adolescent Psychology

This ToP article describes how to use a case study to teach concepts in adolescent psychology. 

McManus, J. L. (1986). Student composed case study in adolescent psychology. Teaching of Psychology, 13(2), 92-93.  

Simulated Parent/Child Interaction

This ToP article describes how to teach students how to role play as parents and children to demonstrate parenting style, attachment, and child egocentrisim.

Dollinger, S. J., & Brown, D. F. (1979). Simulated parent-child interaction in an undergraduate child psychology course. Teaching of Psychology, 6(3), 180-181.  

Interviewing Across the Life Span: A Project for an Adult Development Course.

This ToP article describes a project to be used in an adult development class in order to increase learning and enhance engagement.

The Media Project: Enhancing Student Interest in the Psychology of Adolescence.

This ToP article describes how you can incorporate television and other digital media to engage students about learning the psychology of adolescence.

How to use debates in Developmental Psychology.

This ToP article describes procedures to incorporate debates in a developmental psychology course. Additionally, students describe the benefits of debates.

Curriculum Guide for Education on Child Maltreatment (undergrad and grad; PDF)

This resource was developed "to help professors and lecturers who want to incorporate information about child abuse and neglect into their teaching of graduate and undergraduate students. The guide includes introductory and advanced resources on a variety of child maltreatment topics including: 1) Definitions of child maltreatment, 2) Incidence and prevalence rates, 3) Causes of child maltreatment, 4) Consequences associated with child maltreatment, 5) Treatment issues, 6) Prevention, and 7) Legal issues.  The curriculum guide also provides resources on controversial issues in the field of child maltreatment and provides current online resources on the topic. Not only is the guide especially helpful to those who are teaching on topics related to child maltreatment, but it is also useful as a resource concerning issues and influential articles in the field." [Courtesy of APA Div 37: Society for Child and Family Policy and Practice]

Schemas

Infant Development

Visit the Zero to Three website for handouts on what children can do (and tips for how you can interact with them) from birth to 3 years old.  Handouts are both in English and Spanish.

Exploring Child Development by Exchanging Letters with Students.

This ToP article describes a great activity between students and children in the exploration of child development concepts through the exchange of letters.

Katz, L. (1996). Essay exchange with children: An exercise for the child development class. Teaching of Psychology, 23(2), 112-115.

CDC Growth Charts

The CDC provides growth charts from birth to 20 years on a few dimensions, such as "BMI-for-age" and "stature for age."  If you use these charts in class or for an assignment, let us know how you're using them by editing this page or leaving your comments below.  Thanks!