Professional Communications

1/2 credit course

Google Classroom Code: qslrfqb

Introduction

Unit 01: Professional Standards and Employability Skills

Unit 02: Communication and Technology Skills

Unit 03: Ethical Conduct and Critical-Thinking Skills

Unit 04: Academic and Technical Skills

Unit 05: Communication Components, Processes, and Skills

Unit 06: Professional Communications and Presentations

Unit 07: Electronic Information and Communication

Unit 08: Leadership Opportunities

Unit 09: Presentations and Interviews

Texas Essential Knowledge & Skills (TEKS)

Introduction

(1) Career and technical education instruction provides content aligned with challenging academic standards and relevant technical knowledge and skills for students to further their education and succeed in current or emerging professions.

(2) The Arts, Audio/Video Technology, and Communications Career Cluster focuses on careers in designing, producing, exhibiting, performing, writing, and publishing multimedia content, including visual and performing arts and design, journalism, and entertainment services.

(3) Professional Communications blends written, oral, and graphic communication in a career-based environment. Careers in the global economy require individuals to be creative and have a strong background in computer and technology applications, a strong and solid academic foundation, and a proficiency in professional oral and written communication. Within this context, students will be expected to develop and expand the ability to write, read, edit, speak, listen, apply software applications, manipulate computer graphics, and conduct Internet research.

(4) Students are encouraged to participate in extended learning experiences such as career and technical student organizations and other leadership or extracurricular organizations.

Unit 01: Professional Standards and Employability Skills

(5 classes for the entire unit)

Students will begin the course by discussing professional standards and personal qualities needed to be employable, such as effective oral and written communication, leadership skills, teamwork, appreciation for diversity, conflict management, customer service, a positive and productive work ethic, and adaptability. Students will further develop and demonstrate these skills and attributes by creating and/or participating in classroom activities and workplace vignettes/scenarios that highlight professionalism, leadership, collaboration, and teamwork, and continue to demonstrate these skills and attributes throughout the course. Students will discuss successful methods of planning and time management in small groups and/or other classroom activities. As a culminating activity for the unit, student teams will discuss, describe, and/or present summaries of effective communication and collaboration skills, time management skills, and instructor expectations regarding classroom rules, schedules, and task completion.

TEKS in this unit: PC1.B, PC7.A, PC7.B, PC10.A, PC10.B

Unit 02: Communication and Technology Skills

(8 classes for the entire unit)

Students will use appropriate technology and/or assigned materials to learn and/or review relevant cyber safety procedures. Students will also learn about, discuss, and use technology applications such as social media, email, Internet, writing and publishing, presentation, and spreadsheet or database applications for audio and video production projects, as well as processes such as personal information management, file management, and file sharing. Students will work together in teams to learn, observe, and demonstrate how to employ and monitor appropriate cyber safety/security measures for the various technology applications and processes.

TEKS in this unit: PC4.A, PC4.B, PC5.A, PC5.B

Unit 03: Ethical Conduct and Critical-Thinking Skills

(8 classes for the entire unit)

Students will explore, identify, and explain ethical decision making and laws regarding use of technology in communications, including copyright laws relevant to fair use and duplication of materials, and how to exhibit digital citizenship. Students will also use appropriate technology and/or assigned materials to research and analyze the impact of communications on society, and to identify and analyze ethical and social responsibilities of communicators. Students will discuss their findings in small groups, brief presentations, and/or in other classroom activities. Students will demonstrate their understanding of digital citizenship, relevant laws, and ethical responsibilities in classroom activities and/or decision-making scenarios/occupational tasks.

TEKS in this unit: PC4.A, PC4.B, PC9.A, PC9.B, PC9.C, PC9.D, PC11.D, PC11.P

Unit 04: Academic and Technical Skills

(15 classes for the entire unit)

Students will explore, discuss, and demonstrate language arts knowledge as well as technical skills required for a successful career in professional communications. Students will be given multiple opportunities to learn, demonstrate and apply relevant technical and academic skills in-context as they demonstrate occupational tasks, participate in course activities, and complete their assignments. In this unit, students will use appropriate technology to research communications systems, including the history and evolution of the various related fields of study, the nature and types of businesses, and the economic factors influencing the communications industry as a whole. Students will discuss and demonstrate how to evaluate their information and resources for assumptions, purpose, outcomes, solutions, and propaganda techniques, as well as how to use correct grammar, punctuation, and terminology and technology applications to write, edit, and present their research projects. Student project presentations will demonstrate appropriate use of content, technical concepts, and vocabulary.

