Curricula

Objectives

By the end of the course, you should be able to
- articulate working definitions of communication;
- identify the key elements of modern communication models;
- correctly apply the standards and conventions of JAMK’s Project Reporting Instructions to a written report on an assigned topic; and
- deliver a stand-up presentation on an assigned topic.

Content

The principal contents of the course relate directly to the required assignments, which deal with
- the definition of communication,
- the conception and realization of a communication model,
- managing interpersonal relations and communication,
- the writing of a report conforming to the standards and conventions of JAMK’s Project Reporting Instructions, and
- development, rehearsal, and delivery of a stand-up presentation.

Other contents include supporting activities and smaller preparatory tasks designed to help you perform your best on the assignments listed above.

Time and location

Ten meetings in total starting January 18 in classroom G201 (Rajakatu).

There will not be a meeting every week but the course includes some tasks and exercises to be done at home. 80% participation in class in mandatory (min. 8 out of 10 lessons).

Learning materials and recommended literature

Mainly provided by the teacher through the Moodle-workspace.

Additionally something to consider: Liukko, S. & Perttula, S. (The latest edition). Project Reporting Instructions. Jyväskylä: JAMK University of Applied Sciences.

Teaching methods

This course requires weekly classroom attendance on our Rajakatu campus. So please prepare to be on site and not to work independently via the internet on your own time. The weekly sessions are not lectures but an opportunity for you to be actively engaged with the material via small group discussions and activities. For this reason, the sessions will not be recorded.

Skills this course aims to improve:

- Oral skills: presentations and/or other oral assignments (e.g. company presentation, presentations on communication issues in different cultures, work-related oral communication)

- Written skills: written assignments (e.g. summaries, reports, essays) while considering the demands of formal written English

Practical training and working life connections

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Exam dates and retake possibilities

This course will not contain an exam - The course evaluation will instead be based on continuous participation and activity in class as well as the quality of each student's main assignments.

International connections

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Alternative completion methods

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Student workload

3 ECTS credits = 81 hours of work between our classroom sessions and regular homework both individually and in small teams.

Further information for students

Students who pass the minimum requirements will be graded with a whole number on a scale of 1 (sufficient) - 5 (excellent)

The course grade will be calculated as follows:
- 10 % Continuous Demonstration of skills and class participation
- 45 % Major spoken assignment
- 45 % Major written assignment

All of the above requirements must be completed at least at satisfactorily level to receive a grade for the course.

Evaluation scale

0-5

Evaluation criteria, satisfactory (1-2)

1. You complete all required assignments. Your actual performance in these assignments, however, is such that your understanding and learning are not demonstrated beyond the most basic requirements.

2. You complete all required assignments. In some instances, your performance is above the minimum expectations, but in others, it is not.

Evaluation criteria, good (3-4)

3. You complete all required assignments and, in most instances, your performance is consistently above the minimum expectations.

4. You complete all required assignments and your performance consistently meets or exceeds the stated expectations.

Evaluation criteria, excellent (5)

5. You complete all your assignments and they consistently demonstrate and advanced-level ability to internalize the given instruction and translate it into tangible results.

Prerequisites

Common Reference Level B2 (on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages scale) English skills in both writing and speaking, as well as sufficient ICT skills for working with basic video recording and editing tools and participating in online meetings (in the case of online implementations of this course).

Further information

If you have completed your school education in Swedish, you must complete the Työelämän viestintä course (in Finnish) instead of Communication Skills for Working Life. This will be effective from 1 January 2022.