CHINHOYI UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY

INSTITUTE OF LIFE LONG LEARNING

CENTRE FOR

LANGUAGE AND COMMUNICATION STUDIES

COURSE TITLE: COMMUNICATION AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

MODULE

CODE: CULCS 101

1.0 Preamble

This module is designed to expose students to the fundamentals of academic and

professional communication in order to develop professionals who can effectively apply
communication theories and best practices to meet their academic and corporate
communication needs. It leverages on information communication skills to enable
students to derive maximum benefits from computer-mediated communication. The
module initiates students to critical thinking and information literacy skills in a bid to
foster in them higher order analytical, critical and creative thinking skills that promote
academic, innovation and professional success.

2.0 Aims

The module aims to equip students with communication and critical thinking skills
suitable for their academic, professional and innovative purposes. It is further meant to
develop in students skills necessary for effective communication in discipline specific
domains, online environments and business in general.

3.0 Course Objectives

By the end of the module students should be able to:

(a) Communicate effectively for both academic and professional purposes

(b) Advance sound, valid and cogent arguments in their essays and academic
presentations
(c) Demonstrate understanding of the generic and context-specific fundamentals of
communication

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 (d) Think independently and creatively in their various fields of study
(e) Write business-related documents such as reports and proposals.

(f) Deploy innovative skills on digital communication platforms for employment and
wealth creation.

4.0 Course Duration

The contact time is 60 hours lectures and 15 tutorial hours spread over 3 weeks.

5.0 Methodology

The module will be taught mainly through lectures, tutorials, group discussions,
simulations and student presentations on both physical and virtual platforms.

6.0 Course Design

Section A of the module will be done by all students. Section B will be done by the
students from the Schools of Agricultural Science and Technology, Wildlife, Ecology and
Conservation, School of Art and Design, Natural Science and Mathematics, Health
Sciences and Engineering Science and Technology. Section C will accommodate students
from the Schools of Entrepreneurship and Business Sciences and Management,
Hospitality and Tourism and the Institute of Lifelong Learning and Development Studies.

Section A: Communication for Academic Purposes, Generic Communication, Critical

Thinking, ILS and Computer-mediated Communication.

Section B: Academic and Professional Communication for Scientists and Engineers

Section C: Business Communication

7.0 Content

Section A

7.1 Introduction to Communication (6 lecture hrs and 2 tutorial hrs)

(a) Communication defined

(b) The process of communication
(c) A critique of communication models
(d) Exploring communication barriers

7.2 Information Literacy Skills (6 lecture hours, 2 tutorial hrs, 4 hrs practical)
(a) Information Literacy

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 (b) Academic Search Engines
(c) Navigating the Internet
(d) Evaluating information sources
(e) Citation and referencing
(f) Language of attribution

7.2 Critical Thinking Skills And Academic Writing (8 lecture hrs and 2 tutorial hrs)

(a) The nature of Critical Thinking

(b) Models of critical thinking
(c) Argument, assumption, proposition, premise and conclusion
(d) Academic argumentation skills: inductive reasoning and deductive reasoning
(e) Validity, Soundness, Strength and Cogency
(f) Fallacies
(g) Plagiarism, referencing and textual cohesion

7.3 Non-verbal communication and Impression management (5 lecture hrs 2 tutorial

hrs)

(a) Introduction to non-verbal communication

(b) Examining the interface between Verbal and non-verbal communication
(c) An analysis of the categories of non-verbal communication(kinesics,
proxemics, chronemics, paravocalics, olfatics etc)
(d) Exploring non-verbal communication barriers.

7.4 Communication in Organisations (6 lecture hrs and 1 tutorial hr, 3hrs Practical)

(a) Formal communication networks in organizations (application and

challenges)
(b) Informal communication networks (relevancy and challenges)
(c) Computer- mediated communication (videoconferencing, intranet, e-mail,
Skype, Twitter, Facebook, WhatsApp etc)

7.5 Conflict Management and resolution strategies (5 lecture hrs and 1 tutorial hr)

(a) Approaches to organizational conflict

(b) An analysis of the causes of conflict
(c) Exploring conflict handling strategies
(d) Evaluating principles of negotiation

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 7.6 Business Writing (6 lecture hrs and 2 tutorial hrs)

Production of sound, cohesive and cogent documents:

(a) Memos
(b) Reports
(c) Proposals
(d) Press releases
(e) Circulars, etc
(f) Plain English in corporate communication
7.7 Public Speaking and Presentation skills (6 lecture hrs, 1 tutorial hr, 4 hrs Practical)
(a) Effective public presentation skills
(b) Approaches to Audience analysis
(c) Power-point presentations (creating slides and animation)
(d) How to make an effective academic presentation
(e) Interview skills and Simulations

