Focus, General Education at UHM
| PROPOSAL FORM | HALLMARKS | TEACHER RESOURCES | REQUIREMENTS |
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Assessment

Oral Communication Focus

Proposal Forms Hallmarks Teacher Resources Requirement Assessment

Who should complete the proposal form? Faculty members who want to request a Focus designation for their section and who do not have an active approval for the course.

Focus-approval status of UHM faculty members

Faculty members with current, active approvals do not need to submit a proposal form; however, they need to notify the department secretary that they will teach the course with the Focus designation.

 

SUMMER 2008 FOCUS PROPOSAL FORMS

-for UHM faculty members-

Focus Designation Proposal Form for Individual Instructors  

    

     
 

-for Department Chairpersons only-
 

Focus Designation Proposal Form for a "COURSE"  

    


Course description examples: Examples of approved official course descriptions of course-based designations

 

Focus Designation Proposal Form for a "STAFF" Section  

      

For a SPRING 2008 Focus form, click here.

 

Hallmarks of Oral Communication Classes

The faculty on the Oral Communication Focus Board use these Hallmarks when evaluating proposals for the "O" designation.
 

O1. Each student will conduct or participate in a minimum of three oral communication assignments or a comparable amount of oral communication activity during the class. In addition, at least 40% of the final grade for a 3-credit course will be a function of the student's oral communication activities (30% for a 4-credit course; 60% for a 2-credit course; 100% for a 1-credit course).
 
O2. Each student will receive explicit training, in the context of the class, in oral communication concerns relevant to the assignment or activity.
 
O3. Each student will receive specific feedback, critiquing, and grading of the oral communication assignments or activities from the instructor.
 
O4. If instructor feedback primarily involves individual or paired students, enrollment will be limited to 20 students. If instructor feedback primarily involves groups of students, enrollment will be limited to 30 students.
 
O5. The course will be numbered at the 300- or 400-level.

Rationale for the requirement and explanatory notes

Establishing a Need for Oral Communication Intensive Classes

There is no shortage of arguments addressing the need for UHM students to be provided with the opportunity to improve their oral communication knowledge and skills. To see some arguments, click here.

Forms/types of Oral Communication assignments

It is assumed that O classes will develop assignments responsive to student needs and to the professional demands the students will face. Consequently a variety of assignments can be designed to satisfy the O requirement.

  • Individual creative/aesthetic performances (e.g., storytelling, performance of literature, interpretations and readings)
  • Group presentations-- incorporating individual presentations
  • Facilitating/Participating in group discussions and community gatherings
  • Chapter/Section presentations to class
  • Individual presentations/Speeches-- formal/informal
  • Panel discussions
  • Engaging in outreach activities that incorporate oral communication skills (e.g., community teaching, coaching, presenting)
  • Various forms of interviews/interrogations
  • Press conference
  • Various persuasion/influence appeals (e.g., sales presentations, solicitations, motivational presentations)
  • Debates (individual and team)
  • Critiques of and responses to others' performance, presentations

 

Teacher Resources

Resources available:

  1. Requirements for a class to be designated as "Oral Communication" ("O")

  2. Rationale for an oral communication requirement

  3. Oral communication defined

  4. Types of acceptable assignments

  5. Issues to consider when designing O assignments

  6. Steps to effective oral communication--typical steps students should follow when preparing to give an oral presentation

  7. Communication apprehension

  8. Helping students manage communication apprehension

  9. Evaluating student presentations

  10. References/Bibliography

 

Requirements for Students

NON-TRANSFER STUDENTS

Students are required to complete 1 Oral Communication ("O" or "OC") class.

TRANSFER STUDENTS

Transfer students may have reduced requirements, based on the number of accepted transfer credits.

Number of accepted credit hours Contemporary Ethical Issues Oral Communication
0-54 1 1
55-88 1 E or 1 O
89+ 0 0

Assessment

Student survey form, survey results, outcomes statements.

 

Updated December 28, 2007


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