Developing Oral Communication Skills: A Multi-component, Multi-source and Multi-stage Course Design

Abstract

We present an innovative, experiential management communication course design that incorporates four sources of communication self-efficacy to develop three components of oral communication (presenting, listening and conversing). Our pedagogical strategy includes a multi-stage skill development with elements of three self-assessments, weekly mini-communication workshops, weekly prepared and impromptu student speeches, one short listening exercise, one interview exercise, one final presentation and immediate instructor and peer feedback. This course design enhances student oral communication in three important ways. First, it provides a non-threatening, experiential learning environment for students to develop oral communication self-efficacy while addressing business topics. Second, it provides students multiple opportunities to simultaneously practice oral communication’s presentation, listening and conversing elements. Finally, our course design maximizes students’ experiential learning with timely and constructive “360 degree” (instructor, peer, and self) feedback both inside and outside of classroom.