Engaging content and features foster a contextual understanding of development Examples of domestic culture in the U.S. have been integrated throughout the narrative to show students that culture is present everywhere, both at home and abroad. Rather than viewing culture as a foreign, faraway thing, students will learn to look for it right in their own backyards. Cultural Focus features highlight how culture impacts various aspects of development, such as breastfeeding practices, gross motor development, marriage and family relationships, and work and retirement. Research Focus features offer a detailed description of a research study, including its premises, methods, results, and limitations. Multiple-choice review questions appear at the end of the feature to ensure that students have a solid understanding of the research study and methodology. Infographic maps help provide a geographic and cultural context for variations in development.

Chapters devoted to toddlerhood and emerging adulthood , sometimes overlooked stages of development, help paint a detailed picture of human development. Personal anecdotes about the authors'' own children serve as enjoyable, real life-examples of developmental science. Learning objectives for each chapter are listed at the start of each chapter section as well as within the chapter alongside every section heading. Based on Bloom''s taxonomy, these numbered objectives help students better organize and understand the material. The end-of-section summary is organized around these same objectives, as are all of the supplements and assessment material. Critical-thinking questions throughout the text prompt students to use their understanding of the role culture plays in development to solve real-world problems they might face in their own lives and careers. These questions appear in every major section and often focus on the role of culture in human development. Multiple-choice practice quizzes after each section and a cumulative multiple-choice test at the end of every chapter help students assess their comprehension of the material.

New and updated content facilitates an up-to-date learning experience For the 3rd edition, the authors have revised every chapter to incorporate the latest and most important human development research, as well as to enhance existing materials. Highlights of new and updated content include the following: NEW! Chapter 2, Genes and Prenatal Development , features the latest statistics on assisted reproductive technologies and age of viability in developed countries, as well as sex ratios at birth across diverse countries; NEW! Chapter 4, Infancy , includes exciting contemporary cognitive development research on object permanence across species, and the roles of babbling, gesturing, and turn-taking in the emergence of speech; NEW! Chapter 6, Early Childhood , offers updated information on the diets of American children, including the roles of SES, ethnicity, and immigrant generation; NEW! Chapter 7, Middle Childhood , includes a new section on executive function in middle childhood, including how its development is impacted by physical exercise and multilingualism; NEW! Chapter 9, Emerging Adulthood , includes important information about sleep in emerging adulthood, including the concepts of delayed sleep phase syndrome and sleep debt, as well as tips for sleep hygiene; NEW! Chapter 12, Late Adulthood , provides an introduction of the concept of the bridge job, in which older workers reduce their work hours but remain in the labor force, or they take another job that is less demanding and involves fewer hours per week; and NEW! Chapter 13, Death and Afterlife Beliefs , offers the latest statistics on the continued dramatic decline in rates of heart disease in the United States, across ethnic groups. 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. Thanks to this media-rich presentation of content, students are more likely to complete their assigned reading and retain what they''ve read. UPDATED! Culturally-based chapter introduction videos and Cultural Focus videos broaden and deepen student understanding of culture. New videos focus on cultural diversity within the United States, including a clip of Latina adolescents recounting changes to views of gender in their community and a video on religiosity among African American adolescents and emerging adults. UPDATED! Apply Your Knowledge as a Professional videos depict career professionals describing their jobs and explaining how a knowledge of human development and culture influence their work on a daily basis. Occupations featured include reproductive endocrinologist, pediatric nurse practitioner, and president of the advisory board at a senior center.

For the 3rd Edition, these clips have been shortened to 3-4 minutes for a more concise viewing experience. Interactive maps, figures, and tables help students appreciate the diversity that exists within the United States, and understand the role of culture, ethnicity, SES, and other factors in human development. NEW! Social Explorer interactive world maps allow students to examine both regional patterns and country-specific statistics for phenomena such as postpartum maternal depression and cosleeping. NEW! Breaking Developments features summarize exciting new research findings and contemporary cultural trends pertaining to human development. Updated twice annually, this feature enables students and instructors to keep up with the latest findings in human development research. MyVirtualLife integration enables students to apply developmental concepts in a simulated environment within their Revel(tm) 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 multiple-choice practice quizzes and chapter-ending cumulative multiple-choices tests, 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 Learn(tm) and Canvas(tm). 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.