Corporate communication/Design blueprint

Metadata

 * Level: 1st year Bachelor Degree
 * Notional learning hours: 120 (comprising 3 micro courses of 40 hours each)
 * Credits: 3 North American credits
 * Assessing institution: Thomas Edison State University /CLEP
 * Proposed credentials: Associate in Science in Business Administration degree (TESU) and Certificate in Higher Education (UK)
 * Course codes: CCOM100 (CCOM101, CCOM102, CCOMT103)

Intended target audience

 * First year business students
 * People working in business who want to learn current business communication standards
 * People who want to develop their public speaking and presentation skills.

Prerequisite knowledge
Anyone is free to participate in the CCOM 101, 102 or 103 micro courses. An Internet connection and basic web browsing skills are recommended. Also,
 * the ability to create a blog, post microblog comments and participate in open forums (instructions and self-study tutorials are provided), and
 * working knowledge of office software and file management.

Text for all three micro courses
Business Communication for Success, is an open text that is used in Saylor version of course.

CCOM 100: Corporate Communications
Course Aims for CCOM 100
 * Provide learners with Business Communication theories and practical information.
 * Prepare learners for processing and communicating information (read, listen, speak, write) effectively in today’s dynamic workplace and global business environment.
 * Help learners appreciate how culture influences communication.

Course Description for CCOM 100

In this course, you will learn about effective communication skills as a prerequisite for succeeding in business, with particular attention to communication tools and activities that connect people within and beyond the organization.

Learning Outcomes for CCOM 100
 * Explain why effective communication is important in a corporate environment;
 * Apply theories and observations of verbal communication to real-world communication challenges;
 * Use information about perceptions to analyze themselves and also the audiences to which businesses distribute messages;
 * Critique common formats of written business communication by recognizing standard and nonstandard elements in examples of each format;
 * Create business presentations that use verbal and nonverbal communication techniques effectively;
 * Recognize the importance of intrapersonal and interpersonal communication in business environments;
 * Recognize the impact of cultural differences on effective communication and understand the steps to becoming acculturated for international assignments;
 * Prepare a crisis communication plan and know how to give and receive negative news; and
 * Use an understanding of groups, teams, and leadership to explain how to solve problems and run productive meetings.

CCOM 101: Introduction to Corporate Communications (Saylor Units 1-5, 7)
Course Aims for CCOM 101 Course Description for CCOM 101
 * Provide learners with business communication theories and practical information.
 * Prepare learners for processing and communicating information (read, listen, speak, write) effectively in today’s dynamic workplace and global business environment.
 * Help learners appreciate how culture influences communication.

In this course, you will learn how the communication process, messages, and audiences are interrelated in business communications, and develop skills, habits and strategies that support successful writing in various business communication formats and contexts. You will also learn about differences and similarities between key components of communication in written and oral communication.

Learning Outcomes for CCOM 101 Assessments for CCOM 101
 * Explain why effective communication is important in a corporate environment.
 * Explain how experiences, attitudes, beliefs and values shape people’s perceptions and communication.
 * Apply communication theories and models to real-world communication challenges.
 * Analyze diverse audience perceptions to craft effective business messages.
 * Apply essential writing skills to better communicate with various audiences.
 * Describe the purpose, elements, and formats of common business documents.
 * Apply organizational principles and structural elements in planning outlines.
 * Explain key legal implications of business writing.

CCOM 102: Public Speaking and Presentations (Saylor Units 6 & 8-11)
Course Aims for CCOM 102

•  Develop knowledge of speaker roles and responsibilities in different speech types.

•  Develop public speaking and presentation skills for various business contexts.

•  Develop competencies to overcome common communication barriers and meet the needs of diverse audiences.

Course Description for CCOM 102

In this course you will learn how to prepare and organize the various kinds of presentations expected in business contexts, from informational and persuasive speeches to telephone sales, toasts, media interviews, introductions, giving or receiving awards, and acting as a master of ceremonies. You will also learn how to overcome common communication barriers to create effective oral presentations for diverse audiences.

Learning Outcomes for CCOM 102 Assessments for CCOM 102
 * Describe various oral presentation types expected in business contexts.
 * Explain the roles and responsibilities associated with different presentation types.
 * Create effective oral presentations for diverse audiences.
 * Use various movement techniques and visual aids to enhance presentation delivery.
 * Apply various strategies to build bridges across common communication barriers.

Saylor: Quizzes for Units 6 & 8-11

CCOM 103: Intercultural Communication, Teamwork and Leadership (Saylor Units 12-15)
Course Aims for CCOM 103

•   Develop understanding of workplace interpersonal relations

•   Develop effective skills and strategies to negotiate workplace conflict and crises.

•   Develop intercultural communication competencies to work with diverse local and international teams

•   Develop understanding of how leadership styles affect group, team and workplace cultures.

Course Description for CCOM 103

In this course, you will apply the basic principles of effective, professional communication to some of the most challenging issues in business interpersonal relations, including critical feedback, conflict negotiation, and crisis management. Individual and cultural diversity bring multiple perspectives that stimulate team creativity. Differences in expectations, values and behaviours can also spark emotional reactivity. With more understanding and communication skills, you will be better prepared to work effectively in diverse teams, both as a team member and team leader.

Learning Outcomes for CCOM 103

When you have completed this course, you will be able to: Assessments for CCOM 103
 * Describe ways individual and social communication can affect workplace relations.
 * Communicate clearly in workplace interview, feedback, and conflict situations.
 * Manage negative news and crisis communication plans productively.
 * Recognize legal, ethical, economic, and political aspects of international commerce.
 * Apply research, reflection, and experience to intercultural communication situations.

Development and delivery approach

 * CCOM 100 Saylor course will be divided it into 3 micro courses, CCOM 101, 102 ans 103. Each course will have its own course description and learning outcomes and build on each other so that a learner can get one credit for each micro course or 3 credits for the whole CCOM 100 course. All courses will be based on sound open design and pedagogy. The courses will all use an open text, Business Communication for Success, and other OER. Each course will be designed for independent study, with some flexibility included for various delivery modalities being possible. Each course will include activities (and hopefully interactive multimedia) for learners to practice practical business communication skills. Assessments will be very similar to formative practice activities/exercises learners will be exposed to during courses. Supports will be included for learners who might not have great technology skills. The course will be developed transparently in the "open" with all feedback, discussions, plans etc to be available for all to see. The master versions of courses will be made in WikiEducator, but they can be easily transferred to any LMS eg various contextualized Word Press site.

Assessment strategy
TBD - in collaboration with Thomas Edison State University person

Learner-content interactions
Each micro-course will:
 * Incorporate video signposts as stimulus
 * Provide learners with a series of learning pathways designed for independent study.
 * Incorporate one or more learning challenges in each learning pathway.
 * Include learning challenges that function as building blocks for the final course assessment.

Learner-learner interactions
Learners will be able to interact via a number of technologies which will be harvested using an aggregated timeline for the interactions:
 * Discussion forum posts
 * Personal blog posts and comments
 * Personal learning journal
 * Ask OERu, a community-based question and answer forum.
 * WENotes microblog comments

Learner-support interactions

 * Students will be encouraged to use a peer-support question and answer forum for addressing support questions.
 * Self-study help tutorials will be provided for the technologies used in the course.