|
Some documents within our site are in PDF format. You might need Acrobat Reader to view them.
 Acrobat Reader
 This site uses PowerPoint files, for information on viewing these files click here.
|
Faculty Development
Spring 2004
Best Practices in Using Oral Communication in Class
On Tuesday, April 13, thirty faculty (and one staff) members of AUI
participated in a forum in the Board Room of Building 1. The topic for
discussion was how oral communication skills are used in the teaching
at AUI. The forum was opened by Dr. Gail Rathbun, who then introduced
three speakers, Dr. Nadia Nazih (SSE), Mr. Ahmed Ibnou El Khayyat (SBA)
and Mr. Bouziane Zaid (SHSS). The opening remarks were aimed at describing
the events scheduled for the evening, with the division of discussion
in to two parts: 1) to bring up different problems and opportunities
we encounter in teaching and assessing oral communication, which is
why we are having an open forum, and 2) sharing some methods or strategies
for use in our own teaching syllabi.
The first speaker, Dr. Nazih, opened the discussion by explaining that,
as a member of the Exit Interview committee in her school, she has identified
some need for remedial work in students’ communication skills.
This exit interview has been in place at AUI for all graduating students
since Spring 2002, when it replaced a previous, written exit exam. It
is meant to check the student’s performance in three areas:
- Knowledge of Computer Science
- French
- Communication Skills
The purpose of the Exit Interview is to ensure that SSE graduates reflect
the quality that AUI wants to produce, and to get feedback on the program
by the students as they are finishing their studies. Communication skills
have been considered one of the chief selling points of AUI graduates,
in that they are meant to go out into the professional world, able to
make themselves understood to both technical and non-technical people,
as well as conveying knowledge in a non-technical way.
The next speaker, reporting on the use of the Exit Interview in Business,
explained that the oral exam’s objective was to evaluate students’
mastery of knowledge gained during their business studies. Communication
skills are assessed to determine whether students about to graduate
are able to use the acquired knowledge in a Moroccan company. The examiners
are also looking for the students’ potential to succeed. The method
is to assess students’ past and present performance in English,
French and Arabic, along with their knowledge of the Moroccan business
environment. They want to see evidence of the students’ analytical
skills, computer skills and their readiness for a job.
The final speaker took the floor to explain in detail what is taught
to students in the Public Speaking (COM 1301) course. It became clear
that many of the Public Speaking objectives were helpful in the training
of a good speaker, but that this training would prepare students for
formal, organized monologue, rather than the interactive, think-on-your-feet,
question responses demanded by the Exit interview.
Most participants indicated that they would like to take part in further
discussion on the topic, but when the time came to sign up for a smaller,
more focused workshop, eight faculty members put their names down.
Workshops in how to integrate oral communication skills into the syllabus
were scheduled for Tuesday, April 20.
|
