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My knowledge about Human Development Lifespan has expanded dramatically from using the concept maps this semester.  I know I haven’t been the best at getting my work done at a reasonable time, but I really have enjoyed being able to apply what I’ve learned into a format that is fun to look at and sparks thoughts and conversation about the information or feelings that maps are holding.  There is a much deeper understanding now, for myself, about what we all are experiencing throughout life and what is happening on a biological and cognitive level that I could have never put words to before.

My top three concept maps are my fruit, the resting baby, and the synapse brain.  I enjoyed doing the fruit drawing because I had a chance to sit and think about how much of our development is dependent upon receiving the right nutrition.  A thing so simple as a bowl of fruit on the counter, something most of us have in the house, and oftentimes what may end up in the trash for a number of reasons.  Whether we realize it or not it is a luxury to be able to have these items so readily available to us and it is so easily taken for granted.  Resting baby is in my top three because I would have never taken into consideration how much babies are capable of.  We see how cute they are, constantly sleeping or feeding, but learning about how they develop depth perception and being mad little scientists has been very insightful.  Lastly, I liked making the concept map of the brain displaying the synaptic connections.  Learning about the synapses and the incredible speed that babies are making connections in being able to understand and fit into the world around them has been one of my favorite lessons this semester.

This semester I learned so much about how our development during early years is so crucial to who we become later in life and that some of it is simply out of control.  The concept maps individually give insight into each stage of development while the entire cluster gives a nice outline of just how diverse every we are from infant to old age.