Syllabus

COMS 2301: Communication for the Classroom Teacher Spring Semester - 2013 Course Logistics Course Title: Communication for the Classroom Teacher Credits: 3 Prerequisites: None Course Meeting: Online - Asynchronous / Synchronous Delivery (TBD) Instructor: Stephanie Willis Office Phone: 254-465-2332 Email: willisssc@gmail.com Office Hours: The best way to reach me is to email me at the above email address. I will check my email daily M-F, and you can expect a response from me within 24 hours. If you do not receive a response please resend your email. If you must call me, please leave a message on my office voice mail. My office hours are sporadic, but I check my voicemail daily. Again, you can expect a response from me within 24 hours. Please leave me your name, course, and contact information. Required Textbook and Materials: Course Text Book Blackboard Access Microsoft Office 2010 or later Flash Player Adobe Acrobat Reader Reliable Internet Access (you will need reliable and fast enough internet to easily view lectures, participate in synchronous communication (web conferencing tool, Fuze Meeting), and download necessary course resources) Email Access Access to web cam (for presenting lessons) Course Description Effective classroom communication skills are essential to the classroom teacher. Communication skills are imperative to creating a positive learning environment, appropriate relationships, and maintaining discipline. The emphasis of this course will be on the communication skills essential to a classroom instructor that facilitates the total human development of the student. This course will explore both interpersonal and presentational skills of the classroom instructor. Students will gain an effective understanding of these skills while having the opportunity to witness them being used in the classroom, as well as demonstrate the skills being learned by utilizing web 2.0 tools. This course will be conducted over a 6-week period and each week will focus on a specific segment of the selected course topic. Each week there will be an introduction tab in Blackboard pertaining to that particular week. Be sure to read the introduction thoroughly, as it will guide you in the proper direction for the week

and may elaborate on confusing ideas. The majority of the course will be asynchronous; however, synchronous communication tools will be used to present some skills, or provide opportunity for classroom observations if needed. Students will be observing in an actual classroom for one hour each week and will be asked to reflect on their observations weekly in the course discussion forum as well. Accessibility to a classroom that students can observe each week is preferred, but in the event one is not available in the students area, online classroom observations will be made available. Students will also be asked during the course to present two lessons via a web conferencing tool that utilizes synchronous communication. It will be necessary to have access to a reliable Internet source as well as a web cam. Students will be divided into groups and a meeting time will be scheduled in order for each individual student to present their lesson to an interactive audience. Participation in the two synchronous group activities is mandatory and will account for a portion of the students participation grade. Course grading policies will be discussed further in the grading policies section of the syllabus. Topic List: Supportive Classroom Climate / Developing Positive Teacher/Student Relationships Interpersonal Communication Skills Necessary for a Positive Classroom Environment Verbal/Non-Verbal Communication Presentational skills necessary for effective teaching Effects of Communication on the Total Human Development of the Student Preparing a Lesson for the Classroom

Student Learning Outcomes: After the completion of this course students will be able to: define interpersonal communication; identify specific interpersonal skills necessary for effective classroom communication; identify specific presentational skills necessary for effective teaching; identify the effects of effective and ineffective communication skills on the total human development of classroom students; present a lesson using the lecture method of instruction; present a lesson using visual aids; and assess effective teaching by identifying teacher communication skills being used in a classroom. Course Policies Attendance: The course will be conducted asynchronously at students convenience. However, it is strongly suggested that students schedule regular times each week to work on assignments/study. This has been found to be absolutely

