Study Guide

Objective

• you recognise individual and environmental factors that affect people’s growth, development and education
• you can describe the developmental tasks of different life phases
• you are familiar with theories on education, development and learning

Content

• the biological, psychological and social development of human beings
• the developmental tasks and challenges of different life phases: childhood, youth, adulthood and old age
• the psychosocial basis of education and supporting individuals’ growth and socialisation process
• early interaction and parent-infant bonding
• the ethical dimension of education

Materials

Exam material:
Lectures +
Lifespan development: a psychological perspective. 2019. Lally, M. & Valentine-French, S., Second edition. E-book available at http://dept.clcillinois.edu/psy/LifespanDevelopment.pdf

Chapter 1: Introduction to Lifespan Development, p. 9-24
Chapter 4: Early Childhood, p. 115-163
Chapter 6: Adolescence, p. 215-245
Chapter 8: Middle Adulthood, p. 307-370
Chapter 9: Late adulthood, p. 371-438

Exam schedules

Course exam 8.12.2025 at 9:30 - 12:00.
The course re-take exam 15.12.2024 at 9.30-12.00.
The second re-exam if needed. Date will be informed later.

Content scheduling

Teaching on Mondays, weeks 44-51

Week 44
Mon 27.10.2025
9:30-14:30 Course info and study assignments.
Early interaction and attachment theory. Psychosocial development in childhood and adolescence. (Tiina)

Week 45
Mon 3.11.2025
9:30-11 Adulthood, late adulthood and lifelong learning. (Noora)
12-14:30 Starting of the group work.

Week 46
Independent group work on a study assignment

Week 47
Mon 17.11.2025
9:30-12 Psychosocial basis of education and the ethical dimension of education. (Noora)
13:00-14:30 Independent group work on a study assignment

Week 48
Mon 24.11.2025
9:30-14:30 Workshop day (Tiina)

Week 49
Mon 1.12.2025
9:30-14:30 Group work presentations in two groups (Tiina & Noora)

Week 50
Mon 8.12.2025
9:30-12:00 Exam (Tiina)

Week 51
Mon 15.12.2025
9:30-12:00 Retake exam (Noora)

Kindly be advised that attendance at all group meetings is mandatory. While one absence due to illness or other valid reasons is permissible, in such instances, the student is required to coordinate with either the group or the teacher to arrange additional tasks to make up for the missed session.

Evaluation scale

H-5

Assessment criteria, fail (0)

Student has not gained understanding on individual and environmental factors that affect people’s growth, development and education, developmental tasks of different life phases or theories on education, development and learning.

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1-2)

Student has some understanding on individual and environmental factors that affect people’s growth, development and education.
Student has some understanding on developmental tasks of different life phases. Student is able to find some connections between different life phases, development tasks and the abilities to tackle these development challenges.
Student has some understanding on theories on education, development and learning.

Assessment criteria, good (3-4)

Student has understanding on individual and environmental factors that affect people’s growth, development and education.
Student has understanding on developmental tasks of different life phases. Student is able to find connections between different life phases, development tasks and the abilities to tackle these development challenges.
Student has understanding on theories on education, development and learning and is able to find connections between these aspects.

Assessment criteria, excellent (5)

Student has deep understanding on individual and environmental factors that affect people’s growth, development and education.
Student has deeper understanding on developmental tasks of different life phases. Student is able to find connections between different life phases, development tasks and the abilities to tackle these development challenges.
Student has deep understanding on theories on education, development and learning and is able to find connections between these aspects.