DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND
COMMUNITY SERVICES
HCSV 163 - CHILD
HEALTH
Instructor: Dr. Mary
Rushka
EMAIL:
mrushka@csuchico.edu/
OFFICE:
OFFICE HOURS:
TR 1-2 PM or by appointment
PHONE:
898-4620
HCSV DEPT.
OFFICE
DESCRIPTION OF
COURSE:
This course is part of the Upper
Division Theme: The Child. For this course to count towards the
theme, you must have already completed 45 semester units.
Child Health is an
examination of the status, needs and trends in the health of
COURSE READING
MATERIALS:
All weekly required readings are contained within the WebCT course pages. Each week’s lesson includes a PowerPoint presentation and several links to required readings. Please complete all readings before the end of the week AND before posting your weekly discussion question posting.
THEME
OBJECTIVES:
This course, Child Health, includes principles and current knowledge from the Natural Sciences and Behavioral and Social Sciences. The theme objectives will be met by using at least five of the six unifying concepts (the six Es).
1. Epistemology: Students will
explore alternative explanations of how children come to know or comprehend the
nature of the physical universe and social world in which they
live.
2. Evolution: Students
will investigate whether or not
childhood and notions of childhood have actually evolved, and if they have, in
what manner. They also will delve
into one the great controversies of the past three centuries: the contributions
of heredity and environment to the development of thought, behavior, and
personality. Finally, students will consider whether childhood is a true
developmental stage in the ontogeny of an adult or merely a social construction
of wealthy cultures.
3. Economics: Students will
consider the distribution of both wealth and power in a society and its
implications for children and the nature of the impact of economic factors upon
children and their development (especially the extremes of poverty and
bounty).
4. Ethnicity: Students will
focus on questions such as the pros and cons of raising children to maintain
their ethnic identities in pluralistic societies, and whether or not homogeneous
societies are preferable to heterogeneous ones.
5. Experience: Students will
explore the significance of early experience and the extent to which early
experiences set a child on a more or less irrevocable path, and the influence of
numerous socializing agents in society (e.g., parents, teachers, peers), and
experience in general.
6. Epidemiology: Students will study the factors that
determine the origin, frequency, and distribution of diseases in children. They will also learn ways to alter these
factors to prevent or delay negative health outcomes.
COURSE
OBJECTIVES:
The student will be able
to:
1.
List the types of research utilized in the study of the health of the
child and distinguish the scientific method from hearsay in interpreting
material written about the health of children.
2.
Discuss the status and trends in the health of
3. Distinguish
the differences in health status and need among ethnic and racial subgroups and
explore the variables affecting health status and need, giving special attention
to the effects of poverty.
4. Describe the stages that influence the
physical development of the child from conception to early adolescence,
including genetic and environmental influences.
5. Analyze the
genetic and cultural influences upon the development of sexuality of the child
from conception to adolescence, including issues such as homosexuality, sex
education and child sexual abuse.
6. List and
discuss the common diseases and disorders occurring from conception to early
adolescence: description, cause, prevalence, risk factors, symptoms, treatment,
prevention and measures.
7. Analyze the major factors influencing the
health of the child (early experience, diet, physical activity, accidents,
stress, violence, drug use and sexuality) and be able to list ways that parents,
teachers, community workers and policy makers can enhance health promotion
behaviors.
8. Analyze the risks the physical
environment places upon the health of the child and be able to discuss several
advocacy efforts to counteract their negative influence.
9. Address social influences and public
policy regarding the quality and availability of health services for children,
including past, current, and future directions, with special attention to the
impoverished.
10. Discuss the role of the
parent, the school, the community and government programs and policies in
enhancing the health of the child.
COURSE
REQUIREMENTS:
This section of Child Health will meet exclusively on WebCT. WebCT is an online environment that
requires each student to log on at least weekly and complete all
activities/assignments within the time parameters specified on the course
schedule in order to be successful.