essential to the success of distance learners. This is a very fast paced course and it is very easy to get behind if you wait till the last minute to begin each weeks assignments. Please refer to the course schedule regularly and check your email for any updates that may be needed. There will be two times throughout the course that you will need to meet online using a web conferencing tool at a specified time and date. These will be dates and times you sign up for ahead of time and attendance is mandatory and will count for 50 points of your audience participation grade. Online Classroom Etiquette Policy: Respect is an essential aspect of working with others, and must be demonstrated at all times. This can be very difficult when working with others at a distance. Without face-to-face communication, you lose the ability to communicate using eye contact and body language. Therefore, misunderstandings can happen frequently if students are not conscious of what their words truly mean at all times. (Putting a smiling emoticon after something condescending does not rectify this situation!) Diversity is also very much a part of the distance-learning environment. It is essential that you respect each others diverse cultures and backgrounds. There will be no tolerance for negligence of this policy, and students will receive no credit for any assignments that do not adhere to this policy. Grading Policies: Please refer to the course schedule in regards to turning in each weeks assignments. Instructions will be detailed in each assignment. In most circumstances, grades will be posted in Blackboard within one week of the due date of the assignment. If you have questions regarding any grades, or if you notice grades missing in Blackboard, please email me. Do not wait till the end of the semester!! Total of 500 Points available for course o Midterm=100 o Final=100 o Audience Participation (2)=100 o Discussions (4) = 40 o Observations (4) = 40 o Quizzes (4) = 100 o Surveys (5)= 20 Late work: Late work will be penalized at 10% for every day after the due date at 11:59 p.m. If there are extenuating circumstances please contact me immediately, preferably before the assignment is late. Computer and Internet issues will not be accepted as extenuating circumstances in most cases. Do not wait till the last minute to complete assignments (technology does not always cooperate with procrastination!!) I suggest backing up your work to an external hard drive or flash drive, and having a contingency plan for when, not if, your Internet or computer is not cooperating. If you do not communicate with me I cannot help! Discussion Board Forum: Written communication is also essential to the effectiveness of the classroom teacher. Therefore, discussions will be graded

particular age groups. (Not all observation experiences are examples of effective classroom communication techniques. However, even negative experiences can serve as great learning tools.) o If you cannot find a school near you that will agree to participate, please contact me immediately and I will provide you with online observation opportunities of iTV classrooms that have agreed to participate. o It would be beneficial for you to take notes. Discussion: (10 Points) During weeks 1, 2, 4, and 5 you will post an original thread to the course discussion board under the appropriate week. The post should be between 300-500 words, and should reflect on your observation experience for the week. Responses are due no later than Friday by 11:59p.m. Reflections should include grade level, participating teachers email information for observation verification, and: o Week 1: Reflect on the teachers overall appearance and what you perceived to be the level of his or her self-efficacy as an instructor. Support your thoughts. Also include what your perception was of the overall classroom environment. Do you think the instructors self- efficacy is related to the overall classroom environment? o You will also reply to two of your classmates posts. The responses should be of substantial quality and not simply be I agree, or disagree. These responses should further stimulate thought or discussion with your classmates. Quiz: (25 Points) Complete the quiz located in the Assessments tab in Blackboard. Quiz is due by 11:59p.m. on Sunday. Quizzes are not timed and you may use your text or online resources provided for this module. Survey: (4 Points) There will also be 5 weekly surveys throughout the course that will need to be completed. These surveys will investigate your perceptions of how your doing in the class, effectiveness of the instructor, any problems or difficulties youre having in the class, or suggestions for improvement. Full credit will be given to the survey if it is completed on time and in its entirety. You may access the survey from the assessments tab in Blackboard.

Week 2: Readings: o Week 2 Introduction in Blackboard o Course Text: Chapters 3, 4, 5 o Other Resources: Online Articles Pertaining to This Week Schedule Week 3 Midterm Presentation: Due Monday!!!! Observations: (10 Points) o During weeks 1, 2,4, and 5 you will participate in 1 hour of classroom observations. These observations can be done by contacting your local school district and obtaining a list of teachers who agree to participate in education student classroom observations. Preferably you will

