Page 249 - Learning to Learn

LEARNING TO LEARN: BECOMING A SELF -GROWER 249
EXPERIENCE 9: PERFORMING WHEN BEING EVALUATED READING
Step Explanation
1 Identify the audience Define the characteristics of your audience.
2 Select a topic(s) Define the topic or topics, the purpose, and scope of your
communication.
3 Set objectives and criteria Set objectives to measure the outcomes and effect of
your communication.
4 Gather information Find resources and gather information for your
communication.
5 Select a medium Decide what you will use to deliver your communication.
6 Develop the structure of the message Create your message and determine how it will be best
communicated.
7 Test and revise the communication Practice, test, and revise the communication.
8 Deliver the communication Send the communication.
9 Assess the message and process Assess the received message and the communication
process.
Discussion of the Communication Methodology
Step 1—Identify Audience
Identify various characteristics of the audience which are relevant to your communication. Examples
of audience characteristics you might identify include predicted size, general knowledge level about
the content, perceived attitudes about the content, the setting or location for the communication, and
demographic information (age, gender, cultural background, etc.). The more you know about the individual
or group with whom you are communicating, the more effectively you can craft your message.
Let’s follow along as our team from Experience 8 implements the Communication Methodology:
When the team was preparing for Jennifer’s presentation, they took their audience of Professor
Arbuckle and their classmates into account. They realized their audience, having done research
similar to their own, was indeed familiar with the subject. This means that Jennifer won’t have
to explain vocabulary terms and that many concepts they’re using will be familiar to and easily
understood by the audience. On the other hand, the teamworried about how to keep the material
fresh and interesting. How could their presentation be different?
Step 2—Select Topic
Before going any further in the process, it is important to identify the intent or purpose of your
communication, i.e., what and why are you communicating to this particular audience? Answering these
questions helps you narrow the focus of your message. Use the information about the audience from the
first step to help define the scope of your communication. Other factors such as the environment in which