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MyVirtualLife, 2nd edition

Published by Pearson (July 16, 2012) © 2013

MyLab

$86.65

Raise your child. Live your life.

MyVirtualLife is two simulations in one. The first simulation allows you to raise a child from birth to age 18 and monitor the effects of your parenting decisions over time. In the second simulation you will make first person decisions and see the impact of those decisions on your simulated future self over time.

Learn more at www.myvirtuallife.com

Updated and revised content keeps the text current
  • UPDATED! Redesigned themed essays give students opportunities to explore a range of key topics in depth. Accompanying interactive Journaling Prompts enable students to apply concepts discussed in the essays, locking in what they’ve learned.
    • No Easy Answers essays reinforce the idea that there are many questions for which developmental psychologists cannot provide definitive answers. These discussions are designed to help students become more sensitive to the complexity of human development as well as more tolerant of the ambiguities inherent in the behavioral and social sciences. Accompanying Journaling Prompts encourage students to explore these complex issues further.
    • Research Report essays provide detailed accounts of specific research studies. Accompanying Journaling Prompts help students evaluate the research presented and make connections between research and everyday developmental issues.
    • Developmental Science essays explore practical applications of developmental theory and research. Each concludes with an interactive Journaling Prompt that encourages students to reflect on the ideas presented.
  • UPDATED! In order to present the most up-to-date information in the field of developmental science, key topics throughout the text have been thoroughly updated. Highlights include the following topics:
    • Prenatal exposure to maternal stress and children’s social reasoning skills (Chapter 3);
    • Interactions between parenting and temperament (Chapter 6);
    • Preschool participation and adolescent health outcomes (Chapter 7);
    • Executive control development and the transition to school (Chapter 9);
    • Cross-ethnic friendships (Chapter 12);
    • Unemployment and depression (Chapter 16); and
    • Effects of verbalization on memory function (Chapter 17).
  • REVISED! The authors have revised all of the instructional objectives of the text to increase the focus on assessment. Clear, assessment-driven learning objectives ensure that students are learning what they should from a course in human development, and that they’re capable of applying what they are learning to practical questions about human development.

