Employers have consistently ranked communication skills as one of the most desirable traits in new employees. In this lesson module, students will learn the importance of effective communication skills as well as techniques for overcoming barriers to communication. Students will discover how communication plays a role in their everyday lives, and how their ability to communicate can help them achieve their personal and professional goals. The lesson module contains a student narrative, discussion guide, individual and group activities, and a posttest with descriptive key.

Communication in the Real World: An Introduction to Communication Studies is adapted from a work produced and distributed by a publisher who has requested that they and the original author not receive attribution. This adapted edition includes information about communication, perception, verbal and nonverbal communication, listening, interpersonal communication processes, culture and communication, preparing and delivering a speech, small group communication, and leadership, roles, and problem solving in groups.

This assessment involves students using technology to create videos that represent their own interests, sharing these videos on an online platform, and react to other students’ videos. It may be adapted to use in any level and to any world language.

This assessment focuses on all three modes of communication and empowers students to become members of the target language's social media community.

This lesson was developed as a part of the Creating Lessons Using Transformative Technology - Platteville Public Schools OER grant and was inspired by George Couros’s “Identity Day”, as described in his book “The Innovator’s Mindset: Empower Learning, Unleash Talent, and Lead a Culture of Creativity”.