Overview

This course introduces you to theories of communication related to interpersonal relationships, small group interaction and public speaking. The focus of the class is upon developing competencies for becoming a more confident and effective communicator.

Objectives

After completing this class you will:

1. Have a better understanding of theories and concepts about communication.
2. Develop critical thinking skills for evaluating the practical and ethical impact of communication choices.
3. Weigh communication situations and interactions with others in light of a communication ethic that emphasizes the values of respect for social and cultural diversity, appreciation for ways that people and communities differ in the ways that they communicate, respect for the integrity of ideas and responsibility for participating in social, professional and civic matters.
4. Practice skills for becoming a more competent communicator in interpersonal, professional, and public speaking contexts of communication.
5. Understand different context of communication and how different channels of interaction affect communication outcomes.
6. Acquire and practice competence for using computer-mediated technologies for communicating.

Course Policies

This course fulfills the basic speech requirement at the Northern Virginia Community College. As we begin, it is also important to take stock of the unique nature of this course and to make the proper judgment that you do indeed want to commit yourself to this class.

There are various types of courses offered through the Extended Learning Institute at the Northern Virginia Community College. Each has its own form and requirements. While many of the courses offered at ELI are structured so that you can work almost entirely at your own pace, this class differs significantly because of the way we interact with one another in four face-to-face meetings and by way of an online Discussion Board where we will discuss class topics. For significant periods of time, you will be working on your own, and be required to participate in a consistent and timely manner for the class discussions. T

he progression of topics and the deadlines for doing each of the discussions can be found on the Class Calendar, which can be located in the Course Information section. As a Web based class, this section of SPD 110 will enable us to explore how computer mediated communication and the Internet work as channels for personal and public communication. While a typical class will meet exclusively at a designated time each week and for a fixed duration of time, we will interact in an asynchronous mode. That is, we won't all be communicating with one another at the exact same time. Yet, this is also properly labeled a hybrid distance-education class--rather than being a purely asynchronous class. We will have "real-time" face to face meetings, and there will be specified periods of time during which you should complete the various modules and activities of the class. In a unique way we will be seeing how electronic media of communication work alongside face to face interaction.

Time Commitments

Online Classes take more time than some may realize. Plan to make between five and seven postings per week to the class discussion board. In addition to initiating messages, you will also be expected to provide useful, constructive feedback to your colleagues in the class.

Participation in Online Discussions

Participating in the Discussion Board is time sensitive. All postings for a given module must be done within the time frame of that module, as identified on the Class Calendar. You will see a deadline for when an initial posting is to be made for a topic as well as another date when feedback may be offered on that topic. There are also particular dates for postings in Module Seven as we prepare for our speeches with participation in a special small group called your public speaking cohort. You may not go back to do postings to a module after we have moved on to another topic or module. Computer Skills will be critical to your success in this class. You should be able to do the following:

• send and receive e-mail,
• participate in a class bulletin board,
• use an Internet browser, and
• use interactive features on Web pages.

For those who are interested, we will also use live chat, which is optional.

Course Materials

You may purchase the textbook for this course at any of the five NVCC bookstores. Be sure to locate the special section of campus bookstores for the ELI section.

Doyle, T. (2004). Communication Unbound, 1/e. Boston: Allyn & Bacon. ISBN: 0-2-5-35874-8

Course Requirements

Your grade for the class will be based on completion of the following required elements:

1. Participation in the four mandatory class meetings
2. Participation in the class discussion board discussions. (90 points)
3. Presentation of an informative or persuasive speech for Module Seven. (30 points)
4. Completion of five class projects, including:
   • a listening self-assessment at the end of Module Three (five points)
   • a self-concept assessment at the end of Module Four (ten points)
   • an interpersonal communication assessment at the end of Module Five (ten points)
   • a small-group assessment at the end of Module Six (fifteen points)
   • a speaker portfolio at the end of Module Seven (fifteen points)

Further information about the class projects can be found in the Course Information section.

Mandatory Class Meetings

Class attendance for four mandatory meetings is essential for succesful completion of the class.

The Extended Learning Institute offices are located at 8000 Forbes Place in Springfield, Virginia. It is conveniently located just off the Capital Beltway, I-495, at the Braddock Road Exit, Exit 54A. Specific directions for locating the ELI Center can be found using the link on the Announcements page of our Blackboard website.

A listing of the specific dates when your section of the class will meet are listed on the Class Calendar, which can be found in the Course Information section of our Blackboard course website. You may also check the schedule of classes for the dates. It is not possible to pass the class without taking part in the oral assignments that are completed during our face-to-face class sessions.

Owing to the nature of this class as an online course, you will also be expected to participate in twenty-one topic discussions that are conducted on the online discussion board in blackboard.

Full participation in the discussions will entail the following:

1. You will be expected to do an initial posting, which is typically three or four paragraphs in length. Your postings should address one of the specific options that are listed for each of the class topics. A detailed listing of options for each of the topics is available in Course Information under the heading of Discussion Topics.
2. You will also be expected to provide reply postings to other classmates. Each reply posting should be one to two paragraphs in length and make substantial, helpful and critical responses to the initial posting in a manner that moves the class discussion of a topic forward.
3. The deadline dates for class postings and reply postings can be found on the Class Calender, which can be found in the Course Information section.

Test Information

The three required tests are to be taken at one of the testing centers for Northern Virginia Community College. Each test is done online. When you go to a testing center you will be asked to present a test pass, which is attached. The testing centers also require that you present identification information. At the testing center, you will be provided with the password that will be needed for the test. Additional information can be found in the section on Assignments. When you do a test, you will also need to present an Exam Pass. Click here for an exam pass.

Beginning the Course

1. Use your web browser to connect to www. nvcc.edu/bbstart. Follow the directions to determine your email, Blackboard and VIVA account user names and passwords.

2. Log on to your email account and make sure you know how to use it; you will be required to use this account for all course-related email. Check your email regularly.

3. Log on to your Blackboard account and locate SPD 110 among the courses for which you are enrolled. If you do not see a hyperlink for SPD 110, please contact Dr. Doyle at tdoyle@nvcc.edu

4. Click on this course under "My Courses." Review the entire course to make sure you understand what will be required of you. Then start completing the assignments. Please note that account generation takes approximately one week from the time of your paid registration. If you cannot log on after one week, contact the IT Help Desk.