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Course Title: Course Number: Total Learning Time:3 Hours / 4 Weeks Pre-Requisites: Overview
Course Title: Course Number: Total Learning Time:3 Hours / 4 Weeks Pre-Requisites: Overview
Pre-requisites: None
Overview:
The course is designed to develop the students’ oral communication skills for
effective personal, group, and Public Communication in the various
disciplines. It also provides for the improvement of skills in oral interchange
between and among people. It includes the study of the mechanics of oral
communication, the various forms of speech. Models for analysis are also
included. Emphasis is given to the development of the learner’s skill in
making and delivering original speeches on different occasions.
Indicative Content:
What is Communication?
See also: Interpersonal Communication Skills
Communication is simply the act of transferring information
from one place, person or group to another.
Defining Communication
communication, n. The imparting or exchanging of information by
speaking, writing, or using some other medium. …The successful conveying
or sharing of ideas and feelings.
Of course, there may be more than one recipient, and the complexity of
communication means that each one may receive a slightly different message. Two
people may read very different things into the choice of words and/or body language.
It is also possible that neither of them will have quite the same understanding as the
sender.
In face-to-face communication, the roles of the sender and recipient are not distinct.
The two roles will pass back and forwards between two people talking. Both parties
communicate with each other, even if in very subtle ways such as through eye-contact
(or lack of) and general body language. In written communication, however, the
sender and recipient are more distinct.
Categories of Communication
There are a wide range of ways in which we communicate and more
than one may be occurring at any given time.
The different categories of communication include:
● Visualizations: graphs and charts, maps, logos and other visualizations can all
communicate messages.
The sender must encode the message (the information being conveyed) into a form
that is appropriate to the communication channel, and the recipient then decodes the
message to understand its meaning and significance.
They will also seek out feedback from the recipient(s) to ensure that the message is
understood and attempt to correct any misunderstanding or confusion as soon as
possible.
They will also seek out feedback from the receiver(s) as to how the message is
understood and attempt to correct any misunderstanding or confusion as soon as
possible.
For example, broadcasting news of an upcoming event via a written letter might
convey the message clearly to one or two individuals. It will not, however, be a time-
or cost-effective way to broadcast the message to a large number of people. On the
other hand, conveying complex, technical information is easier via a printed
document than a spoken message. The recipients are able to assimilate the
information at their own pace and revisit anything that they do not fully understand.
Written communication is also useful as a way of recording what has been said, for
example by taking minutes in a meeting.
Complex data may be best communicated using a graph, chart or other visualisation.
Effective communicators encode their messages so that they fit both the channel and
the intended audience. They use appropriate language, conveying the information
simply and clearly. They also anticipate and eliminate likely causes of confusion and
misunderstanding. They are generally aware of the recipients’ experience in decoding
similar communications.
Successful encoding of messages for the audience and channel is a vital skill in
effective communication.
Decoding Messages
Once received, the recipient needs to decode the message. Successful
decoding is also a vital communication skill.
People will decode and understand messages in different ways.
This will depend on their experience and understanding of the context of the message,
how well they know the sender, their psychological state and how they feel, and the
time and place of receipt. They may also be affected by any Barriers to
Communication which might be present.
There are therefore a wide range of factors that will affect decoding and
understanding.
Feedback
The final part of a communication is feedback: the recipient lets the
sender know that they have received and understood the message.
Recipients of messages are likely to provide feedback on how they have understood
the messages through both verbal and non-verbal reactions. Effective communicators
pay close attention to this feedback as it is the only way to assess whether the message
has been understood as intended, and it allows any confusion to be corrected.
Bear in mind that the extent and form of feedback will vary with the communication
channel. Feedback during a face-to-face or telephone conversation will be immediate
and direct, whilst feedback to messages conveyed via TV or radio will be indirect and
may be delayed, or even conveyed through other media such as the Internet.
Effective communicators pay close attention to this feedback as it is the only way to
assess whether the message has been understood as intended, and it allows any
confusion to be corrected.
Bear in mind that the extent and form of feedback will vary with the communication
channel. Feedback during a face-to-face or telephone conversation will be immediate
and direct, whilst feedback to messages conveyed via TV or radio will be indirect and
may be delayed, or even conveyed through other media such as the Internet.
Task: Answer the following questions. Submit your answers through our
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