Unit Outline
UPP017
Communication Skills in Practice
Semester 1, 2024
Dominic Lennard
University College
College of Business and Economics
CRICOS Provider Code: 00586B
Unit Coordinator
Dominic Lennard
Email: Dominic.Lennard@utas.edu.au
What is the Unit About?
Unit Description
 
This unit introduces you to a range of communication skills, strategies, techniques and practices that enable effective communication and participation in the university environment, workplace, and community. Through the completion of various individual and collaborative activities, you will develop and consolidate effective personal and interpersonal communication skills. Major tasks in this unit include a research task, group presentation, and reflection, through which you will explore characteristics of communication practice, present logical arguments in an oral presentation, work collaboratively, and critically reflect on experiences.
Intended Learning Outcomes
As per the Assessment and Results Policy 1.3, your results will reflect your achievement against specified learning outcomes.
On completion of this unit, you will be able to:
1.
Identify and discuss the characteristics and practice of communication skills, styles and strategies
2.
Conduct research and planning to present a logical argument
3.
Communicate ideas and information in a range of formats to an academic audience
4.
Critically reflect on working collaboratively, and/or skills development, to generate plans for the future
Requisites
REQUISITE TYPE
REQUISITES
Pre-requisite
UPP010
Alterations as a result of student feedback
To Be Determined. 
 
 
Teaching arrangements
ATTENDANCE MODE
TEACHING TYPE
LEARNING ACTIVITY
CONTACT HOURS
FREQUENCY
On Campus
Workshop
On Campus students: 3-hour workshop (face-to-face) in Week 2,4,6,8,10,12
3
1 time per fortnight
Online
Workshop (Online)
Distance students: 2-hour online workshop in Week 2,4,6,8,10,12.
2
1 time per fortnight
Seminar
All students: 1-hour online seminar in Week 1,3,5,7,9,11,13.
1
1 time per fortnight
Attendance / engagement expectations
If your unit is offered On campus, it is expected that you will attend all on-campus and onsite learning activities. This is to support your own learning and the development of a learning community within the unit. If you are unable to attend regularly, please discuss the situation with your course coordinator and/or our UConnect support team.

If your unit is offered Online, it is expected you will engage in all those activities as indicated in the Unit Outline, including any self-directed learning.

If you miss a learning activity for a legitimate reason (e.g., illness, carer responsibilities) teaching staff will attempt to provide alternative activities (e.g., make up readings) where it is possible.
 
 
 
 
How will I be Assessed?
 
For more detailed assessment information please see MyLO.
Assessment schedule
ASSESSMENT TASK #
ASSESSMENT TASK NAME
DATE DUE
WEIGHT
LINKS TO INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES
Assessment Task 1:
Communication research task
Week 5
25 %
LO1, LO2, LO3
Assessment Task 2:
Group Presentation
Week 10
45 %
LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
Assessment Task 3:
Written Reflection
Week 13
30 %
LO1, LO3, LO4
 
Assessment details
    
Assessment Task 1: Communication research task
Task Description:
Research one aspect of communication from provided options and present your findings in the form of either an edited video (2-3 minutes) or an information poster

Task Length:
2-3min video or poster
Due Date:
Week 5
Weight:
25 %
 
CRITERION #
CRITERION
MEASURES INTENDED
LEARNING OUTCOME(S)
1
Identify and discuss characteristics and practice of communication
LO1
2
Apply professional and academic standards to communicate ideas and information
LO1, LO2, LO3
3
Use creative techniques and conventions to communicate ideas in visual representations
LO1, LO3
 
Assessment Task 2: Group Presentation
Task Description:
This assessment consists of three parts.
Part 1: Work collaboratively to plan, research and present on a provided or chosen contemporary issue.

Part 2 – Group assigned grade and mark based on group dynamics and collaborative effort involved with the completion of the presentation (10% of overall mark)

Part 3 – Self-reflection video (2 minutes) on working effectively in a team, communication strategies used, and proposed actions for future group assessments.

Task Length:
Group Presentation: 7-8 minutes Self Reflection: 2 minute video
Due Date:
Week 10
Weight:
45 %
 
 
CRITERION #
CRITERION
MEASURES INTENDED
LEARNING OUTCOME(S)
1
Use evidence to support arguments and conclusions
LO1, LO2, LO3
2
Organise and communicate ideas and information
LO1, LO2, LO3
3
Engage in teamwork and collaboration to contribute to outcomes
LO2, LO4
4
Engage in reflective practice
LO3, LO4
 
Assessment Task 3: Written Reflection
Task Description:
Using a model of reflection you will describe and analyse communication aspects discussed in the unit and connect to both your personal communication and interpersonal communication skills. You will further discuss the development and consolidation of effective communication skills and application to a future pathway.
You will be expected to incorporate reflections from journal log entries written over the semester

Task Length:
Journal log entries throughout semester (600 – 800 words) plus reflective paragraph (200 – 300 words)
Due Date:
Week 13
Weight:
30 %
 
CRITERION #
CRITERION
MEASURES INTENDED
LEARNING OUTCOME(S)
1
Engage in reflective practice
LO1, LO3, LO4
2
Apply a reflective model to practice
LO1, LO3, LO4
3
Use creative techniques and formats to communicate ideas and information
LO3, LO4
 
 
 
How your final result is determined
To pass this unit, you need to demonstrate your attainment of each of the Intended Learning Outcomes, achieve a final unit grade of 50% or greater, and pass any hurdle tasks.
 
Submission of assignments
Where practicable, assignments should be submitted to an assignment submission folder in MYLO. You must submit assignments by the due date or receive a penalty (unless an extension of time has been approved by the Unit Coordinator). Students submitting any assignment in hard copy, or because of a practicum finalisation, must attach a student cover sheet and signed declaration for the submission to be accepted for marking.
 
Requests for extensions
If you are unable to submit an assessment task by the due date, you should apply for an extension.
 
A request for an extension should first be discussed with your Unit Coordinator or teaching support team where possible. A request for an extension must be submitted by the assessment due date, except where you can provide evidence it was not possible to do so. Typically, an application for an extension will be supported by documentary evidence: however, where it is not possible for you to provide evidence please contact your Unit Coordinator.
 
The Unit Coordinator must notify you of the outcome of an extension request within 3 working days of receiving the request.
Late penalties
Assignments submitted after the deadline will receive a late penalty of 5% of the original available mark for each calendar day (or part day) that the assignment is late. Late submissions will not be accepted more than 10 calendar days after the due date, or after assignments have been returned to other students on a scheduled date, whichever occurs first. Further information on Late Penalties can be found on the Assessments and Results Procedure.
 
Review of results and appeals
You are entitled to ask for a review of the marking and grading of your assessment task if there is an irregularity in the marking standards or an error in the process for determining the outcome of an assessment. Details on how to request a review of a mark for an assignment are outlined in the Review and Appeal of Academic Decisions Procedure.