Overview
This unit introduces you to professional communication concepts that are relevant to a career in information and communication technologies (ICT). Topics include academic referencing and library skills, oral and written communication, negotiation, teamwork and conflict management. The unit introduces awareness of cultural diversity and its management in a multicultural workforce. COMM11003 Communication in Professional Contexts is an anti-requisite for COIT11239.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
COMM11003 Communication in Professional Contexts is an anti-requisite for COIT11239.
Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).
Offerings For Term 3 - 2017
Attendance Requirements
All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes – in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).
Recommended Student Time Commitment
Each 6-credit Undergraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.
Class Timetable
Assessment Overview
Assessment Grading
This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of ‘pass’ in order to pass the unit. If any ‘pass/fail’ tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully (‘pass’ grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the ‘assessment task’ section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University’s Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.
All University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
You may wish to view these policies:
- Grades and Results Policy
- Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework)
- Review of Grade Procedure
- Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure – Domestic Students
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure – International Students
- Student Refund and Credit Balance Policy and Procedure
- Student Feedback – Compliments and Complaints Policy and Procedure
- Information and Communications Technology Acceptable Use Policy and Procedure
This list is not an exhaustive list of all University policies. The full list of University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
Feedback, Recommendations and Responses
Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.
Feedback from Student feedback
The students found that the unit was well organised and helped them understand the ICT business world. Distance students appreciated the online sessions and news forum updates. Students indicated they liked learning how to communicate in different ways, especially non-verbal. Students noted the presentations helped them increase their confidence.
Keep the related activities and materials.
Feedback from Student feedback
The assessment requirements need to be clearer.
Simplify the assessment.
Feedback from Student feedback
The lecture slides need some more explanations.
Add additional explanations to the lecture slides.
- Explain communication concepts and strategies.
- Show confidence and skills in oral communications and presentations.
- Work effectively as part of a team.
- Communicate effectively in a professional context.
- Define and demonstrate conflict management and resolution strategies.
- Core skill, Business Skills: Communication skills and teamwork
- Relationship management (RLMT)
- Information Management (IRMG)
- Research (RSCH)
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |
| 1 - Written Assessment - 20% | |||||
| 2 - Practical and Written Assessment - 30% | |||||
| 3 - Presentation and Written Assessment - 50% | |||||
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |
| 1 - Communication | |||||
| 2 - Problem Solving | |||||
| 3 - Critical Thinking | |||||
| 4 - Information Literacy | |||||
| 5 - Team Work | |||||
| 6 - Information Technology Competence | |||||
| 7 - Cross Cultural Competence | |||||
| 8 - Ethical practice | |||||
| 9 - Social Innovation | |||||
| 10 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures | |||||
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Graduate Attributes
| Assessment Tasks | Graduate Attributes | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | |
| 1 - Written Assessment - 20% | ||||||||||
| 2 - Practical and Written Assessment - 30% | ||||||||||
| 3 - Presentation and Written Assessment - 50% | ||||||||||
Textbooks
There are no required textbooks.
Additional Textbook Information
This unit uses the following textbook:
Business Communication for Success 2015, University of Minnesota Libraries Publishing, Minneapolis.
This textbook will be made available as a free download from the COIT11239 unit web site.
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
- Microsoft Office including Word, Powerpoint and Excel
- Webcam, microphone and speakers (or headset)
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: Harvard (author-date)
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
r.desilva2@cqu.edu.au
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Assessment 1 due at the end of the week.
Ass 1 Essay Due: Week 4 Friday (1 Dec 2017) 11:45 pm AEST
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
3 Understanding Your Audience 11 Nonverbal Delivery upto 11.4 Visual Aids 12.5 Organizing Principles for Your Speech 15.6 Introducing a Speaker
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Intrapersonal Communication
Chapter
15.3 Meetings 16.5 Rituals of Conversation and Interviews 16.6 Conflict in the Work Environment
Events and Submissions/Topic
Quiz 2 due.
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Assessment 2 presentations due
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Quiz 3 due. Assessment 3 Report due Complete unit feedback survey in Moodle - the red "Have your say" button.
