Communication Skills (for Finnish degree programmes) (3 cr)

Evaluation scale

0-5

Objective

You can obtain the abilities to communicate in your own field of expertise.

You understand the meaning of communication in the workplace and as a part of your professional skills. You are aware of the components which help you to succeed in communication situations. You have the ability to develop your skills in order to take part in work conversations, express opinions in meetings and write in a formal way.

You also learn how to work in projects, write a common text in a group and adapt Office 365 tools.

You can give an illustrative expert presentation. You can justify your opinions and give and receive feedback. You can recognize essential ways to take part in typical working life conversations. You can act as an effective conversational partner. You can produce documents and other texts according to instructions and models. You can write text in an appropriate manner. You can analyze your own communication skills. You are aware of the impact of your communication style. You recognize the factors of the communication process and the role of communication as a part of your expertise.

Communication and Team-working: You are able to communicate effectively as an individual and as a member of a team with specialists in your own field as well as with other groups of professionals.

Content

Organizing, leading and documenting discussions in the workplace, also virtually. Project work skills.

Expert statements and presentations.

Development of communication skills, reflection, analysis and observation of communication situations and skills. Giving and receiving feedback, The role of various cultures in communication.

Producing appropriate text and writing common text in a group.

Teaching methods

Alkio-opiston opiskelijoille toteutettava opintojakso Alkio-opistolla.

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1)

1 You know the basic concepts and theories of communication. You can analyze your own communication skills and give and receive feedback. You recognise the communication process model and the central means of typical workplace discussions. You participate in group discussions. You are able to give clear specialist presentations using visual aids although the content of the presentation is narrow, and the structure has not been fine tuned. Communication with the audience is lacking. You are able to produce documents and other informative texts using guidelines and models. In your texts, you show the ability to use formal style and correct grammar. The content of your text is limited. You participate in group work activities and educational situations.

2 You recognise the factors of the communication process and the role of communication as a part of your professional skills. You are aware of how your own communication style and non-verbal communication affect various communication situations. You can evaluate both the procedures for conversation and the characteristics of conversational skills. You can give a structured specialist presentation using visual aids according to part 1 on the evaluation scale. The structure is logical but the beginning and ending lack depth. There is limited communication with the audience. You are able to produce documents and other informative texts using guidelines and models. In your texts, you show the general ability to use formal style and correct grammar. The texts have structure, but they may be lacking in content and logic. You participate in group work activities and educational situations.

Assessment criteria, good (3)

3 You are able to analyze your own communication skills. You can give well-grounded feedback on other students’ communication skills. You are able to use the feedback you receive towards improving your own skills. You consider communication skills to be an essential part of your professional skills and you are interested in developing them. You can act in work-related discussions in a responsible and active way in order to achieve goals. You can give a structured specialist presentation according to part 1 on the evaluation scale. You adjust your message for your audience and interact with them. You have a clear beginning and ending. You are able to write texts with content appropriate to the type of text, a clear structure and good language and style. The text progresses in a logical manner and has good hierarchy. The contents include the main parts. You participate in group work activities and educational situations in a responsible and active manner.

4 You can analyze and reflect on your own communication competence. You can use the feedback you receive, reflect upon it, and use it to further their own development. You are aware of your own strengths and development needs and know how to take developmental action. You are able to give well-grounded feedback on other students’ communication skills. You take an active, responsible and instigative role in work-related discussions. You can influence the achievement of the objectives as well as the creation of a positive atmosphere through your own actions. You can give a structured specialist presentation according to part 1 on the evaluation scale. You can communicate in an interesting and motivating way. You can illustrate your points in a versatile way, and your means of expression is relaxed. Your text is fluent, appropriate and may have occasional grammar mistakes which do not hinder the reading of the text. The content is informative while the structure forms a working whole. You are able to contribute to the goals of the project with your own actions.

Assessment criteria, excellent (5)

5 You are able to analyze and reflect on your own communicative competence. You are aware of your own strengths and development needs and know how to take developmental action. You have a desire to develop your own communication skills. You can evaluate and give well-grounded feedback on other students’ communication skills. You are able to lead discussions in an inspiring way and take accountability for the quality of the results. You can propose effective means into the discussion and logically work towards the goals. You can give a structured specialist presentation according to part 1 on the evaluation scale. You take the audience into account in many ways. Your illustrations and examples are creative. You are able to effectively apply expressive means to your advantage. In your text you are able to take the reader into account and adapt your text accordingly. Your texts are easy to read, and the language and style are consistent and controlled. You are able to contribute to the goals of the group project and take accountability for the quality of the work.