Dynamic content designed for the way today's students read, think, and learn brings concepts to life
  • Videos and interactives integrated directly into the author-created narrative keep students engaged as they read through each chapter. More than 40 in-chapter videos enhance the text’s accessibility to today’s media-oriented students. Video topics range from discussions of contemporary research to personal stories of individuals’ struggles with and triumphs over the challenges associated with each phase of the lifespan.
  • MyVirtualLife integration enables students to apply developmental concepts in a simulated environment within their Revelâ„¢ course. MyVirtualLife is an interactive simulation that allows students to parent a child from birth to age 18, making decisions on the child’s behalf. Once the virtual child turns 18, the student user’s perspective flips for the second half of the program, which enables students to live a simulated life and see the impact of their first-person decisions over the course of a lifetime.
  • Embedded assessments such as quizzes and concept checks afford students opportunities to check their understanding at regular intervals before moving on. Assessments in Revel let instructors gauge student comprehension frequently, provide timely feedback, and address learning gaps along the way.
  • The Revel mobile app lets students read, practice, and study — anywhere, anytime, on any device. Content is available both online and offline, and the app syncs work across all registered devices automatically, giving students great flexibility to toggle between phone, tablet, and laptop as they move through their day. The app also lets students set assignment notifications to stay on top of all due dates.
  • The writing functionality in Revel enables educators to integrate writing — among the best ways to foster and assess critical thinking — into the course without significantly impacting their grading burden.
    • Self-paced Journaling Prompts throughout the narrative encourage students to express their thoughts without breaking stride in their reading.
    • Assignable Shared Writing Activities direct students to share written responses with classmates, fostering peer discussion.
    • Essays integrated directly within Revel allow instructors to assign the precise writing tasks they need for the course.
  • Highlighting, note taking, and a glossary let students read and study however they like. Educators can add notes for students, too, including reminders or study tips.
Superior assignability and tracking tools help educators make sure students are completing their reading and understanding core concepts
  • The assignment calendar allows educators to indicate precisely which readings must be completed on which dates. This clear, detailed schedule helps students stay on task by eliminating any ambiguity as to which material will be covered during each class. When they understand exactly what is expected of them, students are better motivated to keep up.
  • The performance dashboard empowers educators to monitor class assignment completion as well as individual student achievement. Actionable information, such as points earned on quizzes and tests and time on task, helps educators intersect with their students in meaningful ways. For example, the trending column reveals whether students' grades are improving or declining, helping educators to identify students who might need help to stay on track.
  • LMS integration provides institutions, instructors, and students easy access to their Revel courses via Blackboard Learnâ„¢ and Canvasâ„¢. With single sign-on, students can be ready to access an interactive blend of authors' narrative, media, and assessment on their first day. Flexible, on-demand grade synchronization capabilities allow educators to control exactly which grades should be transferred to the Blackboard or Canvas Gradebook.
Revel is built for digital learning, but we've got you covered if you need print, too
  • Revel gives students everything they need in an integrated digital learning environment. But if students need a loose-leaf print reference to complement their Revel experience, they can purchase one from within their Revel course at any time.
Updated and revised content keeps the text current
  • UPDATED! Redesigned themed essays give students opportunities to explore a range of key topics in depth. Accompanying interactive Journaling Prompts enable students to apply concepts discussed in the essays, locking in what they’ve learned.
    • No Easy Answers essays reinforce the idea that there are many questions for which developmental psychologists cannot provide definitive answers. These discussions are designed to help students become more sensitive to the complexity of human development as well as more tolerant of the ambiguities inherent in the behavioral and social sciences. Accompanying Journaling Prompts encourage students to explore these complex issues further.
    • Research Report essays provide detailed accounts of specific research studies. Accompanying Journaling Prompts help students evaluate the research presented and make connections between research and everyday developmental issues.
    • Developmental Science essays explore practical applications of developmental theory and research. Each concludes with an interactive Journaling Prompt that encourages students to reflect on the ideas presented.
  • UPDATED! In order to present the most up-to-date information in the field of developmental science, key topics throughout the text have been thoroughly updated. Highlights include the following topics:
    • Prenatal exposure to maternal stress and children’s social reasoning skills (Chapter 3);
    • Interactions between parenting and temperament (Chapter 6);
    • Preschool participation and adolescent health outcomes (Chapter 7);
    • Executive control development and the transition to school (Chapter 9);
    • Cross-ethnic friendships (Chapter 12);
    • Unemployment and depression (Chapter 16); and
    • Effects of verbalization on memory function (Chapter 17).
  • REVISED! The authors have revised all of the instructional objectives of the text to increase the focus on assessment. Clear, assessment-driven learning objectives ensure that students are learning what they should from a course in human development, and that they’re capable of applying what they are learning to practical questions about human development.

1. Basic Concepts and Methods
2. Theories of Development
3. Prenatal Development and Birth
4. Physical, Sensory, and Perceptual Development in Infancy
5. Cognitive Development in Infancy
6. Social and Personality Development in Infancy
7. Physical and Cognitive Development in Early Childhood
8. Social and Personality Development in Early Childhood
9. Physical and Cognitive Development in Middle Childhood
10. Social and Personality Development in Middle Childhood
11. Physical and Cognitive Development in Adolescence
12. Social and Personality Development in Adolescence
13. Physical and Cognitive Development in Early Adulthood
14. Social and Personality Development in Early Adulthood
15. Physical and Cognitive Development in Middle Adulthood
16. Social and Personality Development in Middle Adulthood
17. Physical and Cognitive Development in Late Adulthood
18. Social and Personality Development in Late Adulthood
19. Death, Dying, and Bereavement

Denise Boyd received her Ed.D. in educational psychology from the University of Houston and has been a psychology instructor in the Houston Community College System since 1988. From 1995 until 1998, she chaired the psychology, sociology, and anthropology department at Houston Community College -- Central. She has coauthored five other Pearson Allyn and Bacon texts: with Samuel Wood and Ellen Green Wood, Mastering the World of Psychology (6th Edition) and The World of Psychology (7th Edition); with Helen Bee, The Developing Child (13th Edition), and The Growing Child; and with Genevieve Stevens, Current Readings in Lifespan Development. A licensed psychologist, she has presented a number of papers at professional meetings, reporting research in child, adolescent, and adult development. She has also presented workshops for teachers whose students range from preschool to college.

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