PSY 210: Child Psychology and Development

The work of Lev Vygotsky is increasingly cited as we reconsider the theory and practice of constructivist education. This program introduces the life, vocabulary and concepts of Lev Vygotsky. The video illustrates four basic concepts integral to his work: Children construct knowledge, learning can lead development, development cannot be separated from its social context, and language plays a central role in cognitive development. Elena Bodrova brings an easy familiarity to these concepts. Deborah Leongs commentary and the lively classroom examples enable students, teachers in training, and classroom teachers to incorporate these concepts into their understanding of child development. with deborah Leong, Ph.D. and Elena Bodrova, Ph.D. This is a short clip form the film. Further information is available at www.davidsonfilms.com.

"The work of Jean Piaget has become the foundation of current developmental psychology and the basis for changes in educational practice. David Elkind, author of The Hurried Child and Miseducation, and a student of Jean Piaget, explores the roots of Piagets work and outlines important vocabulary and concepts that structure much of the study of child development. Using both archival film of Dr. Piaget and newly shot sequences of Dr. Elkind conducting interviews with children of varying ages, this film presents an overview of Piagets developmental theory, its scope and content. The film can serve either as an introduction to Piagets work or as a review of it. With David Elkind, Ph.D. This is a short clip from the film. Further information is available at www.davidsonfilms.com."

Narrated by Erikson's colleague, Margaret Brenman-Gibson, Ph.D. and Ruthie Mickles, Ph.D. Using archival materials and newly shot footage, this film introduces students to the rich wisdom of Erik H. Erikson. Best known for his identification of the eight stages of the life cycle, Erikson spent a lifetime observing and studying the way in which the interplay of genetics, cultural influences and unique experiences produces individual human lives. This film combines biographical information about Erikson with his theoretical proposals to give students an understanding of the relationship between the life experience of a theorist and the work that is produced. Further information is available at www.davidsonfilms.com.

Provides an overview of Ivan Pavlov's classical conditioning.

Provides an overview of Bowlby's Attachment Theory.

John Bowlby (1907 - 1990) was a psychoanalyst (like Freud) and believed that mental health and behavioral problems could be attributed to early childhood.

Provides an overview of psychology research methods.

Provides a description of basic research methods used in psychology and a guide to help you identify which method to use in your research.

Discusses the nature-nurture issue in psychology.

Discusses continuity and discontinuity in developmental psychology.

Discusses the issues of early-later experience and nature versus nurture.

Provides a summary of the rights under the Convention on the Rights of the Child (Articles 1-54).

This site contains a biography of Lev Vygotsky,.

This site contains information about Urie Bronfenbrenner and the ecology of human development.

Provides a biography of B.F. Skinner and his theory based on operant conditioning.

The website of the Action Alliance for Children, which publishes the Children's Advocate newsmagazine. You can read the current and back issues to 1997 at this website. Web links are provided to other information about current trends and policy issues affecting children and families.

Children Now is the leading, nonpartisan, umbrella research, policy development, and advocacy organization dedicated to promoting children's health and education in California and creating national media policies that support child development. The organization also leads The Children's Movement of California.

Provides extensive connections to information about a wide range of education topics. Search the ERIC database to obtain information about many articles in various areas of education.

The website of the Society for Research in Child Development. Provides information about the excellent research journal Child Development. Tells how to become a student member of the society.

The website of the American Psychological Association's main journal for research on children's development. Links to abstracts of current articles.