Applied Communications
Cathy Anne Sheely
SY 1998-1999
Course Syllabus
Course Goals/Outcomes
1. All learners will be prepared to function as culturally literate individuals. Learners will read, interpret, and critically evaluate literature in which the great themes, events, and ideas of various cultures have been recorded. Learners will react and respond in writing and discussions to ideas presented in literature.
2. All learners will be prepared to communicate effectively in the workplace. Learners will communicate (read, write, listen, speak) individually and in work groups to solve job-related problems and to perform stimulated on-the-job tasks.
3. All learners will write clearly and effectively, adhering to the conventions of standard English in mechanics, usage, and grammar. Learners will use the recursive process of creating, writing, and revising documents. Learners will attend to their purposes and the needs of audiences in the selection and organization of content, word choice, and format.
4. All learners will read for meaning. Learners will use purpose, preview, question, read, and review strategies when reading for information.
5. All learners will communicate effectively as senders and receivers of oral messages. Learners will use tone, volume, word choice, diction, and non-verbal cues based on the purpose, audience, and context of the communication. Learners will modify messages based on feedback from the audience. Learners will attend to tone, volume, word choice, non-verbal cues, and context when receiving oral messages and respond with appropriate feedback.
Instructional Approach
In this course lessons will include a variety of hands-on learning activities. There are simulations in which learners will gather and share information from a variety of sources: fiction and non-fiction literature, manuals, charts, graphs, memos, letters, and reports, as well as experts in the field. Learners will draw conclusions and select appropriate written formats to summarize information, compare and contrast ideas, justify actions, describe events and characters, and explain plans. Working independently, learners will prepare research and trouble-shooting reports, analyze literature, and develop directions and procedural guidelines. Finally, learners will practice and learn oral communication strategies in role-playing situations. They will learn to communicate effectively when working in groups, responding to customers, and dealing with interpersonal conflict.
The instructor will demonstrate or model essential communication skills, "coach" learners as they practice skills in simulations and role-playing activities, and provide feedback by observing and responding to learner performance using observation guidelines that are provided.
Course Content
The course content will include the following topics and themes:
a. Communication and its role in human society: what affects it, how it's changed, and the impact of technology.
b. Information sources at school and in the workplace.
c. Communication and problem solving.
d. Responding to audiences: co-workers, clients, customers, supervisors.
e. Communicating effectively in groups.
f. Following and giving directions.
g. Making and responding to requests.
h. Survey of literature including short stories, poetry, novels, drama, essays, letters, and speech.
i. Mechanics, grammar, and usage in the context of learner writing; vocabulary is taken from learner reading materials.
Evaluation
Learner grades will be derived from daily assignments, group work, projects.