Overview
This unit introduces you to professional communication concepts that are relevant to a career in information and communication technologies (ICT). Topics include negotiation, teamwork, conflict management, academic referencing, library skills, and oral and written communication. The unit introduces awareness of cultural diversity and its management in a multicultural workforce.
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 - 2019
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 evaluation and self-reflection.
Improve slides and video.
Improve the clarity of the explanations on the slides and the videos. Seek feedback regarding the slides and videos.
Feedback from Student evaluation.
Students liked various components including the writing style, research and argument sections, the relevance to industry was highlighted, and this unit helped them build skills needed for other units. International students appreciated learning more about Australian culture.
We will continue to seek opportunities to strengthen the industry relevance of the sections in this unit.
Feedback from Student evaluation and self-reflection.
Some of the assessment activities were not motivated sufficiently, the time for some assessment activities was insufficient, the assessment criteria were not sufficiently explained and the assessment return was poor.
The assessment activities will be refined.
- 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)
- Innovation (INOV)
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |
| 1 - Written Assessment - 20% | |||||
| 2 - Group Work - 30% | |||||
| 3 - Presentation - 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 - Group Work - 30% | ||||||||||
| 3 - Presentation - 50% | ||||||||||
Textbooks
There are no required textbooks.
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.
m.elkhodr@cqu.edu.au
Module/Topic
Introduction to Communication Skills in ICT
Chapter
1 Effective Business Communications
3 Understanding Your Audience
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Interpersonal Communication
Chapter
12.5 Organizing Principles for Your Speech
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Writing Style
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Arguments
Chapter
6.3 Making an Argument
A guide to debate
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Teamwork & Intercultural Communication
Chapter
18 Intercultural and International Business Communication
19 Group Communication, Teamwork, and Leadership
Events and Submissions/Topic
Assignment 1 is due for submission online
Assignment 1 Due: Week 5 Friday (20 Dec 2019) 12:00 pm AEST
Module/Topic
Academic Skills
Chapter
6.4 Paraphrase and Summary versus Plagiarism
8.4 Qualitative and Quantitative Research
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Innovation & Entrepreneurship
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Debate practice in class
Module/Topic
Academic Skills
Chapter
Harvard Referencing Style abridged guide
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
ICT Communication in Action
Chapter
9 Business Writing in Action; upto 9.3 Business Proposal
Events and Submissions/Topic
In-class debate/presentation
Assignment 2 is due for submission online by the due date
Assignment 2- Debate Due: Week 9 Friday (24 Jan 2020) 12:00 pm AEST
Module/Topic
Ethics and social issues
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
What is a literature review
How to write a conference article
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Check with your lecturer regarding rescheduled classes.
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Assignment 3 is due online by the due date
Complete unit feedback survey in Moodle - the red "Have your say" button.
There is no exam for COIT11239.
Assignment 3 Due: Week 12 Friday (14 Feb 2020) 11:45 pm AEST
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
9 Dec to 13 Dec Break
25 Dec to 31 Dec Vacation (X-mass and new year)
1 Group Work
The aim of this assignment is to develop your oral, research and writing communications skills.
In week 2, students will join a group of three. If students do not voluntarily join a group, they will be assigned one. A topic from a given list will be assigned to each group.
Each group must give a 15 minutes presentation. The presentation should introduce the topic and mention the key issues of the topic, but it should be brief. Students during the presentation should demonstrate appropriate use of gestures and aim to demonstrate an excellent stage presence.
Each group must prepare as well a 2000 words report. The report should introduce the topic, examine the literature, discuss current issues, including case studies and draw a conclusion. The authors should cite at least five peer-reviewed references that are used in the report.
Week 5 Friday (20 Dec 2019) 12:00 pm AEST
Presentation is due in class. Report is due online. Refer to the assessment schedule on the unit website for further details
Week 7 Monday (6 Jan 2020)
A moderation process is performed to ensure marker consistency. To facilitate the moderation process, your lecturer might record your tasks. Any feedback you receive prior to the moderation process might change.
The criteria for the presentation usually include aspects such as your stage presence, your gestures and your slideshow’s structure, framing and mechanics, including the style, grammar, punctuation and spelling.
The criteria of the report include aspects such as such whether the topic is well researched, and whether the arguments are supported by enough literature based on referred articles or not.
All group members will usually receive the same mark for components such as the slideshow framing. Your presentation skills are usually marked individually.
Plagiarism will be dealt with according to University policy. Your assignment might be assigned a zero grade or reported for further action.
Incomplete submissions such as those in which staff are unable to access linked material, for example, due to insufficient permissions, might not be marked or a late penalty might be applied.
- Show confidence and skills in oral communications and presentations
- Work effectively as part of a team
- Define and demonstrate conflict management and resolution strategies.
- Communication
- Team Work
- Information Technology Competence
2 Presentation
Groups of 3-5 members will be formed in Week 6 (these will be different from assignment 1 groups) and a topic will be assigned to each team and which side of the argument you are to speak to. The group should prepare a case and organise the order in which students are going to speak. Your team members will each speak for 4-5 minutes, alternating with your opponents.
The first speaker for the proposition will define the question and introduce the argument, the first speaker for the opposition will introduce their case, the second speakers will sustain and or refute the arguments, the final speakers for both sides will summarise their team's arguments and any rebuttals and close their case.
When the case is closed there will be three to five minutes of questions (depending on the group size) from the floor addressed to any team member to which you will briefly respond. Timing will be strict, and you must stop speaking when your time has elapsed otherwise a penalty will be imposed. The same grade will be given to each member of the team at the discretion of the marker.
Week 9 Friday (24 Jan 2020) 12:00 pm AEST
In class debate plus report submission by the due date
Week 11 Monday (3 Feb 2020)
Feedback will be returned within a fortnight of assessment when the moderation process is complete. Any feedback you receive prior to the moderation process might change.
The assignment criteria include aspects such as your listening skills, engagement, reflections, conflict management skills, spelling and grammar.
All group members will usually receive the same mark for components such as the slideshow framing. Your presentation skills are usually marked individually.
Plagiarism and the use of a rewriting engine such as a synonym generator or a spinner will be dealt with according to University policy. Plagiarism penalties and academic misconduct charges may apply to all group members for group components. Your assignment might be assigned a zero grade or reported for further action.
Incomplete submissions such as those in which staff are unable to access linked material, for example, due to insufficient permissions, might not be marked or late penalties might be applied.
No submission method provided.
- 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.
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
- Information Technology Competence
- Cross Cultural Competence
- Ethical practice
- Social Innovation
3 Written Assessment
You are to write a literature review report on a given topic (Internet of Things, Cyber Security). An IEEE or ACM conference paper will be provided and should be used as a template for the report format.
The aim of this assignment is to allow you to demonstrate your ability to apply and share expert Information and Communication Technology (ICT) knowledge. Also to demonstrate your communication and writing skills.
Week 12 Friday (14 Feb 2020) 11:45 pm AEST
Online by the due date
Exam Week Monday (17 Feb 2020)
On certification day
The criteria for the assignment include aspects such as Clarity and validity of arguments, Quality of research e.g. Conveying accurate information and citing at least three recent, relevant sources to underpin arguments, adherence to a style guide, writing style, and your writing mechanics, for example, spelling and grammar.
- Explain communication concepts and strategies
- Communicate effectively in a professional context
- Communication
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
- Information Technology Competence
- Social Innovation
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?
