Professional Documents
Culture Documents
1. EXAMS There will be four examinations during the semester. Questions will be in multiple choice,
matching, true/false or short answer formats. Material covered will be from assigned reading or class
discussions. Before each exam, an exam preview session will be held in class. The final exam is not
comprehensive. To avoid receiving a grade of zero (0) on a missed examination, make arrangements with
the instructor before the exam. Make-up exams will be given only in exceptional and documented
circumstances, and may be in an alternative format.
2. THE FUTURE SELF EXERCISE combines application of concepts learned in the course with critical
self-reflection to imagine a future self. The total exercise consists of creating one visual representation
(freehand drawings, collages, etc.) and writing two descriptions of a future self (one worst case and one
best case); and completing two sets of self-ratings on scales (one pre-course, one post-course). The ratings
indicate the students estimates of the strength of their future engagement with service, and their own
capacity for making informed guesses about aging.
3. FIELDWORK INTERVIEW and PAPER Fieldwork connects abstract concepts with the real world.
Each student conducts one fieldwork interview about the experience of aging with a person who is at least 67
years of age. Each assignment involves conducting the interview and writing interview notes in a specific
format, writing a 3 to 5 page Brief Life Story narrative with a cover as well as achieving closure with the
person interviewed.
4. JOURNAL Each student writes a 3-page journal about their experiences and reflections as they learn
more about aging. Note Journal pages may be written as an in-class activity, see Tentative Course Schedule.
5. FILM PROJECT. The film project engages students in exploring and critiquing representations of the
aging experience and old people in the popular media. Students work in teams of three to select and view a
film with elderly main characters and to compose an essay that (1) describes the plot, characters,
relationships and themes of the film and how the film presents them; (2) discusses how the film depicts
aging; and (3) discusses how the theories and research studied in this course are consistent with
characterizations in the film (or not). Minimum length of the total team essay is 6 pages. Each team presents
their essay to the class and leads a discussion of their completed assignment. Essays also are shared with the
class on Blackboard.
6. CLASS PARTICIPATION. Attending class helps students do well in this course. Instructions for
assignments and content of most test questions are covered in class. Students help each other learn. Points
that cannot be made up are given for unannounced quizzes and for the Gerontology Word turned in at the
beginning of each class.
7. CIVILITY Diversity is welcome, and civility is expected and necessary. Every student is part of the
richness of experience in this class. Personal use of cell phones, computers or other electronic
communication devices is not permitted in class. Students are adults and may leave the classroom when/if
they feel they need to (quietly please).
8. BLACKBOARD. The UNO Blackboard electronic system will be used to make continuously and
conveniently available to students a copy of the course syllabus and schedule, and the directions, formats and
due dates, and grades for assignments. To be ON TIME, each assignment must be complete and submitted
on paper at the beginning of the class at which the assignment is due. Students are required to retain their
own personal copy of each assignment they submit. The Future Self and the Interview assignment each
must be submitted in a manila folder. Each student is expected to bring to each class a folder containing the
course syllabus. Note: in case there is an issue with copying or transportation, etc., please send an email before
the class on which an assignment is due in order to establish that it was done on time.
A+ and A
CD+
AD
B+
D-
B
F
469-489
B-
700 points
25 points (15+ 10)
100 points
25 points
30 points
30 points
100 points
50 points
40 points
300 points
C+
651-700
630-650 609-629 581-608
441-468 420-440 < 419
C
560-
Please note: Timely completion of assignments is important. Assignments submitted by the beginning of
class on paper, on the date due are on time. In fairness to others, the grade of a late assignment will be
reduced by 10% of the maximum total points for each class period the assignment is late. Late work may
not be accepted.
ACADEMIC HONESTY is essential. Please give credit where credit is due. Using the APA format, cite the
text, journal, expert, friend, web site or whatever source you have used for anything not original with you.
Using someone elses work without proper attribution, cheating on tests and other dishonest behaviors will
result in a grade of F in this course. Please also see The Student Handbook.
INTRODUCTION TO GERONTOLOGY-TLC
Fall 2013
GERO 2000-008 M, W & F 9:00 - 9:50am. In dangerous weather, telephone 554-2255 re if UNO is closed. Contact
Professor Lyn Holley (402) 554-4814, cell (402) 871-3047 with questions or emergencies.
Week 3
Sep 9, Mon
Sep 11 Wed
Fri Sep 13 Ch-3
and p.381-2
Preview
Exam 1 (Chapters 1 and 2, Demographics and Stereotypes)
Begin Part II Adult Development and Social Relationships
Social and Psychological Theories of Development in Later Life
Due
Due
Wed, Sep 11
Fri, Sep 13
Due
Mon, Oct 28
Week 11
Nov 4, Monday
Nov 6, 8.
Ch 12
Part IV. Cross-cutting Issues
Week 12 Nov11,13,15.Ch13
Week 13 Nov18, 20. Ch14
Fri, Nov 22
Due
Wed, Nov 20
Due
Wed, Nov 20
Week 14
Nov 25,27, 29
Fri, Nov 29
Dec 6, Friday
Prep Wk
Dec 9,11,13
Final
Due
Week 15
Exam Preview