Skill Builder - Essential Communications
Overview:
Communication skills are essential for getting people’s attention and compelling them to act! This online workshop offers emerging professionals and job-seekers the opportunity to develop core competencies in communication, problem solving, and strategic thinking. Students will apply and practice their skills in persuasion, conflict resolution, and public speaking. Learners will explore communications frameworks and best practices in interpersonal and intercultural communication. Participants will assess and practice their public speaking skills, and evaluate their communications footprint by engaging in a social media identity audit. The workshop will conclude with a summative assessment where students will share the culmination of the workshop, Your Personal Brand, in a visual portfolio.
Registration coming soon
Who should attend?
You may use the knowledge and skills developed through this program to prepare you for success in the workplace, such as:
- Recent graduates wanting to enhance their workplace skills;
- Early career and entry-level professionals;
- Customer service and Human Resources representatives;
- New executives and presenters;
- Small business owners;
- Anyone looking to enhance their communication skills.
Required elements
Successfully complete all five (5) modules listed and the summative assessment to receive a formal certificate:
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Module 1 - Intercultural Communication
Description:
Humans are diverse – culturally, emotionally, physically, and geographically. Canada, and the world, are culturally diverse, making professional intercultural communications skills highly marketable in a competitive job market. A rapidly changing technological landscape has shrunk our world as people communicate across cultures now more now than ever before. Email, phone calls, tweets, and status updates act as important methods of interpersonal communication. The purpose of Module 1 and 2 of the workshop is to introduce students to the practical concepts and real-world approaches of interpersonal and intercultural communication. Learners will evaluate their own interpersonal competencies while exploring strategies to develop effective and adaptable interpersonal communication. In addition to exploring the benefits of strong interpersonal skills, this part of the workshop will examine the related topic of intercultural communication.
Learning Objectives
- Identify ethical communication and recognize different kinds of communication, including informative, persuasive, and communication feedback.
- Recognize and identify interpersonal and/or intercultural conflict; apply a conflict resolution framework in a conflict scenario with precision and effectiveness.
- Identify and implement best strategies to resolve interpersonal and/or intercultural conflict.
- Evaluate individual, group, and corporate goals, wants, needs, and interests to create and revise an appropriate communication plan.
- Select and implement the appropriate type of communication for interpersonal situations (e.g., informative, persuasive, feedback, conflict resolution).
- Recognize cultural bias and identify and implement best practices for ethical, inclusive, and respectful intercultural communication.
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Module 2 - Interpersonal Communication
Description
See Module 1
Learning Outcomes
See Module 1
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Module 3 - Public Speaking
Description
Public speaking is an in-demand skill across multiple sectors and industries. In Module 3, students will explore and practice strategies for developing, delivering, and improving upon their public presentation skills. Students will engage in several case studies to evaluate and reflect upon what makes an effective speaker, and create a Personal Presentation Framework to use as a template to build upon their verbal presentation skills.
Learning Objectives
- Identify and analyze effective verbal communication scenarios and case studies.
- Identify speaking apprehension and recognize and apply strategies to alleviate it.
- Recognize different kinds of verbal communication strategies, including informative, persuasive, and communication feedback.
- Select and implement the appropriate type of verbal communication for needs specific audiences, including dyads, small group, and large group settings.
- Effectively build and implement a Personal Presentation Framework.
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Module 4 - Social Media Identity Brand
Description
In Module 4 students will explore how different individuals, groups and organizations leverage social media to achieve their goals. Students will identify and analyze the culture of social media and evaluate the ethics of the digital turn. They will also collaborate effectively with their peers to undertake a needs assessment in order to draft and present a targeted social media campaign. Module 4 will culminate with a practical activity where participants will engage in a social media identity audit.
Learning Outcomes
- Recognize and evaluate how different individuals, groups, and organizations use social media in a digital world.
- List and identify the benefits of social media for businesses and job seekers.
- Work effectively in a small group to identify and apply communication concepts to create a targeted social media campaign that takes into account the needs of the client and diverse audiences.
- Evaluate your social media identity and create a plan of action to remedy and improve your social media footprint.
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Module 5 - Your Personal Brand
Description
Students will take part in an online communications simulation to get an inside look at communication and company branding strategies in practice. Module 5 will culminate in the presentation of Your Personal Brand to the instructor for assessment and feedback.
