Course Syllabus

Syllabus Personal Development

Welcome

Welcome to Personal Development! We’re so glad you’re here.

Every lesson is designed to help you grow as a thinker, problem solver, and global learner. As a Mizzou Academy global student, you will complete lessons and assignments on your own schedule, interacting with course content, participating in interactives, and completing practice activities, as well as drafting and revising assignments, preparing for quizzes and assessments, and taking exams.

To stay on track, we recommend using a pacing guide. You can find more information about pacing in the Course Resources section, along with helpful tools, technology support, and tips for online learning success.

As you begin, remember that online learning requires both independence and communication. Be curious, stay organized, and don’t hesitate to reach out to your teacher if you need support.

We’re excited to learn with you, and we’re happy you’re part of our Mizzou Academy community! 

Pacing

This course can be completed in as few as six weeks or take up to 6 months (180 calendar days). The six weeks are counted from the date of the first lesson submission and not the date of enrollment.

This course is asynchronous, meaning you can complete lessons and assignments at your own pace.

Most students spend approximately 10 hours per lesson interacting with course content, participating in interactive activities, and completing practice exercises, as well as drafting and revising assignments, preparing for quizzes and assessments, and taking exams. Your time may vary depending on your goals and learning style. 

We encourage you to work at a consistent pace, allowing time to absorb new ideas, build skills, and reflect on what you’ve learned. Use a pacing guide to plan ahead, stay organized, and finish strong. 

Course Description

Welcome to Personal Development and Character Education. Personal development is an individual event, and different factors affect different individuals in different ways. This course covers topics that have an effect on everyone's personal development. These topics are personality, character and values, behavior, responsibility, goals, self-esteem, self-compassion, peer pressure, motivation, choices, and determination.

Even though we will look at a single topic in each lesson, personal development is not compartmentalized. You cannot focus on one area of personal development without affecting other areas. For example, your values affect your goals, choices, and motivation. While studying an individual topic you must keep in mind that you need to look at your total self and realize that all of the "ingredients" of personal development are important and interrelated.

Personal development is ongoing. It begins when you are very young and continues throughout your life. No matter what your current situation is, you can make positive changes. By enrolling in this course, you have made a decision to invest time and effort in your education and in your personal development. Congratulations on taking this step. Best wishes on your journey!

This course covers ten topics that have an effect on everyone's personal development. These topics are: self awareness, healthy self, healthy relationships, healthy finances, growth mindset, habits, goal setting, global citizenship, digital citizenship, and future casting.

Course Essential Questions


Essential Question 1

How can knowing yourself better and believing in your ability to grow help improve your health, relationships, and finances?

Essential Question 2

How can building good habits and setting clear goals help you shape your future and thrive in an increasingly digital world?

Course Overview

Lesson

Objectives

Quiz

Assignment

1: Self Awareness
  1. Define the concept of self-awareness.
  2. Explain how self-awareness contributes to personal growth and decision-making.
  3. Apply self-awareness techniques to reflect on your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.

10 multiple-choice questions 

No Assignment

2: Healthy Self
  1. Evaluate the connection between sleep and cognitive function, including its impact on memory, focus, and emotional regulation.
  2. Explain how nutrition influences overall well-being by reflecting on food choices and identifying areas for improvement.
  3. Apply movement-based strategies to boost focus, reduce stress, and improve physical and mental health.
  4. Assess the impact of positive relationships and emotional well-being on personal success and set boundaries for healthier connections.
  5. Evaluate personal health habits by identifying strengths and areas for improvement in sleep, nutrition, exercise, and emotional well-being.

10 multiple-choice questions 

Assignment: Track & Reflect on Your Daily Habits

3: Healthy Relationships
  1. Explain how healthy relationships contribute to emotional well-being, personal growth, and long-term success.
  2. Analyze the qualities of supportive friendships and recognize signs of unhealthy or toxic relationships.
  3. Demonstrate effective communication skills, including active listening, expressing emotions clearly, and resolving conflicts respectfully.
  4. Apply strategies for setting healthy personal boundaries to maintain balanced, respectful relationships.

10 multiple-choice questions 

No Assignment

4: Healthy Finances
  1. Explain the importance of budgeting and how it helps manage expenses, reduce financial stress, and build long-term financial security.
  2. Apply the 50/30/20 rule to categorize spending into needs, wants, and savings for better financial management.
  3. Analyze your spending habits by identifying areas to cut unnecessary expenses and prioritize savings.
  4. Describe the benefits of saving money and how setting financial goals can lead to greater financial independence.
  5. Differentiate between good debt and bad debt and explain how responsible borrowing impacts long-term financial health.
  6. Evaluate strategies to avoid financial pitfalls, such as high-interest debt and impulse spending, while making informed financial decisions.

