The Introductory Communication Course: The Hybrid Approach

The introductory communication course is one of the most important courses in a general education program at the college or university level. Gibson, Hanna, and Huddleston (1985) observed that the course “remains a vital component of American higher education” (290). Seiler and McGukin (1989) agreed that the course is critical to a speech communication curriculum. Professors adopt a variety of approaches in teaching the introductory course. The purpose of this essay is to examine one approach to the introductory course: the hybrid course. The authors will (l) describe the hybrid approach; (2) consider the course structure including general teaching strategies. behavioral objectives, classroom activities, major assignments, and examinations; (3) note the importance of the hybrid approach; and (4) recommend some future directions for the course

The Influence of Biological Sex, Previous Experience, and Preparation Time on Classroom Public Speaking Grades

How does biological sex affect public speaking grades? Students completed journal entries over the course of the semester. Hierarchical multiple regression incrementally examined competency measures (previous experience and overall preparation time) then biological sex on public speaking grade averages. Competency measures predicted higher speech grade averages, but women still earned higher speech grades even after the effects of competency had been removed. Among the explanations offered are that women may be more competent than men, a combination of competence and compliance explains women’s higher grades, or public speaking classrooms perpetuate a female competency bias

Basic Public Speaking Principles: An Examination of Twelve Popular Texts

The importance of the basic course is reflected in the number of published articles focused on it. Aside from having an annually published journal (The Basic Communication Course Annual) devoted to it, articles concerning the basic course are sprinkled throughout many of the discipline\u27s journals. However, Schneider (1991) pointed out that few studies have focused on the textbooks used. Since the textbook is generally the foundation upon which the course is built, it is an important object of study. Although the term basic course may be used to identify a variety of courses (such as public speaking, interpersonal communication, hybrid blends of the public and interpersonal communication, or communication theory), public speaking is the most common approach (Gray, 1989; Trank & Lewis, 1991). Thus, this investigation focused on public speaking texts. The objective was to gain a clear understanding of what content is included in basic speech textbooks. This task involved examining principles in texts and finding how much book space was devoted to each principle. This information should be valuable for instructors who teach public speaking, for administrators who supervise the course, and for writers of textbooks and accompanying materials. But most of all, this information should be of use to scholars and critics of the basic course. By examining exactly what we include in our texts, we can then evaluate the merit of each component. Through carefully examining our own practices, we can assess our basic public speaking course to improve the weaknesses and maintain the strengths

The Future of the Basic Course

This article recommends some changes that should occur in the basic course. The prescriptions are based on four notions: the course must include accurate information; it should be inclusive in nature; it must be responsive to our contemporary world and to our students\u27 current and future communicative needs; and it must provide a unique contribution to our students\u27 education. The authors suggest that the course has not been sufficiently attentive to accuracy, inclusiveness, responsiveness and uniqueness; furthermore, contemporary changes require increased vigilance in these areas

Why Communication is Important: A Rationale for the Centrality of the Study of Communication

This article defends the importance of studying communication. Academic disciplines in higher education are routinely called upon to explain and justify their role in the educational enterprise. Some academic fields such as history and philosophy are more central in the pursuits of liberal arts, while others such as business administration and engineering are more related to career development. The discipline of communication is fairly unique as it crosses these boundaries. As a result, a need exists to provide a rationale for the study of communication. The National Communication Association, in response to requests from communication departments and administrators for evidence supporting the centrality of their discipline, has collected and annotated nearly 100 articles, commentaries, and publications which call attention to the importance of the study of communication in contemporary society. Four of five major themes in the bibliography provide support for the importance of communication education to: the development of the whole person; the improvement of the educational enterprise; being a responsible citizen of the world, both socially and culturally; and, succeeding in one\u27s career and in the business enterprise. A fifth theme highlights the need for communication education to be provided by those who are specialists in its study

