Communication Skills

Course Description

Engineers need communication skills in order to transfer precise information and messages to their colleagues, clients and suppliers in written and oral form; to present themselves, their work and results; to learn and teach effectively. During the course, students learn how to effectively find relevant information and learn; to transmit information and messages with lectures, presentation materials, text and graphics; how to create effective soundtrack, photography and video. Meetings and negotiations are used daily in group work and collaboration, so students learn to recognize them in time, prepare for them well and execute them effectively. Through the exercises, they learn listening and talk actively; to perceive causes of misunderstanding and conflicts between people and learn how to avoid and resolve them. An important part of engineers’ education is to introduce themselves via the curriculum vitae and to understand, appreciate and respect cultural differences and norms.

Learning Outcomes

  1. Write a structured and narrative biography and present it orally
  2. Show their work and results in written and oral form to experts and the public
  3. Report and communicate information, activities, needs and intentions effectively in oral, written and graphic form
  4. Design and develop effective photo, audio and video
  5. Select and evaluate relevant information and critically analyze them
  6. Plan and implement effective meetings and negotiationsexplain group communication
  7. Analyze communication problems, avoid and resolve them
  8. Compare cultural differences and norms, respect them and are appropriate to adopt

Forms of Teaching

Lectures

At a lecture students and the lecturer discuss the subject for which they have prepared through research and preparatory homework. Posting questions and answers via AuResS system students actively contribute to the lecture and their learning. The teacher helps the formation of conclusions, lays out the theoretical basis, provides guidance for the application of new knowledge and give guidelines for further independent learning. If necessary, the teacher explains the homework following the lecture.

Seminars and workshops

The seminar work in the form of a two-minute video presentation on a given topic.

Consultations

Homework

Acquisition of Skills

Lecture preparation exercises

Grading Method

Continuous Assessment Exam
Type Threshold Percent of Grade Threshold Percent of Grade
Homeworks 50 % 30 % 50 % 40 %
Quizzes 50 % 20 % 0 % 10 %
Seminar/Project 50 % 30 % 50 % 30 %
Mid Term Exam: Written 0 % 1 % 0 %
Final Exam: Written 50 % 19 %
Exam: Written 50 % 20 %
Comment:

When completing the course with continuous assessment/learning::

  • Quizzes in the table above refer to class preparation assignments available on Moodle, which are worth 10 course credit points and have a 50% passing threshold, and homework quizzes available on Moodle, which are worth 10 course credit points and have a 50% passing threshold.
  • Achieving the 50% threshold in each activity type as well as at least 60 course points in total are course passing prerequisites.

When completing the course in the exam period:
  • Course credit achieved in the category Quizzes (as defined above) is scaled to a maximum of 10% of the total number of points. There is no threshold for this category and no way to make up for unachieved points.
  • If above the 50% threshold, the assignment credit achieved on the final project is copied to the exam period. Otherwise or if a student wants to improve their result, they can improve it and submit it again.
  • Assignment credit achieved i the category of Homework is scaled to a maximum of 40% of the total number of points. A student can improve and re-submit any included homework if they want. Aside from the 50% passing threshold, additional precondition for passing the course is >0 assignment credit for each of the homework assignments in this category.
  • For any activity that a student submits in the exam period the assignment credit they achieved during continuous assessment is deleted and the new credit that they achieve is relevant.

Week by Week Schedule

  1. Introduction, active learning methods, learning styles
  2. e-Mail
  3. Listening, speaking, conflicts
  4. Resume and cover letter
  5. Negotiating, meetings, personalities
  6. Slideshows
  7. Delivering presentations
  8. Midterm exam
  9. Scientific, professional, and popular writing
  10. Web search and evaluation of information
  11. Photography and videography
  12. Students' presentations - pitching
  13. Seminar
  14. Cultural differences and etiquete
  15. Final exam

Study Programmes

University undergraduate
[FER3-EN] Computing - study
(1. semester)
[FER3-EN] Electrical Engineering and Information Technology - study
(1. semester)

Prerequisites for

Literature

John W. Davies (2001.), Communication Skills, Pearson Education
Thomas E. Harris, John C. Sherblom (2018.), Small Group and Team Communication, Waveland Press