ST. PETERSBURG COLLEGE
COM 3131 INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION FOR PROFESSIONALS
IMPORTANT TIPS FOR ONLINE STUDENTS:
http://www.spcollege.edu/ecampus/help/tips.htm
INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION AND IMPORTANT DATES
Dr. Shirley Oakley, Professor of Communication
OFFICE: LA 185, Clearwater Campus
EMAIL: Always communicate with me through ANGEL.
IMPORTANT DATES
*First day of the course: 5/19/14
*Last day of the course: 7/11/14
*Last day to drop, receive refund, and/or change to audit: 5/23/14
*Last date to withdraw voluntarily with a “W”: 6/19/14
*College Closed/No Classes: 5/26/14, Memorial Day; 7/4/14, Independence Day
COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT, CLEARWATER CAMPUS
Academic Chair, Dept. of Communications: Dr. Shirley Oakley
Office: LA 185; Office phone: 727-791-5904; Email:
Dean of Communications: Dr. Martha Campbell
Office: LA 187; Office phone: 727-791-2570; Email:
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
Please call the SPC Help Desk: 727-341-4357 (HELP).
DISABILITY RESOURCES
If you have a documented disability or think that you may have learning or other disability and would like to request accommodations, please make an appointment with the Learning Specialists on your campus. Disability Resources staff can be reached at 727-791-2628 (V/TDD). For more information, go to: www.spcollege.edu/central/ossd.
COMPUTER AND ONLINE REQUIREMENTS
Please click on this link to check your computer requirements:
http://www.spcollege.edu/ecampus/help/technical/index.htm\
For this course, you will need regular and reliable access to Internet, preferably with a high- speed connection. When taking online quizzes and exams, or viewing online videos, you should have an Internet connection that is stable and that will not drop your connection. If you do not have a stable high-speed Internet connection, you should consider making arrangement to take online exams at one of the St. Petersburg College libraries or similar facility where a stable high- speed Internet connection is available. Firefox is the preferred browser to use to access course materials. You are required to submit assignments in Students are required to submit assignments in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel) formats. No other formats (such as .RTF, .WPS, etc.) will be accepted.
NOTE about websites: If you are using Firefox, you may find that some of the webpages on the course site will not open. Don’t be alarmed, just follow these steps:
1. After you click on a link and realize the site isn't appearing, look up to the URL in the upper left corner. You'll see a small shield icon there.
2. Click on the icon and you can then disable the block for the site.
SPOC CENTRAL: You must successfully test all technical items required for this course the first week of class. What this means is that you must check and use SPOC, the student feedback recorder for all videos that you will submit. Follow the directions in the SPOC Central-Test Your Settings folder. You will need to contact the Help Desk if your computer or equipment is not working properly. You may also use the limited-access soundproof room at the SPC Seminole Campus. On the Clearwater Campus, you may use one of the rooms in the Learning Resource Center (please call ahead to reserve a room). You must have access to a video camera (such as Logitech QuickCam Orbit) and USB-headset in order to complete several assignments, which
will incorporate video technology. You may be able to check out webcams and headsets at the college library, but first check your own equipment to see if it works.
HOW TO COMMUNICATE IN THIS ONLINE COURSE
Email:
· Contact your instructor through ANGEL email.
· Always address your instructor as Dr. Oakley and sign your emails (your name).
· Always include a relevant subject line. (Don’t use an old subject for a new topic.)
· Take care with wording emails; this is an academic course.
· Use standard fonts, capitalization, and proper punctuation.
Discussion Postings
· Try to avoid special formatting such as centering, audio messages, tables, html, etc.
· Respect the privacy of other class members.
· Avoid insulting and inflammatory statements to other members of the class.
· Read the comments of other group members thoroughly before entering your remarks.
· Respond in a thoughtful and timely manner (before or on the due date).
HOW THE COURSE WORKS
This course is about the impact that interpersonal communication has on your relationships, especially your professional relationships. Two major ideas that will be addressed are:
1. Language, communication, and interpersonal relationships are at all levels of our personal and professional lives; and
2. There are numerous dynamics that influence how our communication affects our quality of life. Two approaches used in this course are theory and experience; we’ll integrate reading, written assignments, and quizzes and presentations to understand then practice what is learned.