Competent Public Speaking: Assessing Skill Development in the Basic Course

Effective public speaking skills are essential for a successful life. The authors provide an overall assessment of the basic public speaking course by examining fifteen student attributes divided into three categories (course engagement characteristics, dispositions, and demographics) hypothesized to affect learning and public speaking skill development in the basic course. A four-step hierarchical multiple regression tested two research questions (N = 709). Course engagement characteristics improved students’ public-speaking grade averages, but dispositions did not. The effects of demographic characteristics, particularly biological sex, were not eliminated after controlling for course engagement and dispositional factors (twelve variables). Implications and limitations of the study are addressed

Making Good Tenure Decisions

This article provides information on decision making on the granting or denial of tenure to a faculty member. It not only has an effect on the professional life of a colleague, it has a major influence on the direction and long-term quality of the department. The tenure decision in made in the sixth year of a tenure-track faculty appointment. If a faculty member has been on the tenure track at two institutions, the years of service at the first institution usually count toward those six years, unless the faculty member and his of her current institution agree in writing at the time of appointment that they will not or that only a certain number of them will. The sooner the person is terminated or helped to find another position, the better for him or her and for the department

Exile Vol. XI No. 2

FICTION Don\u27t Break Bread with Strangers by Thomas Getz 5-12 Story by Kathy Swiger 17-20 The Last of the Flag Pole Sitters 25-29 POETRY Muttering: A Letter by Gretchen Schenk 14-15 Poem by Jane Pearson 20 Marina in March by Karen Combs 21 of the pope too slow in recovery by Bill C. West Jr. 22 Poem by Jim Nichols 23 Poem by Judy Strange 23 Haiku by Bonnie Bishop 29 ART Pen and Ink by Dan Thaxton 4 Linocut by Richard Machlan 13 Etching by Lynne Wiley 16 Woodcut by Lela Giles 22 Charcoal by Carol Kubie 2

Comparative Proteomic Analyses of the Parietal Lobe from Rhesus Monkeys Fed a High-Fat/Sugar Diet With and Without Resveratrol Supplementation, Relative to a Healthy Diet: Insights Into the Roles of Unhealthy Diets and Resveratrol on Function

A diet consisting of a high intake of saturated fat and refined sugars is characteristic of a Western-diet and has been shown to have a substantial negative effect on human health. Expression proteomics were used to investigate changes to the parietal lobe proteome of rhesus monkeys consuming either a high fat and sugar (HFS) diet, a HFS diet supplemented with resveratrol (HFS+RSV), or a healthy control diet for 2 years. Here we discuss the modifications in the levels of 12 specific proteins involved in various cellular systems including metabolism, neurotransmission, structural integrity, and general cellular signaling following a nutritional intervention. Our results contribute to a better understanding of the mechanisms by which resveratrol functions through the up- or down-regulation of proteins in different cellular sub-systems to affect the overall health of the brain

Development of a National Pain Management Competency Profile to Guide Entry-Level Physiotherapy Education in Canada

Background National strategies from North America call for substantive improvements in entry-level pain management education to help reduce the burden of chronic pain. Past work has generated a valuable set of interprofessional pain management competencies to guide the education of future health professionals. However, there has been very limited work that has explored the development of such competencies for individual professions in different regions. Developing profession-specific competencies tailored to the local context is a necessary first step to integrate them within local regulatory systems. Our group is working toward this goal within the context of entry-level physiotherapy (PT) programs across Canada. Aims This study aimed to create a consensus-based competency profile for pain management, specific to the Canadian PT context. Methods A modified Delphi design was used to achieve consensus across Canadian university-based and clinical pain educators. Results Representatives from 14 entry-level PT programs (93% of Canadian programs) and six clinical educators were recruited. After two rounds, a total of 15 competencies reached the predetermined endorsement threshold (75%). Most participants (85%) reported being “very satisfied” with the process. Conclusions This process achieved consensus on a novel pain management competency profile specific to the Canadian PT context. The resulting profile delineates the necessary abilities required by physiotherapists to manage pain upon entry to practice. Participants were very satisfied with the process. This study also contributes to the emerging literature on integrated research in pain management by profiling research methodology that can be used to inform related work in other health professions and regions