Monash College Handbook

THE ART OF COMMUNICATION (MCD1570)

Purpose

The purpose of this unit is to introduce students to the academic and lifelong learning skills required to be successful Arts students. The unit will cover a range of specific skills drawn from the learning experiences and assessment requirements within the Monash College Diploma of Arts and various Monash University Bachelor of Arts programs.

Students will learn effective ways to research, use creative and critical thinking, take notes, write for different purposes, analyse various genre and source their work. In using a range of written and visual materials, students will have opportunities to apply and demonstrate their understanding of the various skills. These materials will be derived from a range of genre and will provide an interesting stimulus from which students can draw responses.

Students will build on effective learning strategies introduced in MCD1510. This involves the use of a range of thinking skills, learning approaches and assessment responses. They will become familiar with the tertiary academic approach and develop the necessary skills and strategies to ensure success at that level.

Prerequisites

Nil

Learning outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

1. identify relevant skill areas appropriate to an arts program
2. critically analyse a range of written and visual materials
3. demonstrate through oral and written presentations, as well as classroom interaction, a heightened awareness of different learning styles and communication methods
4. develop skills and enhanced abilities to conduct focused research of theories, authors, and communication styles
5. understand the need to think critically and assess the credibility of sources when conducting academic research
6. demonstrate an understanding of critical and creative thinking skills and appropriately use strategies of critical and creative thinking
7. recognise various writing genres and become aware of the various theoretical and critical models used in discussing and responding to literature
8. use Harvard referencing techniques, identify and evaluate relevant academic sources and effectively analyse and summarise academic texts and journals
9. take effective and relevant notes and study independently
10. effectively and critically use technology in the process of learning

Assessment

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