observe in a different classroom each week so that you can be exposed to different teaching and communication styles. It would also be beneficial to you for you to choose different grade levels each week as well. This will hopefully help you to see the different communication styles the instructors should or should not use for particular age groups. (Not all observation experiences are examples of effective classroom communication techniques. However, even negative experiences can serve as great learning tools.) o If you cannot find a school near you that will agree to participate, please contact me immediately and I will provide you with online observation opportunities of iTV classrooms that have agreed to participate. o It would be beneficial for you to take notes. Discussion: (10 Points) During weeks 1, 2, 4, and 5 you will post an original thread to the course discussion board under the appropriate week. The post should be between 300-500 words, and should reflect on your observation experience for the week. Responses are due no later than Friday by 11:59p.m. Reflections should include grade level, participating teachers email information for observation verification, and: o Week 2: This week reflect on the relationship of the instructor and her students. If it is an effective relationship that supports the student development explain why. If you believe it is not, explain why. Support your thoughts with information from the text or online resources from this weeks reading. Again, include what your perception was of this weeks overall classroom environment and how it relates to teacher-student relationships. o You will also reply to two of your classmates posts. The responses should be of substantial quality and not simply be I agree, or disagree. These responses should further stimulate thought or discussion with your classmates. Quiz: (25 Points) Complete the quiz located in the Assessments tab in Blackboard. Quiz is due by 11:59p.m. on Sunday. Quizzes are not timed and you may use your text or online resources provided for this module. Survey: (4 Points) There will also be 5 weekly surveys throughout the course that will need to be completed. These surveys will investigate your perceptions of how your doing in the class, effectiveness of the instructor, any problems or difficulties youre having in the class, or suggestions for improvement. Full credit will be given to the survey if it is completed on time and in its entirety. You may access the survey from the assessments tab in Blackboard. Week 3: Readings: o Week 3 Introduction in Blackboard o Course Text: Chapters 6, 7, 8

o Other Resources: Online Articles Pertaining to This Week, YouTube video: Introduction to Fuze Meeting, Examples of Outlines and Bibliographies Observations: (10 Points) There will be no observing this week. You are to use this time to work on your Midterm. Discussion: (10 Points) There will be no discussion questions this week. Use this time to work on your Midterm. However, peer-to-peer interaction is essential to developing a learning community. You will be interacting with your peers this week by presenting a lesson to an audience (simulated classroom) and participating as an interactive audience. Midterm: Lesson Using Lecture Method (100 Points) For the completion of this assessment you will choose a subject and prepare a 10-minute lesson to present to an audience via web conferencing software. The presentation should include both the lecture and discussion format of teaching. No visuals will be permitted for this lesson, allowing you to concentrate on the content and delivery style of your teaching. Please keep in mind you need to focus on demonstrating the communication skills you have learned up until this point in the course. You will be graded on the content and delivery of the lesson, lesson outline, discussion questions, and bibliography. Not meeting the time requirement will result in a deduction of points. See grading rubric for more specific details regarding expectations. See online resources for examples of lesson plan outlines and bibliographies. o You will be asked to choose 3 dates and times in order of preference that are convenient to you on Monday of week 2. Times to choose from will be emailed to students via Blackboard on Sunday of Week 1. Submit these requests via email to me no later than midnight. I will then create the web conference groups and send you a concrete date and time for you to meet synchronously via Fuze Meeting with your peers and myself. You should receive this email no later than Wednesday. If you do not submit your request on time, you will be responsible for meeting on the assigned date and time I email you. o Note: Please access the web conferencing tool and introduction guide in the online resources section this week prior to your scheduled presentation time. Get comfortable using the tool!! If you have trouble or any questions email me ASAP. Interactive Audience Participation: (50 points) There will be two synchronous meeting times throughout the course that you will attend on the same date and time of your presentation. During these sessions you will present your lesson as well as serve as an interactive audience for others to present their lesson to. Your participation is mandatory and will account for 25 points. o Lesson Feedback (Constructive): During your interactive audience participation you will be giving each presenter your constructive feedback concerning their communication skills during their lesson. You will identify which skills they used effectively, and which skills

