Talkin' 'Bout My Generation" Capstone Project

What is a generation?

A generation is basically defined as all of the people born and living at about the same time. For example, typically we say that your parents are in one generation while you are of a different generation and your grandparents another and so on. This assignment not only requires you to reflect on your own generational influences, but that of another human belonging to an older generation.

Who can I interview?

You will be required to interview at least one person from a different generation than you. Parents, aunts, uncles, grandparents, are usually acceptable; I'm looking for you to interview someone at least 15-20 years older than you. For example if you were born in 2004 you should interview an individual who was born in the 1980s. Once you decide on your person you will need to obtain instructor approval.

What do I Tell You?

You are going to create a body of work where you compare and contrast your development and that of your older-generational human. You will be discussing the influences of both nature and nurture on human development. You will also apply specific developmental theories/theorists to human development; theorists can include, but are not limited to Ainsworth, Arnett, Bandura, Bowlby, Bronfenbrenner, Chomsky, Erikson, Freud, Hall, Harlow, Kohlberg, Kbler-Ross, Levinson, Marcia, Pavlov, Peck, Piaget, Skinner, Vygotsky, etc. You will provide a generational overview and then provide perceptions of how being born in a particular generation impacts development. Your examples can be drawn from social, political, technological, and cultural forces of your generation compared to that of your older-generational human. Finally you will end with a summary of the importance of both nature and nurture on development.

1. Nature | Nurture: You should include an overall introduction of nature and nurture as it relates to human development. Give at least two specific examples of how nature has influenced nurture as well as how nurture has influenced nature specifically in your development and that of your interviewee.
2. Theoretical Application: You should include at least one developmental theory as it applies to you and one that applies to your interviewee. They do not necessarily have to be the same, for example you could apply Vygotsky to an aspect of your development and Peck to your interviewee.
3. Generation Overview: You should provide an overall introduction to each generation including birth years for each of you, important historical information of the generation to include politics, economy, medicine, education, technology, cultural influences, etc. Please include at least three generational topics.
4. Examples of Social/External Influences or the "water we swim in": Based on the generational topics you choose in #3, you should include the influence of those specifically on your development and that of your interviewee. You should have one example for each of the three generational topics.
5. Summary: Summarize your project by addressing how important both nature and nurture are to human development and which you believe ultimately is most important and why.

How can I tell you?

This body of work can be diverse: a formatted paper, a narrated presentation, video, art work, short story, comic, original song, Zoom meeting, etc. It can include excerpts of your interview/discussion, films, music videos, song lyrics, etc. Challenge yourself here to do something different and engage your creative side. If you have an idea not listed, please reach out and let's talk about it. Have fun with this assignment; you have significant freedom as to how to communicate this information to me. Your project design and plan will need instructor approval prior to submission.

What is the goal?

Besides getting to know your older-generational human more and hearing some great stories, your capstone signifies your understanding of development learned throughout the course and should clearly demonstrate how being born and growing up in the time in which you are has influenced your physical, cognitive, and emotional development as compared/contrasted to someone in an older generation.

Are references required?

The short answer is yes. You will likely need to go outside of Canvas to address the generational and contextual information, however, references beyond what is in the modules or the text for the physical, cognitive, and emotional aspects of your capstone probably are not necessary. Remember though, anytime you paraphrase or use information from the text or other sources not considered "common" knowledge must be properly cited. APA format of references is required.