Please note that this schedule is subject to change. Use the Canvas course for actual assignments and due dates. Do not rely on this schedule, please.

Read: Syllabus and Canvas page

Weekly Schedule

Week 1: Foundations of Workplace Communication

Competency Focus: 1, 6 Learning Objectives: Define effective workplace communication; assess current communication strengths and challenges

Activities:

• Read: Effective Communication in the Workplace - OpenLearn (Free Open University course)
• Read: Communication for Business Success - Chapter 1 (Open Textbook Library)
• Watch: "The Power of Communication in the Workplace" - Julian Treasure TED Talk
• Assignment: Complete ONE of these Communication Self-Assessment Surveys
  • Skills You Need Interpersonal Skills Self-Assessment (Free, comprehensive)
  • Communication Skills Assessment Quiz (Free, 26-question assessment)
  • Communication Styles Assessment PDF (UNC - Free download)
  • Communication Survey Questions PDF (University of Louisville - 20 questions)
• Discussion: Introduce yourself and share one workplace communication challenge you've experienced

Assignment: Week 1 Assignment: Communication Foundations Reflection

Assignment Overview

After completing the required readings and self-assessment, write a brief reflection that demonstrates your understanding of workplace communication fundamentals and your personal communication profile.

Required Readings

• Effective Communication in the Workplace - OpenLearn
• Communication for Business Success - Chapter 1

Assignment Instructions

Write a 2-page reflection paper (approximately 500-600 words) that addresses the following prompts:

Part 1: Key Concepts (40% of grade)

Based on your readings, identify and explain three key principles of effective workplace communication that you found most important or surprising. For each principle:

• Define the concept in your own words
• Explain why this principle matters in workplace settings
• Provide a brief example of how this principle might apply in a real work situation

Part 2: Self-Assessment Integration (40% of grade)

Reflect on the communication self-assessment you completed:

• Summarize 2-3 key insights about your communication strengths and areas for improvement
• Connect at least one of your assessment results to concepts from the readings
• Explain how your communication style might impact your effectiveness in workplace relationships

Part 3: Professional Development Goals (20% of grade)

Based on the readings and your self-assessment:

• Identify one specific communication skill you want to develop this semester
• Explain why this skill is important for your current or future career goals
• Briefly describe how you plan to work on this skill throughout the course

Formatting Requirements

• Microsoft Word document (.doc or .docx)
• 12-point font, double-spaced
• 1-inch margins
• Include your name and date at the top
• Use clear paragraph structure with topic sentences

Evaluation Criteria

• Content: Demonstrates understanding of readings and thoughtful self-reflection
• Integration: Effectively connects readings to personal assessment and goals
• Writing: Clear, professional writing with proper grammar and organization
• Requirements: Meets length and formatting specifications

Submission

• Submit through course management system by Sunday, 11:59 PM
• Remember: Major assignments have a one-week grace period if needed
• Include a comment if you used Tutor.com for assistance (extra credit opportunity)

Learning Outcomes Addressed

This assignment supports course competencies:

• Competency 1: Identify means for effective workplace communication
• Competency 6: Analyze personal communication effectiveness and develop improvement strategies

Total Points: 100 points (15% of final grade) Estimated Time: 3-4 hours (including readings and writing)

Week 2: Understanding Your Communication Style

Competency Focus: 1, 6 Learning Objectives: Identify personal communication preferences; recognize different communication styles

Activities:

• Read: Guzmán, Chapters 1-2

Week 2 Discussion Forum: Communication Styles and Fearless Curiosity

After reading Guzmán's Chapters 1-2 and completing your communication style assessment from Week 1, explore how "fearlessly curious" communication can transform workplace interactions.

Required Readings

• Guzmán, I Never Thought of It That Way - Chapters 1-2
• Complete one of the communication style assessments from Week 1

Discussion Prompts

Initial Post (Due Wednesday by 11:59 PM)

Write a 300-400 word post addressing ALL of the following:

Part 1: Fearless Curiosity at Work: Guzmán emphasizes the power of approaching conversations with "fearless curiosity" rather than assumptions. Think of a recent workplace situation where you or someone else made assumptions about a colleague's intentions, communication style, or perspective. If you are not currently working, reflect on a previous workplace situation, a family situation or a friend or neighborhood situation.

