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Gold Coast Session 1 Session 1
Lismore Session 1 Session 1
Online Session 1,  3 Session 1

Unit Summary

Unit type

UG Coursework Unit

Credit points

12

AQF level

7

Level of learning

Introductory

Former School/College

Former School of Arts and Social Sciences

Anti-requisites

BHS00161 Interpersonal Communication

Unit aim

Introduces students to the theory and models of effective communication in academic and professional contexts. Includes written communication, non-verbal communication, communicating in groups and teams, and communicating with specific groups, such as people with disabilities, and children and young people. Communication challenges are examined, including cross-cultural communication and managing conflict.

Unit content

Topic 1: Introduction

Topic 2: Understanding communication theory and models

Topic 3: Speech, conversation and nonverbal communication

Topic 4: Interpersonal encounters and interviews

Topic 5: Self-esteem, assertiveness and managing conflict

Topic 6: Writing and documentation in academic and workplace settings

Topic 7: Style and language in academic and workplace settings

Topic 8: Communication – the example of cross-cultural communication

Topic 9: Communication with specific populations, including children and young people, and people with disabilities

Topic 10: Communicating in groups, including families, teams and meetings

Topic 11: Managing communication in organisations

Learning outcomes

Unit Learning Outcomes express learning achievement in terms of what a student should know, understand and be able to do on completion of a unit. These outcomes are aligned with the graduate attributes. The unit learning outcomes and graduate attributes are also the basis of evaluating prior learning.

GA1: , GA2: , GA3: , GA4: , GA5: , GA6: , GA7:
On completion of this unit, students should be able to: GA1 GA2 GA3 GA4 GA5 GA6 GA7
1 demonstrate knowledge of a range of verbal, nonverbal, and written communication skills and their application to academic and work settings
2 articulate what some of the barriers are to effective communication
3 reflect on their own communication patterns and personal values and how these may impact on their ability to effectively communicate with other people
4 undertake a basic exploratory interview using some active listening, reflecting, and questioning skills
5 evaluate the effectiveness of their own use of communication skills in the exploratory interview.

On completion of this unit, students should be able to:

  1. demonstrate knowledge of a range of verbal, nonverbal, and written communication skills and their application to academic and work settings
    • GA6:
  2. articulate what some of the barriers are to effective communication
    • GA6:
  3. reflect on their own communication patterns and personal values and how these may impact on their ability to effectively communicate with other people
    • GA3:
    • GA5:
    • GA6:
  4. undertake a basic exploratory interview using some active listening, reflecting, and questioning skills
    • GA6:
  5. evaluate the effectiveness of their own use of communication skills in the exploratory interview.
    • GA6:

Prescribed texts

  • Faigley, L, 2015, The little Penguin handbook, 3rd edn, Pearson Australia, Basingstoke, UK.
  • Thompson, N, 2011, Effective communication: A guide for the people professions , 2nd edn, Palgrave Macmillan, Basingstoke, UK.

  • Faigley, L, 2015, The little Penguin handbook, 3rd edn, Pearson Australia, Basingstoke, UK.
  • Thompson, N, 2011, Effective communication: A guide for the people professions , 2nd edn, Palgrave Macmillan, Basingstoke, UK.
Prescribed texts may change in future teaching periods.