Unit Outline

This unit introduces you to effective professional communication techniques and practices applicable to the workplace and study. You will learn about the foundations of communication, the various communication styles, professional etiquette, and different types of communication behaviours. A central focus of this unit is for you to understand your own style, and gain an awareness of how you communicate and how others might feel based on how you behave and interact.

In addition, you will explore a range of barriers and enablers to effective communication, and develop strategies such as active listening, conflict resolution, and giving and receiving feedback. You will practice, and be assessed on, effective communication in groups and in a simulated environment. This will include participation in role plays, interviewing others, presenting ideas, and completing various group and individual activities. In conjunction with the discipline theory, this unit introduces learning through practice by exposing you to authentic learning experiences. These experiences are placed at the centre of learning and assessment, so you have the opportunity to develop the skills, knowledge and behaviours necessary to respond to industry, community and/or global needs.

You will be introduced to:

- a range of methods, tools, techniques and approaches to practice

- principles and perspectives such as values, ethics, empathy and leadership in real world scenarios

- reflection and deliberative thinking as a means of developing knowledge, skills, attitudes and aspirations

- ways of understanding problems and developing solutions through active inquiry.

The Professional Communication unit is designed to help you develop essential communication skills that are vital for success in any professional setting. While this unit focuses on enhancing your ability to communicate effectively and professionally, it is not specifically tailored for those looking to improve their English language skills.

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 describe the foundations of, and barriers and enablers to effective communication
2	Examine and develop the skills, techniques, and practices used in professional communication
3	Analyse and evaluate the relevance and effectiveness of communication tools and strategies
4	Analyse and apply communication skills, styles, techniques and methods

Requisites


REQUISITE TYPE	REQUISITES
Anti-requisite (mutual excl)	ZAA105 Professional Communication

Alterations as a result of student feedback

To Be Determined.

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:	AT1: University Service Task: Reflection and Critique	Week 4	20 %	LO1, LO2, LO4
Assessment Task 2:	AT2: Critiques and Personal Reflection	Week 8	30 %	LO2, LO3, LO4
Assessment Task 3:	AT3: Experiential Learning Report	Week 13	50 %	LO1, LO3, LO4

Assessment details

Assessment Task 1: AT1: University Service Task: Reflection and Critique

Task Description:

You will complete a reflection and critique of a university service at UTAS. At the crux of this task is the process of communication with one or more service representatives to learn about the University service you choose and what the service does for students.

To complete this task, you will choose a university service from the list provided to you by the Unit Coordinator in Week 1. Then, you will communicate with the person/people/department delivering the service and (if you choose) other people involved with the service or who have used the service, to further inform your work. There will be a series of questions that you must answer about the University Service to build your reflection and critique, these will also be made available to you in Week 1.

This task will allow you to start to develop your communication skills via the methods you choose to communicate, be it email, phone call, zoom, discussion boards or any other means. It will also start your journey of reflective practice and the use of ideas and terms from the unit to build your knowledge of communication strategies and methods.

Task Length:

500 words

Due Date:

Week 4

Weight:

20 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Communicate ideas and information through diverse communication methods	LO4
2	Analyse and engage in reflective practice relevant to your experience	LO1
3	Use ideas, terms and concepts learned in the unit content	LO2

Assessment Task 2: AT2: Critiques and Personal Reflection

Task Description:

For this assessment task, you will be required to critique four video presentations. Your unit coordinator will provide you with a selection to choose from. You will also submit a short personal reflection based on your key learnings from the task.
To complete the critiques, you will critically review and examine the presentations. In particular, you will identify and summarise the skills, techniques/styles and practices of the presenters.
In addition, you will evaluate the effectiveness of the communication techniques, styles, tools and strategies applied, and highlight the shortcomings and/or strengths that you observed.
To complete the short personal reflection, you will submit a first person account of how the key learnings will change how you communicate/or don’t communicate in the future

Task Length:

4 x Communication Critiques (250 words each) 1 x Short Personal Reflection (200 words)

Due Date:

Week 8

Weight:

30 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Engage with and record observations of industry and practice	LO3
2	Analyse and engage in reflective practice practice about the key learnings from the task	LO2
3	Use evidence to support arguments and conclusions	LO4

Assessment Task 3: AT3: Experiential Learning Report

Task Description:

For assessment task 3, you will submit an experiential learning report, which will detail your key learnings over the duration of the unit, and how you feel you have, or haven’t, developed your professional communication skills, style, techniques and strategies.

The report will also provide opportunities for you to engage with scenarios and case-studies around conflict resolution, receiving and giving feedback, presenting ideas and applying strategies you have learned over the course of the unit.

Finally, you will include a minimum of five (5) artefacts that you have collected across the semester, accompanied by explanatory notes, that highlight how you have applied theory to practice, and your knowledge of the concepts and topics covered

Task Length:

1,200 words for report + 75 words per artefact

Due Date:

Week 13

Weight:

50 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Analyse and engage in reflective practice about key learnings from the unit	LO1
2	Communicate ideas and information in response to case-studies and scenarios	LO4
3	Analyse and apply discipline knowledge to practice	LO4
4	Use ideas, terms and concepts learned in the unit content	LO3

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.

Academic progress review

The results for this unit may be included in a review of your academic progress. For information about progress reviews and what they mean for all students, see Academic Progress Review in the Student Portal.

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.

Academic integrity

Academic integrity is about acting responsibly, honestly, ethically, and collegially when using, producing, and communicating information with other students and staff members.

In written work, you must correctly reference the work of others to maintain academic integrity. To find out the referencing style for this unit, see the assessment information in the MyLO site, or contact your teaching staff. For more detail about Academic Integrity, see Important Guidelines & Support.

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.