Courses

Modern Communication

Taught by Laura Morefield
ages 14+ (or permission of instructor)

Full-Year 32-week Course

Course Overview:

This highly interactive course teaches students about debate practices, as well as showing them how to use modern communication technology to enhance their public speaking. Modern Communications features live discussion, debates, presentations about topics of interest to the students, and application of technological skills.

Course Description:

This course will take a broad view of communication as it applies to public speaking and debate and the effective expression of information and ideas both in person and in a virtual setting.  We will examine the core concepts in the Lincoln/Douglas debate format, with opportunities to put those concepts into practice in class.  

The virtual nature of our sessions will allow students to build the Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) skills essential to social and business interactions in the modern world through hands-on exercises that leverage technology to present ideas, share information and engage in debate.  Students will learn how to keep organized with applications like ToDoist and Google Keep; assemble and present information engagingly via slideshows and spreadsheet applications; host and contribute to productive online meetings using desktop conferencing applications like Zoom and Google Meet; and constructively participate in collaborative messaging applications.

 

Schedule and Cost:

Tuesday 3:15 p.m. – 4:15 p.m. ET

 

Course Dates (click to download pdf)



For Tuition Fees, Code of Conduct, and all the details, see THE FINE PRINT

What your Student will Learn:

Your student will build a technical vocabulary to better understand the possibilities and limitations of computer-mediated communication with their peers and colleagues; and how the time-tested best practices of organizing, presenting and defending ideas and opinions can be enhanced and enriched through the application of modern technologies.

Why this Course is Important:

In today’s society, virtual meeting, public speaking and organization skills are key metrics for a successful student or employee. Modern Communications gives students a leg up on their peers by giving them formal instruction and practice in these skills before they are needed in higher education or the professional world.

Class Structure and Homework:

     • Weekly Discussions & Assignments: In each class, students will engage in discussions about their homework and have engaging activities designed to reenforce their learning. Students will learn the Lincoln Douglas Debate format and have occasional short presentations to hone their skills in using the applications. Students will have assigned videos, podcasts, reading, and may have some short writing assigned. Homework is expected to take approximately two hours per week.

     • Parental Involvement: Parents are welcome to join Google Classroom as students to stay informed on assignments and support their teen’s progress throughout the course.

Upon registration, students and parents will be provided with a Google Classroom link to join. Class materials and assignments will be posted directly to Classroom, and students may communicate with each other through this platform. Students may communicate with the instructor through Classroom and student inquiries are usually addressed as quickly as possible between 9:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. ET. Student inquiries made on the day of class may be addressed in class instead of through Classroom.

Course Materials:

Will be provided by the instructor and consist of videos, podcasts, PDFs and templates