Developmental Psychology in School Context

The course is offered as an independent course.

General entrance requirements for university studies and the Swedish upper secondary course English 6 or English level 2 or equivalent.

The course is offered to international and domestic students enrolled in teacher education, pedagogy, psychology, or other programmes in social sciences interested in deepening their competencies in and application of the developmental psychology in school context.

During the course the following areas are addressed: Aims, major questions and concepts in developmental psychology. Periodization of human development. Biological and environmental determinants of development. Mechanisms of biological and environmental determinants´ interactions. Physical, cognitive, language, emotional and social development during school-age. Application of developmental psychology in the classroom. The important part of the course is building the bridge between scientific evidence coming from developmental science and its interpretation relevant for teachers and other experts interested in school age children.

On successful completion of the course the student will be able to:

Knowledge and understanding

• outline basic features of human development within areas of most relevance in school context,
• describe emotional, social, and cognitive development of school-age children,
• summarize processes through which development occurs,
• distinguish normative aspects of developmental changes and individual differences,

Competence and skills

• plan application of knowledge from developmental science in the classroom,
• describe models of interaction between environmental and genetic factors determining development,
• adapt their communication to children's age and developmental level,

Judgement and approach

• argue for the choice of teaching approach with arguments from developmental psychology.

Lectures and seminars.

Language of instruction: English

The course objectives are assessed through an oral presentation and a written assignment.

If a student who has been failed twice for the same examination element wishes to change examiner before the next examination session, such a request is to be granted unless there are specific reasons to the contrary (Chapter 6 Section 22 HF).

If a student has received a certificate of disability study support from the University of Gothenburg with a recommendation of adapted examination and/or adapted forms of assessment, an examiner may decide, if this is consistent with the course’s intended learning outcomes and provided that no unreasonable resources would be needed, to grant the student adapted examination and/or adapted forms of assessment.

If a course has been discontinued or undergone major changes, the student must be offered at least two examination sessions in addition to ordinary examination sessions. These sessions are to be spread over a period of at least one year but no more than two years after the course has been discontinued/changed. The same applies to placement and internship (VFU) except that this is restricted to only one further examination session.

If a student has been notified that they fulfil the requirements for being a student at Riksidrottsuniversitetet (RIU student), to combine elite sports activities with studies, the examiner is entitled to decide on adaptation of examinations if this is done in accordance with the Local rules regarding RIU students at the University of Gothenburg.

The following grading scale is used for the course: Pass with Distinction (VG), Pass (G) and Fail (U).

The oral presentation is graded Pass (G) or Fail (U).

The written assignment is graded Pass with Distinction (VG), Pass (G) or Fail (U).

Grades are reported in Ladok after all course components have been completed with a passing result.

Course evaluation is anonymously conducted via on-line evaluation survey after the course has been completed and, if possible, orally with all students at the end of the course. The results of and possible changes to the course will be shared with students who participated in the evaluation and students who are starting the course.