Learning Objectives
- Identify best practices in corporate communications and branding identity.
- Create and ask effective questions for a communications professional.
- Apply workshop communication strategies and practices to Your Personal Brand.
- Schedule
- Program highlights
- Online program design
- Technology and material requirements
- Fees and registration
- Successful completion
- Policies
Schedule: TBD
COVID-19 update: All Continuous Learning sessions are being offered online until further notice. Online participation instructions will be emailed to registered learners before the start on their courses/workshops. Thank you for your flexibility and understanding.
In-class (virtual classroom):
| Module 1 | Intercultural Communications | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Module 2 | Interpersonal Communication | ||
| Module 3 | Public Speaking | ||
| Module 4 | Social Media Identity Brand | ||
| Module 5 | Your Personal Brand |
*Schedule is subject to change.
Independent work:
Each module will have independent work prior to the virtual class for the corresponding module. Material for each module will be posted one (1) week prior to the virtual class session for the corresponding module.
The workshop will conclude with a summative assessment where students will share the culmination of the workshop, Your Personal Brand, in a visual portfolio.
- Learn from and interact with communication experts and professionals in the field;
- Intimate group session and small student-to-instructor ratio that will give you an opportunity to practice and master your communication skills;
- Earn digital badges to highlight your skills on social media and learning management systems; and
- Create a visual portfolio of work for professional development and career search strategies.
COVID-19 update: All Continuous Learning sessions are being offered online until further notice. Online participation instructions will be emailed to registered learners before the start on their courses/workshops. Thank you for your flexibility and understanding.
Online course delivery is a blend of synchronous and asynchronous formats. This means you must attend the virtual classes at specified dates and times as well as complete independent learning online. Total program time is approximately fifteen (15) to twenty (20) hours.
In-class (virtual classroom):
Kaltura Virtual Classroom is an interactive and engaging video conferencing tool in Canvas used to deliver virtual classes online. Each virtual class is two (2) hours per week over five (5) weeks for a total on ten (10) hours in-class.
Independent work:
Canvas is the Learning Management System (LMS) Ontario Tech University uses to deliver online content. Independent learning materials will be posted in Canvas a week prior to the corresponding module. The independent learning for each module is to be completed prior to the virtual class session for the corresponding module. Independent learning is approximately five (5) to eight (8) hours total over five (5) weeks.
Summative assessment:
The workshop will conclude with a summative assessment where students will share the culmination of the workshop, Your Personal Brand, in a visual portfolio.
Technology requirements
Video conferencing
- Device with internet access
- Stable internet or data connection
- Microphone
- Webcam
- Audio device (examples: speakers, headphones/earbuds, headset)
Additional technology and software
- A word processor
Material requirements
There are no additional materials required for this program.
Fees
Full program: $250 CAD for five (5) modules + HST
Registration
Opening soon
You can register for this program thorugh the secure online registration form. All program fees must be paid at the time of registration.
To obtain the University Certificate you must:
- Register and make full payment for the certificate option;
- Attend and successfully complete each required course/element (see the course pages listed in the "Required elements" section above);
- Actively participant in components of each online module, including the virtual in-class sessions;
- Successfully complete all assigned independent work; and
- Successfully complete the summative assessment.
This is an open enrolment program.
Those completing Ontario Tech University Continuous Learning open enrolment offerings (e.g. certificate programs, courses, workshops, microcertifications, etc.) are subject to the policies of Ontario Tech University and Continuous Learning. Ontario Tech policies can be found in the Policy library. Continuous Learning policies can be found in the Regulations section of the Continuous Learning website. Specifically, those completing open enrolment offerings are expected to adhere to the General and Open enrolment regulations.
Related offerings
Personal Branding (LinkedIn)
Social Selling (LinkedIn)
Registration Status
2021: TBD
Location
Online*
*COVID-19 update: All Continuous Learning sessions are being offered online until further notice. Online participation instructions will be emailed to registered learners before the start of their courses. Thank you for your flexibility and understanding.
Dates
TBD
Credential
Certificate
Fees
$250 CAD for five (5) modules + HST
Contact Information: continuouslearning@ontariotechu.ca