The course is divided into 15 content modules, one for each week of the
semester. A new module “begins” on
Monday of each week. All discussion postings and other
assignments will be due on Sundays by midnight unless otherwise specified. It is your responsibility to read each
week’s course material, participate in the weekly chat/discussion (bulletin
board posting), and complete and submit all assignments as described
below:
Bulletin Board
Discussion: Each student is expected to engage in
thoughtful dialogue with classmates on discussion questions posed by the
instructor each week.
The discussion questions can be located at the bottom of each week’s
lesson. If you go to the
“Discussions” area, you will see that there is a board corresponding to each
week’s content. During the first
week of class you will write a self-introduction on the discussion board. Subsequent discussions will be group
efforts. Sometime during Week 2 you
will be assigned to a team of 3 or
4 students. Together you decide
when to meet in the Chat Room of your choice, schedule the meeting on our Course
Calendar, and discuss the weekly question.
ONE group member is then responsible for writing a summary of your online
discussion on the weekly board.
Each group is expected to post ONE message for each week and, when
indicated, one posting in response to other students’ postings. Use reflective thought and documentation
(evidence that you have read the week’s information) about each topic before
engaging in discussion.
* Use complete sentences, correct grammar, and correct
spelling.
* Be clear about whether you
are using personal opinions or knowledge.
* You may be asked to use
citations from the readings to document your postings.
Examinations: There will be two non-cumulative
examinations; each will be accessible from the course Homepage (click on “Exam”
icon). Exams will consist of
multiple choice, matching and
true/false questions and will be completed entirely in WebCT. More specific directions for
taking the exams will be available from the “Exam” icon during exam weeks. You may also want to familiarize
yourself with this WebCT tool on the tutorial.
Playground
Observation: Visit a
local playground (or a favorite playground in your hometown) and observe the
following:
1) physical development of the
children;
2) layout and safety of the play
equipment;
3)physical activity and interaction among
children AND between children and adults;
4) gender differences demonstrated during
play.
5) Conclude your paper by making some
suggestions for improvement of this play environment.
. * Make certain to obtain
permission from school office if you choose to observe an elementary school
while in session.
Write your perceptions and
summary (including suggestions for positive change) in a 2-page, double-spaced
typed paper, using 12-pt font, written according to APA style guidelines. BE SURE TO COMPLETE AND
ATTACH THE PLAYGROUND
SAFETY CHECKLIST FOUND IN YOUR WEBCT READING
MATERIALS.
Papers will be scored as
follows:
All of the above (5) observations described adequately:
25 points
Meaningful use and incorporation of safety checklist:
25 points
Overall quality of paper’s content:
25 points
Presentation (grammar, punctuation, spelling) quality
25 points
TOTAL
100 points
Volunteer for at least 20
hours at a preschool or Head Start Program, elementary school, or similar
program, reporting on your experience from a child health and safety perspective
in a 2 to 3-page paper.
Compare and contrast
advertising aimed at children from at least two different media sources (e.g.,
television, radio, Internet, magazines, computer software, etc.). Gather information on the reliability of
the content and the messages to the children. Write a 3 – page compare and contrast
paper of your findings.
A note on academic honesty;
I support the University’s zero tolerance for plagiarism of any kind on
papers. Consequences for not citing
sources or using someone else’s work are receiving zero credit on paper, failing
the class and being called before Student Judicial Affairs, with the possibility
of dismissal from the University.
EVALUATION AND GRADING:
PROJECT
POINTS POSSIBLE
1.
Bulletin Board Discussion
300
2.
Exam 1
50
3.
Exam 2
50
4.
Playground Observation
100
5.
Media Critique
100
6.
Volunteer Work
100
TOTAL
700
Assignment of Course
Grades
A = 658 - 700
A- = 630 - 657
B+ = 588 - 629
B = 582 - 587
B- = 560 - 581
C+ = 525 - 559
C = 519 - 524
C- = 490 -
518