Communication

This week we will focus on the standard that separates a good job candidate from a great job candidate.  For this course, Standard 7 states:

Communicate clearly and effectively, verbally and in writing: Articulate ideas effectively in written communications with supervisors, coworkers, and customers by developing and delivering messages in written deliverables. Verbally articulate ideas effectively in interpersonal communications with supervisors, coworkers, and customers by developing and delivering messages in oral presentations. Demonstrate effective listening skills, attending to the meaning and intention of communications, by accurately paraphrasing what has been heard and by communicating with individuals of diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and cultures.

While our focus this week will be on written communication, there are plenty of opportunities for you to speak with classmates as we complete our tasks this week, especially since you will be working as a team to complete your project between Tuesday and Thursday.  Please see below for what we will do this week to master a portion of our most important standard:

Monday: Professional Email Composition

Clear Target: We can create an effective professional email

Today's class will run a little more like a traditional class, in which I instruct much like a classroom teacher, as opposed to the facilitator you're used to.  We will begin class by opening up our Gmail accounts.  I will explain the importance of coming across as intelligent as possible when communicating with superiors, co-workers, and subordinates.  I will then show you a few emails I have sent to provide you with models of what works best for effective communications.  From there, we will come up with a scenario in which you have to email a supervisor and one in which you need to communicate to team members to organize your project for the rest of the week.

You will then compose two emails as discussed and send them to me for a grade.  This project may seem insignificant and tedious, but if you master effective email composition, you will have a leg up on your contemporaries, and will gain a significant edge in the workplace.

After you complete your emails, we will take a look at the class newsletter my WBL students created last year.  This will serve as our model and the bar which this year’s students must eclipse.  We will then determine who will take the lead on each section of the project, and with the remaining class time, you can conduct some preliminary research.  By the end of class, you’ll share with me your findings.

Tuesday through Thursday: Newsletter Creation

Clear Target: We can create an effective Newsletter

Each week in Virtual Enterprise, my HR and Admin departments create a company newsletter to distribute to the class.  By working each week on this, my students improve their writing and learn a lot about business issues.  Since you aren't business students, the newsletter we make this week will spotlight our Work-Based Learning class and the interests you are pursuing.

Each section of the newsletter is to be written like a brief (200+ word) article.  You will need to do research on your section, using simple online searches.  Each student will be responsible for at least one section of the newsletter (some sections can be completed in pairs) and his/her brief student description (similar to an employee spotlight).  Here are the sections of the newsletter you are to complete this week:

• Cover Page - Be sure to include images and a title for the newsletter
• What is Work-Based Learning?
• The Importance of Safety in the Classroom and Workplace
• How to Apply for an Entry-Level Job (fast food, grocery store, etc.)
• Proper Interview Techniques for an Internship
• What to wear
• What to bring
• When to show up
• The Importance of a Resume
• Why Make a Portfolio for College or Job Applications?
• Digital Footprint
• Social Media
• YouTube Channel
• Blog
• Personal Website
• What's a QR Code and how can you use one?
• Student Description (this should be between 150 and 250 words):
• Who are you?
• What career do you wish to pursue?
• How will you achieve your career goals?
• Which school will you attend?
• What will you study?
• What degree do you need?
• How will you accomplish your goal

For a point of reference on how to write, please check out this rubric my VE class uses for its newsletters.  Please work hard on this project.  When this newsletter is finished, you will have a nice artifact to include in your portfolio and can highlight it on your Weebly page.

Friday: Report Out & Blog Entry:

This week, in addition to our regular reports from students who have placements, you too will share out what you’ve done this week.  You can inform your classmates of their need to complete a student profile for the newsletter as well as let them know the hard work you’ve completed.  When finished, you will blog about what you've done this week and how you think your work has improved your communication skills.  Discuss how your written and spoken communication has improved and what you feel is an important skill(s) you have learned or improved.