Section B

7.8 Technical Communication (Time allocated: 6 lecture hrs, 1 tutorial hrs and 4hrs
Practical)
(a) Presenting technical information
(b) Tables, graphs, charts, visuals and pictorials (evaluating effectiveness and
context of use)
(c) Technical reports and proposals
(d) Identifying and overcoming technical communication challenges
7.9 Development Communication (6 lecture hrs and 1 hr tutorial)
(a) Concepts and approaches
(b) An analysis of the various media in rural development communication
(c) Exploring factors influencing communication reception

Section C

8.0 Persuasive Communication (4 lecture hrs and 1hr tutorial)

(a) Identifying and critiquing strategies for effective persuasive communication

(b) Evaluating persuasive communication appeals ( pathos, logos, ethos)
(c) Applying persuasive communication principles in advertising

8.1 Communication and leadership (5 lecture hrs and 1hr tutorial)

(a) Leadership principles

(b) Situating communication in leadership
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 (c) Evaluating synergy between communication and leadership

8.2 Digital Marketing, blogs and vlogs (6 lecture hrs and 2 hr tutorial, 4 practical)

(a) Approaches to online marketing

(b) Virtual presence and visibility

8.3 Topics covered under student self-directed learning

Section A
(a) A critique of any two communication models not covered in the lecture
(b) Testing arguments for strength, cogency, validity and soundness
(c) Referencing using school specific house styles
(d) An analysis of three nonverbal communication categories

Section B
(a) critiquing technical communication challenges
(b) methods of presenting technical information
(c) examining factors influencing communication reception

Section C
(a) synergy between communication and leadership
(b) applying persuasive communication principles in advertising
(c) Online Marketing, Blogs and Simulations

9.0 Assessment

Examinations : 70%

Coursework : 30%

Coursework will include in-class tests, individual assignments, group presentations and
simulations.

Student self directed learning will be assessed through tutorial presentations, individual
assignments and an innovative internet-based communication mini-project.

NB Total number of credits allocated to this course is 15

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10.0 Recommended Reading List

Abidi S.A.H (1991) Communication Information and Development, Kenya Masaki Publishers,
Nairobi.

Bean, J.C. (2011). Engaging Ideas: The professor’s guide to integrating writing, critical thinking
and active learning in the classroom, Jossey-Bass, London.

Bovee C. and Thill J. V. (1997). Business Communication Today 5 th ed. Prentice Hall, New
Jersey.

Burns, T and Sinfield, S (2012). Essential Study Skills: The Complete Guide to Success at
University. 3rd Ed. Sage, London.

Chaffee, J (2014). Thinking Critically. 11th ed. Cengage Learning, New York.

DiSouza, J.R and Leggie N.J. (2000). Business and Professional Communication 2nd ed.

Kenywyn: Juta +Co. Johannesburg.

Hatch, L.G (2003). Arguing in Communities: Reading and Writing Arguments in Context 3rd

Boston: McGraw-Hill.

Fielding, M. (1997). Effective Communication in Organisations 3 rd ed. Kenywyn: Juta +Co,

Johannesburg.

Jandt, F.E. (2004). An Introduction to Intercultural Communication: Identities in a Global

Community 4th ed. Sage Publications, London.

Lucas, S.E. (2004). The Art of Public Speaking 8th ed. McGraw Hill, New York.

McQuail, A and Windahl, S. (1993). Communication Models for the study of Communication.

Longman, London.

Morrison, C, Wells, D and Ruffolo, L. (2014). Computer Literacy Basics: A Comprehensive

Guide to IC3,5TH Ed. Cengage Learning, New York.

Paul, R. and Elder, L. (2011). Critical Thinking: Tools for taking Charge of your Learning and
your life. Pearson, London.

Pearson, J et al (2008). Human Communication 3rd ed. McGraw –Hill, Boston

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Philip, C. K. (2008). Successful Writing at Work. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston.

Shields, M. (2010). Essay Writing: A Student’s Guide. Sage, London

Zarefsky, D. (2005). Public Speaking Strategies for Success 4th ed. Pearson, New York.

Wright, J. (2002). Communication for Science. Oxford University Press, Oxford.

Zimmerman D. E and Clark D.G (1987). Guide to Technical and Scientific Communication.
Random House Inc, New York

Specialised web based Encyclopedias on Communication related areas