EDF4010

Developing Effective Communication Skills

Ms S. T. Kantanis

6 points - 2 hours per week - Second semester - Clayton

Objectives Upon successful completion of this subject, students should have developed: an increased awareness of the manner in which they employ their existing communicative skills; the ability to astutely perceive the purpose of communication (their own and that of others); the ability to reflect on the purpose (direct and indirect) of communication; an appreciation that all communication is culturally contextualised, and the significance of culturally contextualised communication; an increased critical perception of the factors that act as determinants in the creation of effective communication; an understanding of the power of effective communication, and an appreciation that this power can be harnessed and utilised by the creator to affect the intended audience in overt and covert ways; an awareness that effective communication can produce a potentially powerful interactivity between the creator and audience; competence and facility in using a complex range of skills that enable effective communication; an appreciation that effective communication will affect every aspect of their professional lives; and effective communication skills that will serve them well in life.

Synopsis This subject has been especially designed for those preparing to the teaching profession. As teachers there is a particular need to be effective communicators. There is an imperative not only to understand and appreciate the purposes for which we listen, speak, read, write, perform and create visual images, but also to have a heightened awareness of context, audience and cultural capital. As we develop more effective communication skills, our perception of the need to clearly establish context, audience and purpose as the skeletal structure upon which to build the content, mode and manner of delivery increases, improving the articulation and fluency of our means of expression in dealing with people in the world around us.
Effective and successful communication involves more than mere message transference. Careful thought, selection and preparation given to the medium of communication is crucial. Thus, in this subject visual, audio and print media, in addition to a combination of these mediums will be used to highlight and differentiate stylistic devices employed both overtly and covertly for the creation of effective communication.
This subject establishes a theoretical framework in the lectures and offers the opportunity for students to demonstrate their understanding through practical application in the seminar/workshops.

Assessment A creative written response communicating the key concepts of a non-verbal video (1500 words) 20% - Construction of written text to match sequentially constructed visual text (1500 words and 5 - 10 visuals) 20% - A journal recording their developing effectiveness in utilising their own communicative skills (1000 words) 10% - Scripted role-play 20% - Performance of scripted vignette. 20% - Active class involvement and participation 10%

Recommended texts

Anderson J A & Meyer T P Mediated Communication Sage Publications, 1988
Mackay H Why Don't People Listen? Pan, 1994
Moss G Getting Yours Ideas Across: a Handbook to Improve Your Listening, Speaking, Writing and Meeting Skills CCH Australia Ltd, 1992
Pettersson R Visual Information Educational Technology Publications, 1993
Schirato T & Yell S Communication and Cultural Literacy Allen and Unwin Pty Ltd, 1996
Semin G R & Fiedler K (eds) Language, Interaction and Social Cognition Sage Publications, 1992
Silverblatt A Media Literacy: Keys to Interpreting Media Messages Praeger, 1995
Windschuttle K & Elliott E Writing, Researching, Communicating: Communication Skills for the Information Age McGraw-Hill Book Company, 1994

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