James Cook University Subject Handbook - 2020

ED3610 - Professional Communication Practices

Subject Description

Communication skills are very important to all Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics related careers. This Level 3 subject will develop your skills in STEM communication and learning. As this subject is focused on contemporary professional practices, you will develop your professional competencies. You will learn relevant technical and theoretical aspects of STEM communication. You will able to describe and analyse established and emerging principles of professional communication, and apply technical communication conventions, strategies and processes to topics of your choosing. Through the development of a communication product, you will increase your knowledge of a range of techniques for communicating with different groups in the community, being responsive to, and inclusive of, age, gender, culture and interests.

Learning Outcomes

• be able to organise content in an effective learning and communication sequence
• possess the cognitive skills to select, design and apply strategies associated with STEM related communication for identified audiences and purposes
• apply the technical elements and conventions of STEM communication, and have knowledge of different modalities of traditional and emerging and established digital science communication
• critically evaluate the ways in which language and narrative can be used to inform and evoke an emotional response and to connect with an audience
• gain confidence and competence in personal communication capabilities

Subject Assessment

• Invigilated > Tutorial attendance and participation - (30%)
• Targeted communication products - (35%)
• Critical evaluation, and subsequent communication, of discursive practices evident in a science communication product - (35%)

Note that minor variations might occur due to the continuous subject quality improvement process, and in case of minor variation(s) in assessment details, the Subject Outline represents the latest official information.

Availabilities