Page 317 - Foundations of Learning, 4th Edition (Revised)

“The relationship is the communication bridge between people.”
Alfred Kadushin, social work scholar and author

12COMMUNICATION AND TEAMWORK

Communication as Communication as Performance
Performance
Constantly risking absurdity
Introducing and death
the Team
whenever he performs
Teamwork above the heads
of his audience
Team Roles
the poet like an acrobat
Communication climbs on rime
Skills to a high wire of his own making. . .

Communication Lawrence Ferlinghetti, from “Constantly Risking Absurdity,” A Coney Island of the Mind
Methodology
In this poem, Ferlinghetti uses humor to imply that communication is essentially an
Discussion of the agreement between performer and audience. In this case, the performer, the poet, is
Methodology responsible for using his or her skills (“rime”) to create original art. The audience
also has a responsibility, Ferlinghetti insists, to be educated and open-minded, so
Tips for Delivering a that the poet’s art, or communication, isn’t dismissed as “above their heads.”
Presentation
Communication is a process by which information is exchanged between individuals
Rubric: Levels of Oral (a source and an audience) using a common system of words, symbols, signs, or
Communication behaviors. If we continue thinking about communication using Ferlinghetti’s handy
metaphor of the communicator as a circus performer, think about how many “death-
Diversity defying acts” of communication you perform everyday: for instance, explaining
why your paper is late in the face of your professor’s raised eyebrow might feel a
Activity 12.1 little like riding a tottering unicycle across a tightrope without a net.

Exploring Team Roles Despite the difficulties we all face communicating, human beings are truly “social
creatures.” In fact, employers highly value and seek out people with strong
Activity 12.2 communication and teamwork skills. In many cases, these skills are essential for
acquiring and keeping a job, as well as being promoted within one. A 1991 report
Team Logo issued by the U.S. Secretary of Labor entitled What Work Requires of Schools
Competition highlights the importance of communication and interpersonal skills. The report
outlines the skills necessary for success in the workplace that young people should
Activity 12.3 develop while in school. And in today’s economy, with an increasing emphasis on
“global teams,” effective communication is more critical than ever.
Team Design
Competition A great number of the skills required to relate to and work with others are from
the social domain in the Classification of Learning Skills (see Appendix B). Two
processes from the social domain (communication and teamwork) will be the main
focus of this chapter. The topics of appreciating diversity and service learning are
also addressed in this chapter as they pertain directly to relating to and working
with others.

GLOSSARY assessment language communication diversity intervention teamwork

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