Topic outline

  • Dear student,

    you are warmly welcome to Business Communication Skills course workspace for the Open University group March 2021. 

    Please note that due to the corona pandemic, this course will be held in its entirety in the virtual environment, using Zoom as our meeting place. 

    This is a highly interactive course with several assignments and deadlines. Please study the course schedule and program carefully. You can find it in the section named Course Schedule and Program.  

    You will find all the needed information and materials as well as the assignment submission boxes through the drop-down menu on the left-hand side of the workspace.


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    BUSINESS COMMUNICATION SKILLS (61A00200)

    Course Schedule and Program
    Mar-Apr 2021 Open Uni: Time and location

     

    Date (weekday)

    Time

    Zoom link

    1

    16.03.2021 (Tue)

    16:15-18:00 Group A

    18:00-19:45 Group B

    https://aalto.zoom.us/j/62281876304

    https://aalto.zoom.us/j/66426664249

    2

    23.03.2021 (Tue)

    16:15-18:15 Group A

    17:45-19:45 Group B

    https://aalto.zoom.us/j/65203968843

    https://aalto.zoom.us/j/61291032763

    3

    30.03.2021 (Tue)

    16:15-18:15 Group B

    17:45-19:45 Group A

    https://aalto.zoom.us/j/67106360611

    https://aalto.zoom.us/j/67244775899

    4

    06.04.2021 (Tue)

    16:15-19:45 all

    https://aalto.zoom.us/j/65747672674

    5

    13.04.2021 (Tue)

    16:15-16:40 KAPPA

    16:45-17:10 OMEGA

    17:15-17:40 SIGMA

    17:45-18:10 ALPHA

    18:15-18:40 BETA

    18:45-19:10 DELTA

    https://aalto.zoom.us/j/62495987643

    25-min sessions with each team.

    Sign into session 5 min before your 25min slot.

    You will be placed into a waiting room.

    You will be given access to the session when the previous team has exited it.

    6

    20.04.2021 (Tue)

    16:15-19:45 ALL

    https://aalto.zoom.us/j/61551299712


    Please note that depending on the final group size, the group might be divided into 2 smaller groups A and B (in alphabetical order) for some sessions. However, you need to keep the entire class time (16.15-19:45) free since there might be changes in schedule and tasks for the non-session time as well. The course includes team assignments and you will be in the same group with your team members. You will be informed about the teams and groups before the course start.

    Course Standards & Requirements         

    Deadlines: To pass the course, all the required assignments must be completed by the given deadlines.

    Grading criteria: All assignments are assessed using rubrics (grading criteria) on a scale of 0-5. Final grade criteria: A total of 4.5 and above is a 5; 3.5-4.49 range is a 4; 2.5-3.49 range is a 3. Please take a look at these criteria on MyCourses before you start working on the given assignment and also before you submit your assignment.

    Extra assignments not possible: Students are not able to redo assignments or do any extra assignments to improve grades. 

    Class participation: Attendance is mandatory on this highly practical and experiential course. However, one absence during the course is possible if a student has a valid reason (to be communicated before the class!). More than one absence will result in NOT passing the course.

    Class preparation: The assigned videos and readings need to be watched/read before the indicated sessions. After every video, you need to answer questions about the content on MyCourses. Watching the videos are part of the sessions (they replace in-class lecturing and substitute for shorter sessions than the allotted 3hrs per each session) so missing a video and the assigned task on MC means the same as missing part of a session! The readings will be tested with a separate timed test, but you will need the information for your assignments already before that.

    Zoom etiquette: If you have not used Zoom before, sign in once before the course start to make sure you are able to access the platform and that your camera and mic work. Before each session, sign in early enough to get the connection. You can then close your camera and mic until the session starts. During the sessions, everybody needs to have their camera on. If you don’t want to show your surroundings, you can use a virtual background. If you need to leave the session early for some good reason, you need to inform me in advance by email and send me a chat message in Zoom when you sign out. Otherwise, you are seen as missing the session.

    _____________________________________________________________________________________

    Summary of Course Assignments and Deadlines

     

    Task

    Type of work

    %

    Deadline

    A1

    Written email request

    Team

    10

    Mar 23/Mar 28

    A2

    a.    Persuasive presentation outline 15%

    b.    Persuasive presentation in class

    Individual

    15

    Mar 30

    Mar 30

    A3

    Timed test

    a.     Quiz

    b.     Written task

    Individual

    30

    10

    20

     

    Open Apr 5 – Apr 7

    Apr 6

    A4

    Team presentation

    Team

    15

    Mar 24/Apr 12/Apr 20

    A5

    Evaluation of own presentation performances (A2+A4)

    Individual

    20

    Apr 25

     

    Class contribution

    (e.g. peer feedback and session activity, answers to video questions)

    Individual

    10

     

     

    Please submit all text documents (A1, A2, A3 and A5) as PDFs

    Detailed Course Program

    SESSION 1 (MAR 16)
    Before the session (preparation for session):

    Watch the videos and answer the questions:

    o   Session 1 – Motivation

    o   Session 1 – Communicator Design

    o   Session 1 – Audience Design

    Study the reading(s)

    o   Input 1: Communicating strategically

    Read the instructions

    o   Assignment 1 – Written request

    o   Assignment 2 - Individual Persuasive Speech (2b) + Strategy Outline (2a)

    o   Assignment 4 – Team Persuasive Presentation

    During the session:

