Introduction:

The discussion forum topic is an assignment to be submitted for a grade.  This is the ninth of ten discussion forum topics to be submitted during the semester.  This is a two part assignment.  Part 1 is to submit a response worth up to 4 points, and Part 2 is to reply to at least two of your classmates’ responses worth up to 1 point, for a total of up to 5 points for the assignment.  Read the directions carefully and read the grading rubric, then compose your response and submit your response by clicking Reply.     

Directions: 

Part 1:

Imagine that you decide to join a club on campus and you make a new friend.  Your new friend goes on and on about how he or she does not want to get old, especially not wanting to be a middle aged person.  What would you say?  Discuss the physical and cognitive aspects of development in middle adulthood.   

Tasks: 

1. Discuss one hormonal change in middle adulthood.

2. Discuss one physical change in middle adulthood.

3. Discuss one cognitive change in middle adulthood.

4. Discuss one strength of middle adulthood.

5. Reply to two classmates’ responses.

Sample of Good Work: 

If I decided to join a club on campus and made a new friend who had negative views about middle age, I would tell her that it is not that bad.  For example, for women, there are hormonal changes that are normal and women have menopause, where the ovaries stop producing estrogen.  Men and women do have physical changes, such as getting gray hair and some hearing loss.  Another change in middle adulthood is that crystalized intelligence improves.  Individuals in middle adulthood are generally healthy and show creativity.  It is not a period of the life span to dread.   

The purpose of the discussion forum topic is to apply the course material to the real world and to your own life by giving examples that are meaningful to you.  This is due by Sunday night at 11:59 p.m.  Please see the Grading Rubric for Discussion Forum Topic.

This discussion forum topic ties into Student Learning Outcome (SLO) 1:

Student Learning Outcomes 1.  Students will be able to demonstrate an understanding of the theoretical constructs among the 4 main areas of human development (Physical, Cognitive, Social, and Emotional) throughout the lifespan.

This discussion forum topic ties into Course Objectives 3 and 6.

Course Objective 3.  Discuss key features of physical development across the lifespan, such as prenatal factors, heritability, puberty, hormonal changes, physical health, and biological aspects of mental health. 

 Course Objective 6.  Discuss the various theories in intelligence and changes in intellectual abilities that occur across the lifespan. 

This discussion forum topic ties into Learning Objectives 1, 2, and 3: 

Learning Objective 1.  Discuss hormonal changes in middle adulthood.

Learning Objective 2. Discuss physical health in middle adulthood.

Learning Objective 3.  Discuss theories of intelligence and changing intellectual abilities in middle adulthood

Part 2:  

After submitting a response to the discussion forum topic, view your classmates’ responses and reply to at least two classmates’ response by asking a question, answering a question, offering a suggestion, giving praise, agreeing, politely disagreeing, providing encouragement, sharing a story, or offering a comment.  This is due by Sunday night at 11:59 p.m.  Please see the Grading Rubric for the Discussion Forum Topic.