Oct 9 College communications

Introduction

  • Overview: The discussion centers on assignments, upcoming speakers, and oral communication strategies relevant to students in a professional context.

Flexibility in Learning Environment

  • Advocate for a flexible teaching approach.

    • Importance of being responsive to students' needs rather than overwhelming them with content.

Upcoming Schedule

  • Important Dates:

    • No class on Monday due to a holiday (Thanksgiving).

    • Guest speaker scheduled for Thursday next week.

  • Speaker: Kevin Chenard (the instructor's husband)

    • Contribution based on a relevant background that relates to the students' career trajectories.

    • Invitation based on professional qualifications rather than personal connections.

  • Future Speaker: Katie Ward (occupational therapist) due in November.

Oral Communication Strategies

  • Topics covered will include:

    • Best practices for giving presentations.

    • General methods for oral communication.

    • Active listening techniques essential for professional development.

  • Importance emphasized for students to develop these skills due to:

    • Required presentations in Week 10.

    • Frequent use of communication skills across various courses.

Self-Assessment Assignment

  • Assignment Overview:

    • Due on Sunday, October 19, at midnight.

    • A critical reflection of personal strengths and weaknesses in professional development.

    • Emphasizes self-reflection, which is necessary during interviews and performance reviews.

  • Components of the Self-Assessment:

    1. First Component: Written assessment due at the end of next week.

    • Focus on: Professionalism, writing skills, active listening.

    • Engage with initial survey results from Week 1 to gauge progress.

    1. Oral Component: One-on-one discussions scheduled for the last two weeks of the semester (Weeks 13-14).

    2. Portfolio Requirement: Inclusion of relevant assignments showcasing oral and written communication skills throughout the semester.

Formatting Guidelines

  • Submission Format: Must be PDF to preserve formatting (APA style required).

    • Avoid submission in Word format to prevent formatting issues.

  • Content Requirements:

    • Length: 3-4 pages not including title and references.

    • Requirements for in-text citations and APA references for multimedia sources.

Key Learning Outcomes for Self-Assessment Assignment

  1. Professionalism: Importance of maintaining professional standards in communication.

  2. Writing Skills: Insight into how writing affects professional image.

  3. Active Listening: Recognizing its role in effective communication and its impact on professional relationships.

Structure of the Written Assessment

  • Introduction: Clearly state the purpose and summarize the videos used for analysis.

    • Include titles, speakers, publication dates of the videos discussed.

  • Body: Analyze the key themes from each video:

    • Identify specific ideas about professionalism, writing, and listening skills.

    • Explore why these points are significant to career development.

    • Relate observations to personal strengths and weaknesses.

  • Conclusion: Conclude with a call to action related to personal goal setting and development in the discussed areas.

Reflection of Learning: Assignments Expectations

  • Adhere to structured communication principles for professional relevance.

  • Importance of tailoring content to fit audience needs.

  • Applying the three components:

    1. What: Identifying the points that resonate.

    2. Why: Discussing the significance of those points.

    3. How: Connecting to personal development goals.

Grading Criteria

  • Break down of marks based on specific content criteria for the self-assessment assignment:

    • APA format adherence and overall presentation quality.

    • Depth and relevance of analysis: critical thinking.

    • Must reflect on personal development and offer specific examples for clarity.

Potential Concerns from Students

  • Queries raised regarding specific instructions from other faculty members regarding the structure of the self-assessment.

    • Flexibility highlighted: Adjust communications based on audience expectations.

  • Discussions on research journals and databases for assignment preparation.

Conclusion

  • Encouragement for students to utilize the remaining class time for independent work.

  • Opportunity to ask questions and seek guidance from the instructor.

  • Final thoughts on ensuring communication skills are tailored and practiced.