This course is presented through the ANGEL platform in eight weekly sections. You will first read the overview of the topics and assignment then take steps to complete the assignments no later than 11:55pm on either Thursday or Sunday of the week the assignment is due. Late work is not accepted without sufficient reason (deemed sufficient by the instructor), so plan ahead.
This is an accelerated learning course and you are responsible for some of your learning on your own (reading, research, etc.). As an adult leaner, you are responsible for your understanding of the assignments and how to complete them, so be sure to ask questions to clarify an assignment if it is unclear to you.
COURSE DESCRIPTION
COM 3120 Interpersonal Communication for Professionals 3 credits
This course explores communication within the context of professional interpersonal relationships. Topics include interpersonal communication concepts, monitoring the internal and external environmental factors in a professional interpersonal relationship, determining the relational context, identifying the appropriate communication channel for interpersonal exchanges, and reducing unintended messages. Students will demonstrate their understanding of diversity in their professional interpersonal relationships. Major course requirements are a formal presentation and a written analysis of an identified characteristic in interpersonal communicative exchanges.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
1. The student will develop a theoretical and practical understanding of the interpersonal
communication process within the context of a professional relationship.
2. The student will analyze the internal and external behavioral factors in a professional interpersonal relationship and demonstrate the ability to select the appropriate communication channel using interpersonal communication theories.
3. The student will identify the interpersonal communication issues that may occur within a professional context and develop the ability to analyze the purpose, audience, and potential intended and unintended consequences of the messages.
4. The student will, using interpersonal communication concepts, demonstrate their understanding of communication skills employed by leaders, communication theories, and ethical communication principles as they apply to a professional interpersonal communication context.
5. The students will demonstrate their understanding of networking, mentoring, and coaching skills in both peer to peer and peer to supervisory relationships within an interpersonal communication context.
6. The student will develop techniques for identifying emergent communication technologies and their potential for use and misuse within interpersonal professional contexts.
7. The student will examine interpersonal communication concepts and demonstrate their understanding of power relationships, understanding of diversity within interpersonal relationships, and ability to acquire conflict resolution skills.
REQUIRED READING MATERIALS
Reflect Relate: An Introduction to Interpersonal Communication, 2nd edition, by Steven
McCornack. ISBN-13: 978-0-312-57693-6
Power of 2: How to Make the Most of Your Partnerships at Work and in Life, by Rodd Wagner and Gale Muller. ISBN: 978-1-59562-029-3
HOW TO PREPARE AND SUBMIT ASSIGNMENTS ONLINE
Please read this section carefully. All papers must be typed and double-spaced, with 1-in margins, 12 point Times New Roman font, correct spelling, punctuation, and grammar. Cite any and all work that is not original and format all work using an APA style manual. For help using a style format see online resources such as OWL at Purdue: http://owl.english.purdue.edu or contact the SPC Library. Keep an electronic and hard copy of your assignments and avoid completing and/or submitting assignments at the last minute. Please do not email the instructor about computer problems or Internet problems concerning assignments. For ANGEL problems contact the Help Desk.
ASSIGNMENTS, POINTS, AND GRADES
For specific information, see Schedule of Assignments and Due Dates in the Course Materials. Grade calculations are: 600-540=A; 540-480=B; 479-420=C; 419-360=D; 359 and under=F
Graded Assignments / Points PossiblePartner introduction video
Improvement topic video
Final video presentation
Discussion posts (3 at 25 points each) Presentation Outline with Bibliography Partner Project Analysis paper
Quizzes (4 at 75 points each) / 25
25
75
75
50
50
300
Total Points Possible / 600
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
In this course we will utilize one or more of the College resources below. You will find links to Smarthinking, and Turnitin on your ANGEL home page. They are all free to students. Also in our ANGEL course we have access to library resources designed especially for our class. The link is under Lessons.
· Smarthinking is an online tutoring service. The link is on your ANGEL homepage.
· Turnitin is an online service that checks for sources and plagiarism.
· Writing Studio is located in the library at the Clearwater, Tarpon, Seminole, and Gibbs campuses.
