This single-class activity is designed to introduce concepts of rhetoric, narrative, and public memory to students and to help them recognize the persuasive structure of narratives, particularly as applied to value-based popular discourse. Courses: Instructors can implement this activity in a variety of classes, including Introduction to…

Impromptu speaking is a typical exercise in communication-focused courses. This format is often used to practice reducing or assess speaking anxiety, getting to know one another, and delivering project updates and ceremonial remarks. For students to practice their skills in quick thinking and speech preparation, instructors commonly have students…

Courses: Digital Media, Survey of Social Media, Professional Communication Skills, Interviewing, and Mediated Communication. Objectives: The goals of this classroom activity are for students to understand strategic communication for self-promotion on social media platforms, especially Twitter, and to utilize them effectively for job applications.

Courses: Crisis Communication, Advanced Public Relations. Objectives: In this multiple class activity, students will (a) apply crisis communication concepts and skills to several phases of an ongoing hypothetical crisis, (b) synthesize course material into a crisis communication manual, and (c) engage in ongoing critical reflection about best…

Courses: Group and Team Communication, Communication Theory, Rhetorical/Media Criticism. Objectives: The aims of this single-class activity are to (1) illustrate the basic concepts, processes, and properties of symbolic convergence theory; (2) apply fantasy theme analysis to the decision-making practices of a zero-history group; and (3) critically…

Courses: Quantitative research methods, research methods, basic communication courses. Objectives: The goals of the exercise are for students: (1) collaboratively to design a "real world" survey questionnaire; (2) to analyze survey questions and survey design to address if and how the survey meets its goals; (3) to evaluate the strengths…

Courses: Gender roles and communication, interpersonal communication, communication theory. Objectives: This activity introduces students to the social construction of gender, and asks them to consider gender diversity by understanding that shades of pink and blue exist within the binary. Specifically, students are given blue or pink color…

Courses: Interpersonal Communication, Introduction to Communication. Objectives: Students will be able to explain complex theoretical concepts in interpersonal communication through the use of Internet memes. They will then upload these memes to a communal Instagram page where they will be able to review each other's work, thus building a learning…

Courses: Public Relations, Organizational/Crisis Communication, Social Media in Organizations. Objective: The goal for this activity is for students to simulate an organizational response to an environmental/health crisis impacting their business operations. By working through various components of a crisis event, students apply theoretical…

Communication courses enhance learning through engaging diverse perspectives. However, students' unawareness of diverse perspectives can inhibit communication effectiveness and classroom engagement. Communication teachers encounter challenges and opportunities when these viewpoints impact students' assignment quality, class discussion…

Leveraging arts-based pedagogy, this interpersonal and/or family communication activity allows students to engage creatively with a concept of the instructor's choosing through the creation of a collective poem. Each student contributes statements that the instructor forms into a poem, resulting in a collaborative artifact that engages students'…

Courses: This single-class activity is designed for an intercultural communication class. It is suitable for any course that requires a discussion about identities. Objectives: This activity helps students enhance their understanding of the concept of identities. It allows students to comprehend multiple identity markers (e.g. race, gender, and…

Courses: This activity could be used in courses where persuasion, dialogue, and communication ethics are primary. Thus, a communication ethics course, or course units where students discuss ethics, would be appropriate. For instance, even a human communication course could use this activity to describe ethical treatment of "the other" or…

Play provides an opportunity for students to learn information and concepts in an active format while facilitating different ways of learning. This puzzle activity is designed to increase student engagement, leverage different learning styles, help students make connections in communication theories, and enhance memory of important communication…

Courses: Public Speaking, Advanced Public Speaking, Capstone Courses. Objective: This activity is designed to help students identify different components of an elevator speech and assemble elevator speeches highlighting their strengths. The activity ultimately increases students' sense of self-competence.