Courses: Introduction to Communication Theory, Small Group Communication, Organizational Communication, or any class with a group-based component. Objectives: This activity aims to engage students more deeply in group role-playing activities, reduce stereotyping and prejudice in a popular activity, and enhance students' understanding of group…

It is important for students to understand various communication principles and be able to apply them in a variety of settings using critical thinking skills. Students must learn how to think critically, which includes the ability to apply, connect, analyze, and evaluate information. Teachers, instructors, and professors who are able to integrate…

Most interpersonal communication course textbooks include a section or chapter on the topic of self-disclosure. Students are normally introduced to elements of self-disclosure, such as a definition, functions, or reasons for self-disclosure, risks of self-disclosure, and the role of self-disclosure in relationships. Historically, research on…

One of the methods used to enhance students' ability not only to identify different cultures but also to describe their own cultures with proper analytical vocabulary is to teach students how to play the role of an outsider of their culture and de-familiarize their everyday practice so that they can distinguish cultural patterns and…

While a new medium can enhance communication access by bringing back small group structures or access to local communities, it can also turn communal events such as dining out or drinks with friends into antisocial experiences. The social impact of a medium on the human experience is in part why McLuhan (McLuhan M. [1964b]. Understanding media:…

Courses: Foundations of Human Communication, Interpersonal Communication, Intercultural Communication. Objectives: Through this assignment, students will: (1) identify examples of microaggressions; and (2) apply supportive communication climates of description, problem orientation, and empathy through communicative behaviors.

Every time we join an organization, we go through the socialization process, which is often not as explicit as we might like. Although organizations often provide handbooks for role-related information, there is no such formal structure for cultural information. In order to understand the socialization process and the value it has for both the…

Online activism is a space of opportunity for students to encounter social justice issues, explore the possibilities of visual rhetoric, practice persuasive speaking skills, and actively contribute to the momentum of social movements. At the same time, digital activism raises concerns about "slacktivism," limiting the necessary…

The study of persuasion is the wellspring of the communication discipline. Nevertheless, in one review, Seiter and Gass (2004) noted that ''critics of persuasion seem to emerge and reemerge with some regularity'' (p. 2). Although the study of persuasion is generally venerated by those within the field of communication, it is…

The activity outlined here, using the "Monopoly" board game, is designed to illustrate the way that classical liberalism fails to provide justice for societies marked by historical and ongoing oppression. Taking up roles in a game that simulates some of the conditions of late capitalism can help students begin to understand how economic…

Although Western cultures tend to view dolphins as friendly and benevolent, in Japanese fishing communities, "iruka" (dolphins) are often viewed as food or pests. These perspectives have led to intense conflicts between Japanese fishermen and activists from the west. This article presents an exercise that simulates intercultural conflict by asking…

Courses: Introduction to Corporate Communication, Introduction to Organizational Communication, Topics in Organizational Communication. Objectives: This activity aims to give students an opportunity and space to critique and examine organizational activities and business practices, and how this may impact students' future employment or consumer…

A fundamental concept in Intercultural Communication is developing an understanding of different cultural patterns. Understanding different value dimensions such as collectivism, power distance, and high versus low context cultures are important steps to gaining a facility in communicating cross-culturally. This article presents an activity that…

Effective communication skills are considered essential to a physician's professional competence. Thus, Finnish medical schools include communication skills training in their curricula. Today it is essential to ensure that students graduate with the interpersonal communication competence (ICC) necessary to succeed in their profession. Experiential…

Arguably one of the most basic forms of communication, giving and receiving affectionate communication, can promote health. It can trigger hormones that regulate stress, is positively associated with mental health and inversely associated with depression, and can quicken recovery from stressful events. Thus, affectionate communication can enhance…