• Briefly describe the situation (remember our confidentiality guidelines - use titles and generic descriptors)
• How might "fearless curiosity" have changed the outcome?
• What specific question could have been asked to understand the other person's perspective better?

Part 2: Communication Style Connection Based on your communication style assessment results:

• Share 1-2 key insights about your communication preferences
• How might your communication style sometimes create misunderstandings with colleagues who have different styles?
• What's one way you could adapt your approach when working with someone whose style differs significantly from yours?

Part 3: Workplace Application: Guzmán talks about moving from "Why would you think that?" to "Help me understand how you came to think that."

• How could this shift in questioning benefit your current or future workplace?
• What barriers (time pressure, office culture, personal habits) might make this approach challenging in professional settings?

Response Posts (1 required, due Sunday by 11:59 PM)

Respond thoughtfully to two classmates' posts with 100-150 words each. Strong responses:

• Connect their examples to concepts from Guzmán's chapters
• Share a similar workplace experience or different perspective
• Ask a follow-up question that demonstrates curiosity about their situation
• Offer practical suggestions for implementing "fearless curiosity" in their context

Discussion Guidelines

Professional Tone: Maintain workplace-appropriate language and respect for all perspectives shared.

Confidentiality: Use job titles instead of names, generic organization descriptions, and modify identifying details.

Authentic Engagement: Share genuine experiences and insights rather than theoretical responses.

Constructive Curiosity: Practice the "fearless curiosity" Guzmán advocates by asking thoughtful questions in your responses.

Evaluation Criteria (20 points total)

Initial Post (12 points):

• Addresses all three parts thoroughly (4 points)
• Demonstrates understanding of Guzmán's concepts (4 points)
• Integrates communication style assessment meaningfully (2 points)
• Meets word count and deadline requirements (2 points)

Response Posts (8 points):

• Provides thoughtful, substantive responses (4 points each)
• Shows engagement with classmates' ideas and course concepts (2 points each)
• Meets word count and deadline requirements (2 points total)

Week 3: Communicating with Supervisors

Competency Focus: 1 Learning Objectives: Apply strategies for upward communication; practice professional communication formats

Activities:

• Read: Communication for Business Success - Chapter 4: Business Writing
• Read: Professional Communication - Georgia Southern OER
• Watch: "How to Write Professional Emails" - Harvard Business Review YouTube
• Assignment: Draft three professional scenarios (email to supervisor, meeting request, status update)
• Discussion: Share strategies for difficult conversations with supervisors

Due: Professional scenarios, discussion posts

Week 4: Peer and Team Communication

Competency Focus: 1, 5 Learning Objectives: Develop collaborative communication skills; understand team dynamics

Activities:

• Read: Guzmán, Chapters 3-4
• Read: Communication for Business Success - Chapter 19: Group Communication
• Case Study: Analyze a workplace team communication breakdown
• Discussion: Best practices for giving and receiving feedback from peers

Due: Case study analysis, discussion posts

Week 5: Customer Communication Excellence

Competency Focus: 1 Learning Objectives: Master customer service communication; handle difficult situations professionally

Activities:

• Read: Customer service communication best practices (open-source)
• Watch: De-escalation techniques videos
• Assignment: Customer Communication Scenarios Worksheet
• Discussion: Share customer service success stories and lessons learned

Due: Scenarios worksheet, discussion posts

Week 6: Cultural Awareness in Communication

Competency Focus: 2 Learning Objectives: Recognize cultural influences on communication; develop cultural sensitivity

Activities:

• Read: Guzmán, Chapters 5-6
• Read: Intercultural Communication - Oklahoma State - Chapters 1-2
• Read: Peace Corps Cross-Cultural Workbook - Culture Matters (Free PDF)
• Assignment: Cultural Communication Inventory and Analysis
• Discussion: How do cultural backgrounds influence your communication patterns?

