Communication in Everyday Life

Purpose: to help other instructors teaching the same course

Common Course ID:  HCOM 477
CSU Instructor Open Textbook Adoption Portrait

Abstract: This affordable learning resource is being utilized in a HCOM 477 course for undergraduate students by Professor Patrick Belanger at California State University Monterey Bay. The affordable resources chosen for this course provide students with: a set of instructor–created assignments, two digital textbook licenses, and a course textbook on reserve in the CSUMB library. The core motivation to adopt these resources is to make student learning more affordable and therefore accessible. 

Course Title and Number - Communication in Everyday Life - HCOM 477

Course Description: Students will further develop skills for facilitating successful interpersonal and small group communication in a professional, educational, family or social setting. Interpersonal language skills, active listening, nonverbal communication, the role of communication in conflict, and the power of effective communication to strengthen interpersonal relationships and to build cultural competencies are emphasized.  https://catalog.csumb.edu/search_advanced.php?cur_cat_oid=12&search_database=Search&search_db=Search&cpage=1&ecpage=1&ppage=1&spage=1&tpage=1&location=3&filter%5Bkeyword%5D=HCOM+477 

Assigned Textbook (optional): Hollihan, T. and Baaske, Kevin, Arguments & arguing: The products and process of human decision making (4th edition), Waveland Press, 2022.

Student population: This course is primarily for third or fourth year HCOM majors. Most HCOM majors take the course as it meets a professional communication 2–unit requirement.

Learning or student outcomes: Professional communication (Department of Humanities & Communication).

Challenges and Solutions:  The key challenge was identifying cost–free, relevant readings that introduce students to specific elements of professional communication. In addition to securing two textbook licenses, and requesting that the library purchase a relevant textbook, I created original course content & assignments (details below).  

Textbook or OER/Low cost Title:  
Instructor–created modules on a set of course–relevant case studies (AI generated content, active listening, non–verbal communication, and intercultural communication). P. Belanger

Planalp, S. & Fitness, J., Interpersonal communication. In the Handbook of communication ethics (eds,  Cheney, G., May S., & Munshi, D.), Routledge, 2011.

Tompkins, P., Practicing communication ethics: Development, discernment, and decision making (3rd edition), Routledge, 2023. 

Hollihan, T. and Baaske, Kevin, Arguments & arguing: The products and process of human decision making (4th edition), Waveland Press, 2022.

Brief Description and resource links:   
1. Instructor–created modules on a set of course–relevant case studies (AI generated content, active listening, non–verbal communication, and intercultural communication). https://csu-mb.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/permalink/01CALS_UMB/1i01t4c/alma991069277582202901 

2. Scholarly chapter on interpersonal communication and ethics https://csu-mb.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/permalink/01CALS_UMB/1i01t4c/alma993874711202923 

3. Scholarly book on interpersonal communication and ethics  https://csu-mb.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/fulldisplay?docid=alma993876011102923&context=L&vid=01CALS_UMB:01CALS_UMB&lang=en&search_scope=DN_and_CI&adaptor=Local%20Search%20Engine&tab=Everything&query=any,contains,Hollihan%20%20T.%20and%20Baaske%20%20Kevin%20%20Arguments%20%26%20arguing&offset=0 

Student access:  Students will access the above resources online via Canvas, and via the CSUMB library (website and in–person).

Provide the cost savings from that of a traditional textbook.  Approximately $200 per student.

License*: 

OER/Low Cost Adoption Process

Provide an explanation or what motivated you to use this textbook or OER/Low Cost option.  My primary motivations are to save students money, and also add additional, relevant case studies to illustrate course concepts.

How did you find and select the open textbook for this course?I created a set of modules to support student learning, and worked with CSUMB librarians to provide free access to three scholarly sources.

Sharing Best Practices: The CSUMB librarians were exceptionally helpful, and I suggest that other faculty ask about the possibility of finding textbook licenses so that students can access books for free via the library website.

Describe any key challenges you experienced, how they were resolved  and lessons learned. The process of creating new modules to support student learning was time-consuming, however, these sources can be used many times again in future courses. 

Instructor Name - Patrick Belanger, Professor at California State University Monterey Bay. 
Please provide a link to your university page.

https://researchprofiles.csumb.edu/en/persons/patrick-belanger

Please describe the courses/course numbers that you teach.  I teach courses in the areas of media, culture, and ethics.  I teach a set of classes that include: critical thinking & ethics, free speech & responsibility, environmental philosophy & communication, communication in everyday life, interracial communication, restorative justice, and multicultural conflict resolution.

Describe your teaching philosophy and any research interests related to your discipline or teaching.   To create a welcoming learning environment for all, at the start of each course I introduce five core principles and practices: 1) kindness and respect (I engage students as motivated adults), 2) transparency (we collectively agree on objectives and methods), 3) a discussion-focused classroom environment (we commit to shared readings and norms of interaction), 4) research and writing (our central focus is the creation of theoretically-informed written work), and 5) collaborative group work, including multi-step peer review. My ultimate aim is to enhance students’ abilities to interpret and write with fluidity and nuance. I have found that two specific strategies tend to inspire motivation. First, I employ real-world examples to illustrate abstract theories. Second, I encourage students to research topics that align with their personal interests and/or experiences.