I believe that reading, writing and communication skills are interrelated and that reading improves writing and writing improves reading. Both result in good communication skills.
I encourage students to read the course material since many tend to attempt the course work without reading. I also encourage them to post to the discussion board and they are usually graded on the use of proper grammar in my class regardless of the course. I respond to their discussions and then send them a private email with comments on their writing skills. What works really well is formative feedback provided to students. I encourage them to submit their assignments early in the week so that I could review, provide comments for improvement and give them a chance to improve and resubmit for grading. Those who take advantage of this opportunity are the ones who show tremendous improvement.
When students feel confident with their reading and writing ability, I find that they are able to communicate better and do so with much confidence.
Edna Murugan
Besides modeling appropriate communication, I prefer to write personal emails to students pointing out their positive communication skills then make a simple suggestion for improvement.
Because I take the time to write a personal email, it is often received as 'a gift' rather than another teacher critique.
I believe it is important to establish an open dialogue upfront early in my classes and I tend to provide as much help as I can for a professional appearance with their writing and communication skills--it amazes me how poorly prepared many of our students' writing skills are in fact. Texting is a major issue with me--I do not accept any assignment in texting format--I hold students to the correct English, and APA formats in their writing--to many of my students this comes as a surprise--but why should it? Dr Jim
Christopher,
Great point. Publishers now have some great tools for students to work on their writing. It is great to use those to help you manage workload. You are right, feedback is the key to improvement.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Loriann,
You are right. Communication is like riding a bike. You have to do it regularly and well to be good at it! Practice can be done in so many ways online that is the beauty of it!
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
There are a few ways to help students improve their reading, writing, and communication skills. First, labs exist that students can be sent to for added assistance. Second, guides, wikis, and other learning materials can be made accessible to students to read, review, and utilize. Third, effective feedback can help students to recognize and improve upon issues in their reading, writing, and communication. Fourth, instructors can set an example for their students.
There are great websites where information is provided to enhance a student's learning ability through their reading, writing, and communication skills. Students should be encouraged to use their writing skills to enhance their reading skills. It is stated that they more you read, the more you comprehend.
Practice exercises are also a good way to help students increase their reading, writing, and communication skills. Reading is the key to improving writing and communication skills.
Lori
Patricia,
Rubrics are the road map to success for students and I think for the instructor. They are our expectations. Good post!
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Patricia,
Do you mean our students can't read our minds? :) We do seem to think they should sometimes. Good post!
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Hi Melissa,
We cannot expect our students to be successful if we do not give them our expectations as an instructor as well as the expectations of the school. It is difficult sometimes for students to accept constructive criticism but I think as instructors we have to give them criticism in a positive fashion and we also have to provide with examples or tools so that they do not continue to make the same mistake.
Patricia
It is important to make sure that you provide the students with rubrics within the classroom with what the expectations are in order for the student to be successful in the particular assignment.
I also make sure that I inform the student of what my expectations are as an instructor and include the rubrics to make sure that they have all of the directions and expectations they will need in order to be successful. I think it is important to make sure that you provide your students with feedback on their assignments so that they can continue to improve throughout the class.
Patricia
Jennifer,
Great post. Thank you for sharing your techniques for teaching communication.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Madhuchanda,
Do you have peer review options in your course?
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Roberto,
You make a great point. As an instructor, you need to know the resources your school has such as a writing lab or library liaison.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Roberto,
Great post. I have also used concept mapping and brain storming. I also encourage students to NOT write sequentially. Write what they know they have to write.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Roberto,
Agreed! there is more than one than one right way!
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
I help students improve their reading, writing, and communication skills by giving them assignments that allow them to develop all three skills. Fortunately I teach a communications course, so this is quite easy to do. For example-- there is an assignment in my class where students are required to give a short presentation in Adobe Connect. Before the presentation, I give them PowerPoint and assigned readings on presentations skills to help the prepare for the speech and simultaneously cultivate their reading skills. There is a required outline portion of the assignment that gives students practice planning out their ideas in writing before speaking. The final cornerstone of the assignment is the actual presentation, which gives students an opportunity to develop verbal and nonverbal communication skills. Regardless of what class you teach, developing assignments that tap into all three skills are a great way to help students improve their proficiency in these three modes of communication.
Bob,
Due to time constraints, some time both jobs have fo be done at the same time.
I encourage my students to free-write. Then they take the piece and improve upon it by paying attention to spelling, grammar and clarity.
It should be written as a professional and if they have done any research, then they need to cite their sources as per the writing style they have used, e.g., APA.
Chanda Ghose
The are a number of good resources out there for students to refer to along with the school's writing labs. Both I include in my announcement boards to refer to if they need help. Also in the grading commentary for those students who are struggling I do remind them to about the announcement board postings to help move them along in terms of their writing.