they were missing or could improve upon. Feedback will be constructive and follow the guidelines for the positive classroom etiquette policy. When giving feedback always include: What worked well, What didnt work well, and What could be even better if The quality of your feedback will be worth 25 points. Quiz: (25 Points) No Week 3 Quiz! Survey: (4 Points) Survey this week will include your thoughts on the midterm. Please take the time to give quality feedback or address any questions you have about the first half of the course. Full credit will be given to the survey if it is completed on time and in its entirety. You may access the Week 3 survey from the assessments tab in Blackboard. Surveys are to be completed by Sunday at 11:59p.m. Week 4: Readings: o Week 4 Introduction o Course Text: Chapters 9, 10, 11 o Other Resources: Online Articles Pertaining to This Week Receive Email for Week 6 Final Exam Schedule!! Observations: (10 Points) o During weeks 1, 2,4, and 5 you will participate in 1 hour of classroom observations. These observations can be done by contacting your local school district and obtaining a list of teachers who agree to participate in education student classroom observations. Preferably you will observe in a different classroom each week so that you can be exposed to different teaching and communication styles. It would also be beneficial to you for you to choose different grade levels each week as well. This will hopefully help you to see the different communication styles the instructors should or should not use for particular age groups. (Not all observation experiences are examples of effective classroom communication techniques. However, even negative experiences can serve as great learning tools.) o If you cannot find a school near you that will agree to participate, please contact me immediately and I will provide you with online observation opportunities of iTV classrooms that have agreed to participate. o It would be beneficial for you to take notes. Discussion: (10 Points) During weeks 1, 2, 4, and 5 you will post an original thread to the course discussion board under the appropriate week. The post should be between 300-500 words, and should reflect on your observation experience for the week. Responses are due no later than Friday by 11:59p.m. Reflections should include grade level, participating teachers email information for observation verification, and: o Week 4: This week reflect on the interpersonal and presentational skills the teacher effectively demonstrates. Include both verbal and

non-verbal communication. Also, identify the interpersonal and presentational skills you feel the instructor should have demonstrated. Support your thoughts with the course text or online resources provided this week. Be sure and keep your discussion relative to the activity you observe in the classroom. Again, include what your perception was of this weeks overall classroom environment and how it relates to the instructors interpersonal and presentational skills. o You will also reply to two of your classmates posts. The responses should be of substantial quality and not simply be I agree, or disagree. These responses should further stimulate thought or discussion with your classmates. Quiz: (25 Points) Complete the quiz located in the Assessments tab in Blackboard under Week 4 Quiz. Quiz is due by 11:59p.m. on Sunday. Quizzes are not timed and you may use your text or online resources provided for this module. Survey: (4 Points) There will also be 5 weekly surveys throughout the course that will need to be completed. These surveys will investigate your perceptions of how your doing in the class, effectiveness of the instructor, any problems or difficulties youre having in the class, or suggestions for improvement. Full credit will be given to the survey if it is completed on time and in its entirety. You may access the survey from the assessments tab under Week 4 Survey in Blackboard. Week 5: Readings: o Week 5 Introduction in Blackboard o Course Text: Chapters 12, 13, 14 o Other Resources: Online Articles Pertaining to This Week Schedule Final Exam Presentation: Due Monday!! Observations: (10 Points) o During weeks 1, 2,4, and 5 you will participate in 1 hour of classroom observations. These observations can be done by contacting your local school district and obtaining a list of teachers who agree to participate in education student classroom observations. Preferably you will observe in a different classroom each week so that you can be exposed to different teaching and communication styles. It would also be beneficial to you for you to choose different grade levels each week as well. This will hopefully help you to see the different communication styles the instructors should or should not use for particular age groups. (Not all observation experiences are examples of effective classroom communication techniques. However, even negative experiences can serve as great learning tools.) o If you cannot find a school near you that will agree to participate, please contact me immediately and I will provide you with online