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
No exams in COIT11239
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
No exams in COIT11239
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Contact information for Ruchira de Silva: Email: r.desilva2@cqu.edu.au. Telephone: (02) 9324 5790. Office: Level 6, 400 Kent Street, Sydney Campus.
Please submit questions about the unit through the 'Q&A' discussion forum in Moodle so that everyone can benefit from the questions and answers. If you have any individual queries, please email me and I'll try to get back to you within a day or so. For an individual discussion, please contact during work hours or email a suitable date/time with any other relevant details so I can contact you.
Daylight Saving is in effect throughout Term 3. Check the time differences for any impact on your assessment submission times if you live outside Queensland.
Please note that the University is closed for the Christmas New Year period. Marking of assessments will be impacted by this closure period. Assessment deadlines and return dates are planned to not disadvantage students.
1 Written Assessment
Please write an essay in which you investigate an ICT communication topic and argue your position. Further details including the topic and length for this assignment are available on the unit website. This is an individual assessment.
All students must attend from Week 1 or cover the materials as soon as they enroll with self study where needed. Knowledge gained in the early weeks are essential for all assessments.
Week 4 Friday (1 Dec 2017) 11:45 pm AEST
Within a fortnight of submission or when the marking and moderation process is completed.
The assignment criteria include aspects such as:
Quality and structure of your arguments,
Quality of your chosen references, and
Your writing mechanics, e.g., spelling, grammar and referencing.
Marks will be deducted for aspects such as, but not limited to, not adhering to the word limits, plagiarism and the use of a rewriting engine such a synonym generator or a spinner.
- Explain communication concepts and strategies.
- Communicate effectively in a professional context.
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
- Team Work
- Information Technology Competence
- Cross Cultural Competence
- Ethical practice
2 Practical and Written Assessment
Students will work in small groups of 2 - 4 to present a critique of arguments from articles that you intend to use for Assignment 3. Further details for this assignment are available on the unit website. You may choose your group members but your lecturer will finalise the groups in Week 5.
Create a PowerPoint document to support your presentation. Your presentation should last six to eight minutes.
Internal students will present during class time. Distance students will present online during a group video conference. Distance students will require a web cam, microphone and speaker or headset. Internal students are expected to work in groups. Distance students may request to work individually if there are logistical issues. Please discuss with the Unit Coordinator.
Please note that this assessment leads to Assessment 3. Therefore, group members who present together are expected to complete Assessment 3 except in extenuating circumstances.
All students must attend from Week 1 or cover the materials as soon as they enroll with self study where needed. Knowledge gained in the early weeks are essential for all assessments.
The submission deadline for the presentation slides are 24 hours before the presentation deadline: the presentation is due during Week 9 for all students. Internal students will present in their classes while the distance students will discuss arrangements with the Unit Coordinator.
Feedback will be returned within two weeks of the delivery of the presentation, after marking and moderation is completed.
Presentation slides must be submitted 24 hours before your presentation. The assignment criteria include aspects such as:
Presentation performance including your non-verbal gestures,
Presentation content, including your choice of reference and your Toulmin argument,
Presentation organisation, framing and mechanics, e.g., no spelling errors. Marks will be deducted for aspects such as, but not limited to, incomplete submissions, plagiarism and inability of staff to access externally linked assessable material.
All group members are required to speak unless there is a medical condition supported by evidence - discuss the options with the lecturer and unit coordinator well before the due date. Groups will usually receive the same mark for the presentation content, but may be marked individually on their presentation skills. If a student does not attend on the day of the presentation, other group members must be ready to present. The absent student will be marked 0 unless an extension request with acceptable supporting evidence is provided. Details provided on Moodle Unit website.
Assessments provide the opportunity for students to demonstrate their knowledge and skills to achieve the required standard. To do this, assessment responses need to be both clear and easy to understand. If not, the University cannot determine that students have demonstrated their knowledge and skills. Assessments will, therefore, be marked accordingly including the potential for 0 marks where relevant.
Plagiarism penalties and academic misconduct charges for group components will apply to all members in the group. Students must deliver the presentation on the allocated day to have their presentation marked. Submission of the file(s) alone is not acceptable as having completed the assessment requirements.
- Show confidence and skills in oral communications and presentations.
- Work effectively as part of a team.
- Communicate effectively in a professional context.