    Course introduction and overview

    Participant introductions

    Exercises on session topics

    Planning A1: Select the company, do communication strategy analysis, report back to group

    __________________________________________________________________________

    SESSION 2 (MAR 23)
    Before the session (preparation for session):

    Watch the videos and answer the questions:

    o   Session 2 – Message Design

    o   Session 2 – Ethos, Pathos and Logos

    o   Session 2 – Document Design

    Study the reading(s):

    o   Input 2: Persuasive techniques

    o   Input 3: Reader-focused business writing

    o   Argumentation Structure

    Read the instructions:

    o   Assignment 5: Individual Presentation Performance Evaluation

    Submit:

    o   A1 version 1 to MyCourses for peer review by Mar 23, 12:00 (team submission)

    During the session:

    Exercises on session topics

    Peer feedback on A1

    Instructions for A2 (5-min individual speech) and A4 (10-min team presentation)

    After the session:

    Submit:

    o    A1 peer feedback to MyCourses by Mar 23, 21:00

    •  A4 topic and ‘draft’ title to MyCourses by Mar 24, 12:00 (team submission)

    o   A1: final version to MyCourses by Mar 28, 12:00 (team submission)

    ____________________________________________________________________________
    SESSION 3 (MAR 30)
    Before the session (preparation for session):

    Watch the videos and answer the questions:

    o   Session 3 – Presentation Organization

    o   Session 3 – Slide Layout

    o   a summary question (on all videos, not a separate video for this)

    Study the reading(s):

    o   Input 4: Impactful presentations

    Prepare for:

    o   A2b persuasive speech given in class

    Submit:

    o   A2a outline to MyCourses by Mar 30, 12:00 (individual submission)

    During the session:

    A2b: presentations in small groups

    Exercises on session topics

    After the session:

    Start writing:

    o   A5: presentation performance evaluation (Part 1: individual presentation A2)

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    SESSION 4 (APR 6)
    Before the session (preparation for session):

    Prepare for:

    o   A3a timed quiz on the readings 1-4

    o   A3b written task by studying the lecture materials and the readings 1-4

    Do between Apr 5 – Apr 7 outside session time:

    o   A3a: 40-min quiz on the readings 1-4

    During the session:

    Presentation Delivery

    A3b: written task (1h 40min)

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    SESSION 5 (APR 13)
    Before the session (preparation for session):

    Submit:

    o   A4: presentation structure & draft visuals to MyCourses by Apr 12, 12:00 (team submission)

    During the session:

    Team consultation on A4 structure and visuals

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    SESSION 6 (APR 20)

    Before the session (preparation for session):

    Submit:

    o   A4: final presentation visuals and video to MyCourses by Apr 20, 12:00 (team submission)

    During the session:

    A4 team presentation videos

    Peer feedback on presentations

    Wrap-up of the course

    After the session:

    Submit:

    o   A5 presentation performance evaluation on A2 and A4 to MyCourses by Apr 25, 12:00 (individual submission)

    …AND THEN YOU’RE DONE 😊

     



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    Below you can find all the instructions and submission boxes for the official course assignments.

    Please note that some sections just outline the overall instructions for a multi-step assignment whereas other sections contain the actual submission boxes (submission box icon contains a download arrow; the instruction section icon is a sheet of paper)

  • Not available unless: You are a(n) Student

    Here you will find separate questionnaires to each video you are assigned to watch BEFORE each session. 

    Watch the video first and then answer the questions here. Remember to submit your answer. The question section will close at 16:00 before the session start so be sure to do this in advance.

    Please note that unwatched videos and unanswered questions mean the same as missing part of the session as these tasks are part of the work load assigned to sessions.

  • Not available unless: You are a(n) Student

    Here you will find your smaller session group (A or B) if we will have those in some sessions and your team for the team assignments. Please note your small group meeting times and also remember your team name (e.g. ALPHA; assigned during the 1st meeting) as I will operate using them during the course.

    Group A: Bostanci-Närhi

    Group B: Penkari-Vanhatalo

     

    Last name

    First name

    GROUP

    TEAM

    1        

    Bostanci

    Mel

    A

    ALPHA

    2        

    Jernberg

    Satu

    A

    ALPHA

    3        

    Järvinen

    Joni

    A

    ALPHA

    4        

    Kakkuri

    Pinja

    A

    BETA

    5        

    Kaltiainen

    Elina

    A

    BETA

    6        

    Keski-Korhonen

    Peppi

    A

    BETA

    7        

    Kivijärvi

    Jan

    A

    DELTA

    8        

    Lehto

    Teemu

    A

    DELTA

    9        

    Närhi

    Heta

    A

    DELTA

    10     

    Penkari

    Joni

    B

    KAPPA

    11     

    Rigal

    Lena

    B

    KAPPA

    12     

    Ruotsalainen

    Anssi

    B

    KAPPA

    13     

    Seppälä

    Karoliina

    B

    OMEGA

    14     

    Sillanmäki

    Matti

    B

    OMEGA

    15     

    Siltala

    Teemu

    B

    SIGMA

    16     

    Tuuri

    Lauri

    B

    SIGMA

    17     

    Vanhatalo

    Olivia

    B

    SIGMA