Due: Cultural inventory, discussion posts

Week 7: Race, Class, and Communication Patterns

Competency Focus: 2 Learning Objectives: Examine how race and socioeconomic factors affect workplace communication

Activities:

• Read: Intercultural Communication by Shannon Ahrndt - Chapter 8 (Race, Ethnicity & Communication)
• Read: Diversity and Difference in Communication - OpenLearn
• Watch: "The Danger of a Single Story" - Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie TED Talk
• Assignment: Reflective Journal Entry on Privilege and Communication
• Discussion: Strategies for inclusive communication across racial and class differences

Due: Journal entry, discussion posts

Week 8: Gender and Communication in the Workplace

Competency Focus: 2 Learning Objectives: Analyze gender-based communication differences; develop gender-inclusive practices

Activities:

• Read: Intercultural Communication by Shannon Ahrndt - Chapter 9 (Gender & Communication)
• Read: Guzmán, Chapters 7-8
• Read: EEOC Guidelines on Gender Discrimination (Government resource)
• Assignment: Gender Communication Patterns Analysis
• Discussion: Challenging gender stereotypes in professional settings

Due: Analysis paper, discussion posts

Week 9: Religion, Abilities, and Sexual Orientation

Competency Focus: 2 Learning Objectives: Navigate religious diversity and accommodation; communicate inclusively with people of all abilities and orientations

Activities:

• Read: EEOC Religious Discrimination Guidelines
• Read: ADA Communication Guidelines (Government resource)
• Read: Intercultural Communication - Chapter 10: Religion & Communication
• Assignment: Inclusive Communication Guidelines Development
• Discussion: Creating welcoming environments for all employees

Due: Guidelines document, discussion posts

Week 10: Technology's Impact on Workplace Communication

Competency Focus: 4 Learning Objectives: Evaluate digital communication tools; understand technology's effects on workplace relationships

Activities:

• Read: Communication for Business Success - Chapter 15: Computer-Mediated Communication
• Read: Digital Communication Ethics - MIT OpenCourseWare
• Explore: Communication technology tools (Slack, Teams, Zoom features) - free trial accounts
• Assignment: Technology Communication Audit of current/past workplace
• Discussion: Benefits and drawbacks of remote/digital communication

Due: Technology audit, discussion posts

Week 11: Digital Etiquette and Virtual Meetings

Competency Focus: 4 Learning Objectives: Master digital communication etiquette; conduct effective virtual meetings

Activities:

• Read: Virtual Meeting Best Practices - Harvard Business School (Free article)
• Watch: "How to Run Effective Virtual Meetings" - MIT Sloan YouTube
• Read: Email Etiquette Guide - University of California (Free PDF)
• Assignment: Virtual Meeting Planning Worksheet
• Discussion: Virtual communication pet peeves and solutions

Due: Planning worksheet, discussion posts

Week 12: Presentation Preparation

Competency Focus: 3 Learning Objectives: Plan and organize formal presentations; understand evaluation criteria

Activities:

• Review: CCV Oral Communication Rubric
• Read: Communication for Business Success - Chapter 14: Presentations
• Read: Public Speaking - OpenStax (Free textbook - Chapters 1-3)
• Assignment: Presentation Topic Selection and Outline
• Discussion: Presentation anxiety management techniques

Due: Topic and outline, discussion posts

Week 13: Presentation Delivery and Recording

Competency Focus: 3 Learning Objectives: Deliver effective formal presentations; demonstrate communication proficiency

Activities:

• Record and submit: 5-7 minute formal presentation on chosen workplace communication topic
• Peer Review: Provide feedback on two classmate presentations using CCV rubric
• Discussion: Presentation experience reflection

Due: Recorded presentation, peer reviews, discussion posts

Week 14: Self-Management and Organizational Impact

Competency Focus: 5, 6 Learning Objectives: Develop self-management strategies; recognize individual impact on organizational effectiveness

Activities:

• Read: Guzmán, Chapters 9-10
• Read: Self-Management in Organizations - MIT OpenCourseWare
• Read: Emotional Intelligence at Work - OpenLearn
• Assignment: Personal Communication Development Plan
• Discussion: How individual communication affects organizational culture

Due: Development plan, discussion posts

Week 15: Integration and Future Development

Competency Focus: 6 Learning Objectives: Synthesize learning; create long-term improvement strategies

Activities:

• Read: Guzmán, Chapters 11-12
• Complete: Final self-assessment comparing to Week 1
• Assignment: Communication Portfolio Reflection (3-4 pages)
• Discussion: Key takeaways and continued learning goals

Due: Portfolio reflection, discussion posts

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