ORAL COMMUNICATION DEFINED
Oral communication involves expressing and sharing ideas and information as well as influencing others through verbal and nonverbal symbols. The National Communication Association (NCA) has established basic oral communication competencies for college graduates. Among the competencies set forth by the NCA are basic skills for informing, persuading, and relating to others. These skills include sending and receiving oral communication messages, developing and organizing messages, adapting messages to the particular situation and audience, communicating interpersonally and in small groups, and evaluating the messages of others. |
PURPOSE OF THE OC FOCUS
Oral communication skills benefit students academically, interpersonally, and in their future careers. Students who participate in class discussions are more involved in their own learning. Students who can express themselves well find it easier to give oral presentations in class as well as to interact with their instructors and with other students. Employers seek applicants who have excellent oral communication skills. Because Leeward Community College believes that its students should be prepared to use oral communication skills in a variety of contexts, including interpersonal, group, and public communication situations, an OC course is required for graduation. The Leeward Community College OC hallmarks are adapted from the University of Hawaii at Manoa’s OC hallmarks. The explanatory notes for the OC hallmarks are adapted from the NCA’s Learning Outcomes in Communication in order to ensure our students are equipped with the necessary competencies to thrive personally, academically, and professionally. |
OC HALLMARKS
HALLMARK #1 Each student will conduct or participate in a minimum of three oral communication assignments or a comparable amount of oral communication activity during the class. In addition, at least 40% of the final grade for a 3-credit course will be a function of the student's oral communication activities (30% for a 4-credit course; 60% for a 2-credit course; 100% for a 1-credit course).
HALLMARK #2 Each student will receive explicit training, in the context of the class, in oral communication concerns relevant to the assignment or activity.
HALLMARK #3 Each student will receive specific feedback, critiquing, and grading of the oral communication assignments or activities from the instructor.
If instructor feedback primarily involves individual or paired students, enrollment will be limited to 20 students. If instructor feedback primarily involves groups of students, enrollment will be limited to 30 students. |