- Define and demonstrate conflict management and resolution strategies.
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
- Team Work
- Information Technology Competence
- Cross Cultural Competence
- Ethical practice
3 Presentation and Written Assessment
There are three components to this assignment:
Business Report (40%)
Presentation (30%)
Quizzes (30%). Due dates for the different components are provided on the Unit website.
The online quizzes are individual assessments, while the presentation and the business report are group based (same groups that completed assessment 2).
Please create a proposal for an organisation that wishes to enhance its communications. We would like you to present your proposal and support it with a business report and a presentation.
The description of the organisation and their requirements will be provided on the unit website.
Business Report: Please write a business report to report your findings. The length and other details provided on the Unit website.
Evaluate Communication Context: discuss the current communication context of the organisation. Explain how the communication model applies to the organisation’s issues.
Ethical and Intercultural Implications: discuss the ethical and intercultural implications of the organisation’s context.
Recommendations: please include recommendations as to how the organisation should proceed. Provide convincing, well-structured recommendations that are supported with evidence.
Presentation: You need to present your findings to the client. Create a PowerPoint, to support your presentation. Your presentation should last six to ten minutes.
Internal students will present during class time. Distance students will present online during a group video conference. Distance students will require a web cam, microphone and speaker (or headset).
Further details for this assignment are available on the unit website.
All students must attend from Week 1 or cover the materials as soon as they enroll with self study where needed. Knowledge gained in the early weeks are essential for all assessments.
Quizzes are due in Weeks 3, 6 and 8. Report submission is due at the end of week 11. The presentation is due during your Week 12 class for internal students and as arranged in week 12 for distance students. Presentation slides must be submitted 24 hours before your presentation. Only one PPT and Report submission per group is necessary while the others will be asked to submit a peer review form which will be provided on Moodle.
Feedback and marks for this assignment will not be available until after the grade certification date. Feedback for each quiz will be available within a fortnight of their due date. Please note that marking of some components factor the Christmas New Year period - see Term specific information.
Quizzes: Each quiz question has its own marking criteria. These include aspects such as the completeness, correctness, spelling, punctuation, grammar, structure, and style. Each quiz has the same weight.
Business Report: The assignment criteria include aspects such as:
Recommendations: quality of Toulmin arguments and references,
Business report structural integrity, organisation, writing style and framing,
Ethical and intercultural communications context,
Referencing: meticulous use of CQU Abridged Harvard Referencing Style; and
Mechanics, grammar, and proofing: Your assignment is virtually free from mechanical, grammatical, punctuation, and spelling errors.
Presentation: Presentation slides must be submitted 24 hours before your presentation. The assignment criteria includes aspects such as:
Presentation structural integrity, organisation and framing,
Presentation content quality,
Presentation non-verbals,
Mechanics and proofing, e.g., spelling errors.
All group members are required to speak unless there is a medical condition supported by evidence - discuss the options with the lecturer and unit coordinator well before the due date. Groups will usually receive the same mark for the presentation content, but may be marked individually on their presentation skills. If a student does not attend on the day of the presentation, other group members must be ready to present. The absent student will be marked 0 unless an extension request with acceptable supporting evidence is provided. Details provided on Moodle Unit website.
Marks for Assessment 3 will be deducted for aspects such as, but not limited to, incomplete submissions, plagiarism, the use of rewriting engines, and inability of staff to access any externally linked assessable material.
Assessments provide the opportunity for students to demonstrate their knowledge and skills to achieve the required standard. To do this, assessment responses need to be both clear and easy to understand. If not, the University cannot determine that students have demonstrated their knowledge and skills. Assessments will, therefore, be marked accordingly including the potential for 0 marks where relevant.
Plagiarism penalties and academic misconduct charges for group components will apply to all members in the group.
- Show confidence and skills in oral communications and presentations.
- Work effectively as part of a team.
- Communicate effectively in a professional context.
- Define and demonstrate conflict management and resolution strategies.
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
- Team Work
- Information Technology Competence
- Cross Cultural Competence
- Ethical practice
As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.
Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.
When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.
Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.
As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.
What is a breach of academic integrity?
A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.
Why is academic integrity important?
A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.
Where can I get assistance?
For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.
What can you do to act with integrity?