10 multiple-choice questions 

Assignment: Budget & Goal Setting for a Healthy Financial Future

5: Embrace the Challenge: Growth Mindset, Grit, Resilience, and Effort
  1. Define what a growth mindset is and explain how it differs from a fixed mindset.
  2. Identify ways that mindset influences learning, resilience, and long-term success.
  3. Analyze how effort, persistence, and learning from mistakes contribute to skill development and achievement.
  4. Apply strategies to shift from a fixed mindset to a growth mindset in academic, personal, and social situations.
  5. Reflect on personal experiences with challenges and setbacks, and develop a plan to use growth mindset strategies in future situations.

10 multiple-choice questions 

No Assignment

Midterm Exam

6: Habits
  1. Define what a habit is and explain how the Cue-Craving-Response-Reward (C-C-R-R) loop influences habit formation.
  2. Describe the role of the basal ganglia and dopamine in developing automatic behaviors.
  3. Analyze personal habits by identifying the cues, cravings, responses, and rewards that reinforce them.
  4. Apply habit-breaking strategies such as cue control, stimulus substitution, response disruption, and reward redirection to modify or eliminate undesirable habits.

10 multiple-choice questions 

No Assignment

7: Goal Setting
  1. Define and explain the importance of goal setting as a tool for motivation, focus, and personal development.
  2. Differentiate between short-term and long-term goals and categorize them into academic, personal, and career-related goals.
  3. Apply the SMART goal framework to create clear, measurable, and achievable goals.
  4. Develop an action plan by breaking down large goals into manageable steps and identifying potential obstacles.
  5. Demonstrate effective time management strategies such as prioritization, scheduling, and overcoming procrastination to stay on track with goals.
  6. Analyze personal goals and habits to determine how they align with long-term aspirations and success.

10 multiple-choice questions 

Assignment: Create a SMART Goal Planner

8: Global Citizenship
  1. Define global citizenship and explain its importance in today’s interconnected world.
  2. Analyze how leadership and teamwork contribute to solving global challenges.
  3. Identify real-world examples of young activists who have made an impact through leadership and collaboration.
  4. Examine ways individuals can take action in their local communities to contribute to global citizenship.

10 multiple-choice questions 

No Assignment

9: Digital Citizenship
  1. Define digital citizenship and explain its importance in today’s interconnected world.
  2. Analyze the impact of a digital footprint, including how online activities, posts, and interactions can shape personal and professional opportunities.
  3. Identify strategies to protect online privacy and security, including the use of strong passwords, two-factor authentication, and responsible sharing of personal information.
  4. Evaluate the ethical responsibilities of digital citizens, including combating misinformation, engaging in respectful online discourse, and avoiding performative activism.
  5. Examine the role of social media in advocacy and activism, identifying both the benefits and challenges of using digital platforms to promote change.
  6. Apply responsible digital habits by developing a personal action plan to manage screen time, engage in ethical online behavior, and contribute positively to digital communities.

10 multiple-choice questions 

Assignment: Design Your Personal Digital Wellness Plan

10: Futurecasting
  1. Identify and define long-term goals in key areas of life, including career, education, personal growth, and financial stability.
  2. Create a vision board that visually represents personal aspirations and serves as a motivational tool for goal achievement.
  3. Develop a structured five-year plan using the SMART goal framework to break down long-term objectives into actionable steps.
  4. Conduct an asset mapping exercise to recognize personal strengths, skills, resources, and support systems that can aid in achieving goals.
  5. Analyze potential obstacles and develop solutions to overcome challenges that may arise in the pursuit of long-term success.
  6. Demonstrate the ability to adjust and refine goals over time, ensuring adaptability to changing circumstances and new opportunities.

10 multiple-choice questions 

No Assignment

Final Exam

 

Grades

Your final grade will be based on the number of points you earn on submitted work and exams. The available points are distributed as follows:

Source Available Points
Lesson Assignments 250
Lesson Quizzes 150
Midterm Exam 300
Final Exam 300
Total 1,000

 

Textbook & Technology Requirements

To fully participate, make sure you have:

  • A computer that meets our Mizzou Academy technology requirements
  • A microphone and webcam for recording audio and video assignments
  • Any other required textbooks or materials for the course

Textbook

No textbook is required for this course. 

Materials

There is no required textbook or materials.

Technology

The most up-to-date requirements can be found here: 

Additional requirements for the course are below: 

  • audio and video recording capabilities (e.g., smartphone, camera)

If you ever have trouble accessing course materials or recording tools, reach out to your teacher for support. We are here to help!

Accessibility

If you anticipate barriers related to the format or requirements of this course, please let Mizzou Academy know as soon as possible. If disability-related accommodations are necessary (for example, a scribe, reader, extended time on exams, captioning), please contact Mizzou Academy.

Canvas Technical Support

Canvas will be used as the primary platform for accessing course materials and assignments for this class.