observation opportunities of iTV classrooms that have agreed to participate. o It would be beneficial for you to take notes. Discussion: (10 Points) During weeks 1, 2, 4, and 5 you will post an original thread to the course discussion board under the appropriate week. The post should be between 300-500 words, and should reflect on your observation experience for the week. Responses are due no later than Friday by 11:59p.m. Reflections should include grade level, participating teachers email information for observation verification, and: o Week 5: This week reflect on the students self-efficacy and self- concepts. Observe the students completing a task either independently or as a group. What factors do you feel are playing a part in the success or lack of success the students are experiencing. How do your thoughts relate to communication in the classroom (Both teacher and student communication)? Support your thoughts with the course text or online resources provided this week. Be sure and keep your discussion relative to the activity you observe in the classroom. Again, include what your perception was of this weeks overall classroom environment and how it relates to both teacher and student classroom communication. o You will also reply to two of your classmates posts. The responses should be of substantial quality and not simply be I agree, or disagree. These responses should further stimulate thought or discussion with your classmates. Quiz: (25 Points) Complete the quiz located in the Assessments tab in Blackboard under Week 5 Quiz. Quiz is due by 11:59p.m. on Sunday. Quizzes are not timed and you may use your text or online resources provided for this module. Survey: (4 Points) There will also be 5 weekly surveys throughout the course that will need to be completed. These surveys will investigate your perceptions of how your doing in the class, effectiveness of the instructor, any problems or difficulties youre having in the class, or suggestions for improvement. Full credit will be given to the survey if it is completed on time and in its entirety. You may access the survey from the assessments tab under Week 5 Survey in Blackboard. Week 6: Readings: o Week 6 Introduction in Blackboard o Course Text: Chapters 15, 16, 17 o Other Resources: Online Articles Pertaining to This Week, YouTube video: Introduction to Fuze Meeting, Examples of Outlines and Bibliographies Observations: (10 Points) There will be no observing this week. You are to use this time to work on your Midterm.

Discussion: (10 Points) There will be no discussion questions this week. Use this time to work on your Midterm. However, peer-to-peer interaction is essential to developing a learning community. You will be interacting with your peers this week by presenting a lesson to an audience (simulated classroom) and participating as an interactive audience. Final: Lesson Using Visual Aid (100 Points) In this assessment you will chose a different subject than your midterm and prepare a 10 minute lesson to present to an interactive audience via a web conferencing tool. Please gear the lesson toward a different grade level as well. Presentation may be lecture, discussion, or both formats. In this lesson you must use visual aids. The aids may be a power point, white board, or other tools you will be able to utilize with the web conferencing tool. If you choose to use a power point or other type of file, please be sure to have presentations uploaded to the web conferencing tool prior to your meeting time so that you are prepared. If you are having trouble with this, contact me as early as possible so that I may walk you through the process. Other visual aids may also be used through the web cam. (Get creative here, the audience does come equipped with an imagination.) You will be graded on content, delivery, outline, bibliography, and the effectiveness of the visual aids chosen in your lesson. Not meeting the time requirement will result in a deduction of points. See grading rubric for more specific details regarding expectations. See online resources for examples of lesson plan outlines and bibliographies. o You will be asked to choose 3 dates and times in order of preference that are convenient to you on Monday of week 5. Times to choose from will be emailed to students via Blackboard on Sunday of Week 4. Submit these requests via email to me no later than midnight. I will then create the web conference groups and send you a concrete date and time for you to meet synchronously via Fuze Meeting with your peers and myself. You should receive this email no later than Wednesday. If you do not submit your request on time, you will be responsible for meeting on the assigned date and time I email you. o Note: Please access the web conferencing tool and introduction guide in the online resources section this week prior to your scheduled presentation time. Get comfortable using the tool!! If you have trouble or any questions email me ASAP. Interactive Audience Participation: (50 points) There will be two synchronous meeting times throughout the course that you will attend on the same date and time of your presentation. During these sessions you will present your lesson as well as serve as an interactive audience for others to present their lesson to. Your participation is mandatory and will account for 25 points. o Lesson Feedback (Constructive): During your interactive audience participation you will be giving each presenter your constructive feedback concerning their communication skills during their lesson. You will identify which skills they used effectively, and which skills

they were missing or could improve upon. Feedback will be constructive and follow the guidelines for the positive classroom etiquette policy. When giving feedback always include: What worked well, What didnt work well, and What could be even better if The quality of your feedback will be worth 25 points. Quiz: (25 Points) No Week 6 Quiz! Survey: (4 Points) No Survey! Be sure to complete your end of course evaluations.