How does any class, no matter the discipline, function properly without a variety of forms of communication? The answer is that is does not function properly at all. It is one of the most important qualities that a teacher can have in the field. Whether it be communicating with students during a lesson, communicating with parents about an upcoming event, or communicating with the administration about budgeting questions, communication happens everyday and in every form imaginable. Communication can be done through handouts, lectures, multi-media, and even one-on-one discussion. Non-verbal communication is just as vital as verbal communication. A teacher must have non-verbal communication that invites students to learn in a safe learning environment or the students will loose attention and the desire to participate in class.
Notes from Comm 210 (Notes taken during my semester in a basic communications class at Ball State)
Rationale: I put this artifact on this website because I believe these notes are invaluable to communication skills. It has notes over different types of speaking situations that a teacher will most certainly be put in. It goes from speaking situations that are just communications within the classroom to speeches and addresses at concerts. It also has sections that are about visual aids that go along with what is being presented. It mentions the pros and the cons about each type of visual aid and also how to use the visual aid effectively. The last section that it covers is the non-verbal side of communication. The notes go into how one should be dressed, how does the speaker communicate with facial expressions, and hand gestures.
Grading Policy (From Instrumental Methods 2. A letter to be sent home about the grading policy in the classroom.)
Rationale: The Grading Policy above is from my Secondary Instrumental Methods course. It is a letter that is designed to go home with the students to their parents. The idea is to the communicate with the students and the parents about the grading policy within the classroom and have both, the parent and student, sign the document. The purpose of putting this letter here is to show that communication is not just something that takes place in the classroom, but communication extends to the home. It is probably one of the most important areas of communication that the music educator needs to keep up in. When the parents or guardians are not communicated with properly, the progress of the music program is brought to a complete stand still.