TEKS in this unit: PC2.A, PC2.B, PC2.C, PC2.D, PC2.E, PC2.F, PC5.A, PC6.A, PC6.B, PC6.C

Unit 05: Communication Components, Processes, and Skills

(10 classes for the entire unit)

Students will use appropriate technology and/or assigned materials to develop an understanding of the evolution of the arts, audio/video technology, and communications career field, including the history, foundation elements, principles, and communicative effects. Students will also use diagrams, illustrations, text, and/or examples to explain and demonstrate knowledge of the communication process, demonstrate knowledge of the components of the listening process, and demonstrate knowledge of various communication processes in professional contexts. Students will demonstrate their understanding of unit topics and appropriate interpersonal communication strategies in brief presentations, professional context and occupational task scenarios, and/or in other classroom activities.

TEKS in this unit: PC11.A, PC11.B, PC11.C, PC11.E, PC11.F

Unit 06: Professional Communications and Presentations

(12 classes for the entire unit)

Students will use appropriate technology and/or assigned materials to further develop their knowledge of the interview process, including effective communication as interviewee and interviewer, and federal employment laws regarding interviews, how to identify and use appropriate strategies for communicating with a variety of audiences, and how to use appropriate techniques to manage communication apprehension and build self-confidence. Students will also use diagrams, illustrations, text, and/or examples to explain and identify the types, purposes, dynamics, processes, effectiveness, roles of members, and leadership styles of professional groups and how to communicate effectively in group contexts by assuming productive roles, solving problems, managing conflicts, and building consensus in groups. Students will also research and discuss formal and informal professional presentations and effective strategies for developing them. Students will demonstrate their understanding of unit topics and appropriate professional communication strategies by conducting formal and informal professional presentations using effective verbal and nonverbal strategies to inform, persuade, or motivate an audience in occupational task scenarios, and/or in other classroom activities.

TEKS in this unit: PC11.G, PC11.H, PC11.I, PC11.J, PC11.K, PC11.L, PC11.M, PC11.N, PC11.O

Unit 07: Electronic Information and Communication

(15 classes for the entire unit)

Students will research then participate in an informative or persuasive group discussion regarding using a variety of strategies to communicate and acquire information from electronic resources. Students will be given multiple opportunities to learn, demonstrate and apply technical skills to format digital information for appropriate and effective communication in a product by defining the purpose, identifying the intended audience, and using the principles of page design such as leading, kerning, automatic text flow into linked columns, widows, orphans, and text wrap, to apply desktop publishing to create products using word processing programs, editing products, or drawing programs; design elements such as text, graphics, headlines, color, white space; typography concepts, including font size and style; and graphic design concepts such as contrast, alignment, repetition, and proximity, develop and reference technical documentation, and deliver digital products in a variety of appropriate media. Students will apply their knowledge and skills to create a resume and/or cover letter/letter of interest, with correct grammar, punctuation, and terminology.

TEKS in this unit: PC1.D, PC11.P, PC11.Q, PC11.R, PC11.S, PC11.T, PC11.U, PC11.V, PC11.W

Unit 08: Leadership Opportunities

(8 classes for the entire unit)

Students will research, explore, and discuss examples and benefits of CTSO and/or other extracurricular student leadership activities. Students will then prepare an informal presentation on a CTSO or another extracurricular organization and/or professional development activity they are willing to join or are already participating in. Presentations will identify leadership characteristics and show mastery of course knowledge, skills, and objectives.

TEKS in this unit: PC1.A, PC1.B, PC1.E, PC8.A, PC8.B

Unit 09: Presentations and Interviews

(10 classes for the entire unit)

Students will use organized and professional communications strategies to present completed resumes and cover letters in formal and informal presentations. Students will exhibit public relations skills as they participate in mock interviews both as job applicants and as potential employers, as well as create and/or participate in various scenarios that demonstrate skills related to seeking and applying for employment, evaluating and comparing employment opportunities, appropriate workplace conduct, appreciation for diversity, conflict management, customer service, and personal application of workplace ethics. As part of these mock interviews and potential workplace scenarios, students will demonstrate knowledge of the interview process, including effective communication as interviewee and interviewer, and federal employment laws regarding interviews.

TEKS in this unit: PC1.A, PC1.B, PC1.C, PC1.D, PC1.E, PC3.A, PC3.B, PC3.C, PC3.D, PC3.E, PC3.F, PC3.G, PC3.H, PC11.G

Texas Essential Knowledge & Skills (TEKS)

TEKS - CTE - Professional Communications.pdf

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