· SPC Library. You can also access databases online. Here’s the link:
http://spcollege.edu/central/libonline/
ACADEMIC HONESTY
It is your responsibility to be familiar with St. Petersburg College’s Academic Honesty policies
and the consequences of violations. There is no tolerance for any form of academic dishonesty. Discipline can range from a zero on a specific assignment to expulsion from the class with a grade of “F” and the possibility of expulsion from the college. Note that copying/pasting published information without citing your sources, whether the information is from your textbook or the Internet is plagiarism and violates this policy. Even if you slightly change the words from an outside source, the ideas are someone else's so you still have to cite your sources. Cheating, plagiarism, bribery, misrepresentation, conspiracy, and fabrication are defined in
Board Rule 6Hx23-4.461. Student Affairs: Academic Honesty Guidelines, Classroom Behavior. www.spcollege.edu/webcentral/catalog/current/stu_affairs_honesty.htm
ATTENDANCE AND PARTICIPATION POLICIES
You must complete all assignments by the due dates to earn participation credit. Specific guidelines for assignments and points awarded are indicated are in the Assignment Schedule located at the end of this syllabus. Typically, initial Discussion posts are due on Thursdays by
11:55pm (EST) and the completed discussion is due by 11:55pm (EST) on Sundays.
Because you will learn communication theories and concepts which you can immediately apply to your personal and professional lives, you can understand that to communicate effectively means to participate; there is no other way to succeed in this course. Therefore, it is imperative that you log into the course regularly and complete all of your assignments.
Attendance is a mandatory component for this course. You are required to “come to class” on a regular basis. Specifically, attendance will be recorded by using the Discussion Postings and other assignments as the metric. If you do not complete the weekly assignments in full, you will be marked “absent” for that week in which the assignment was missed. Furthermore, if you miss two (2) assignment postings at any time throughout the course (they do NOT need to be consecutive—any 2), you run the risk of being reported as not participating by the instructor and you will be dropped without further explanation. In short, be sure to submit all assignments on time so problems will not arise.
Check emails, ask questions, and interact with your classmates daily. I am required to report you as "attending" or "not attending" for each of the first two weeks of the session. If you have not posted your attendance in the attendance discussion forum during the first two weeks of class, you will be reported as "not attending" and will likely be removed from the course. Likewise, if at the 60% participation mark you have missed two weeks of attendance, participation, and/or assignments (have not completed all assignments up to that point), you will be reported as Not Participating and will be dropped from the course.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Research
Research is required in this course. Campus libraries, public libraries, and other online resource centers and facilities should be explored. Individual experts may be interviewed for information. Electronic research is encouraged; however, one must use credible web sites as sources.
Classmate Sensitivity
Treat opinions of others with respect. Choose comments appropriately and sensitively for your public audience. Be aware, tolerant, and respectful of individual differences. Realize too that, no matter how comfortable you might become with other members of our class, it is never appropriate to use language of any kind that might in some way be offensive to our class
audience. This class is a public context and must be approached as such. Avoid inappropriate, unprofessional language, slang, or otherwise unprofessional or unacceptable jargon.
Recording Your Speeches
Use your headset and webcam to videotape your speeches. Check your speech before you
submit it. Make sure the audio AND video are both acceptable before you hit “submit.” This
step is extremely important.
Before giving your presentation, make sure to eliminate noise in the room. Turn the TV off and make sure that no one (or a pet) will be wandering through the room. Be sure that you are the focus of the webcam and that you are facing the webcam (not sideways). The webcam must be focused on you throughout the speech. The camera should be positioned as if it is an audience member. You should be totally visible (all of you, not just the upper half).
Never deliver/record a speech sitting down, half-dressed, under water, outside, etc. You should dress formally for all speeches, just as you would in a real life public speaking environment. That means suit jacket with tie and slacks, suit jacket with skirt and dress shirt, or skirt with dress blouse. Consider this a professional business situation and dress accordingly. No tank tops, t-shirts, jeans, etc. Make sure your speech fulfills the time requirements. If a speech is more than 30 seconds under or over the required time limit set for that particular speech, points may be deducted. Practicing your speech will help you to stay within the time limits.