Topic 1: Foundations

As you read this topic, pay particular attention to moving your concept of communication from a colloquial definition to a scholarly definition. The models of communication presented below will help you to articulate what the academic study of communication means. In doing so, you’ll be able to apply scholarly concepts to activities that you may take for granted or might think of as simply automatic. The process of communication is much more complicated than many people think!

Course Reflection Activities

You will have reflection activities throughout the course. Reflections are not graded. Reflections are a way for you to take note of important themes and concepts throughout the course. Please read the reflection, think about it, then write, draw or jot down some notes. Save your reflection responses in one large file so you can refer to them later in the course if needed.

Activity 1: Personal Reflection Journal – Reflection Question 1

Please answer the following reflection in any format you like (such as in writing, a video, note form, or a drawing). Save your reflection responses in one large file so you can refer to them later in the course if needed.

Activity 2: Reading – Introduction to Human Communication

Please read the following text, which introduces you to human communication.

_{This activity contains text from Chapter 1: Introduction to Human Communication by Terri Johnson. (n.d.). LibreTexts. (CC BY-NC-SA) Minor changes for readability.}

Foundations

Many colleges and universities around the country require students to take some type of communication course in order to graduate.

Introductory Communication classes include courses on public speaking, small group communication, and interpersonal communication. While these are some of the most common introductory Communication courses, many Communication departments are now offering an introductory course that explains what Communication is, how it is studied as an academic field, and what areas of specialization make up the field of Communication. In other words, these are survey courses similar to courses such as Introduction to Sociology or Introduction to Psychology. The goal of this course is to introduce you to the field of Communication as an academic discipline of study. There are two ways of communicating: communication and communications. “Communication” is a broad focus on how humans interact with others and is grounded in academic study. “Communications” is more of a delivery means of communicating. This includes internet providers, television, telephones, etc.

Engaging in Conversation

We hear people talk about communication frequently in higher education. We’re often surprised by how few people can actually explain what Communication is, or what Communication departments are about. This course will provide you with the basics for understanding what communication is, what Communication scholars and students study, and how you can effectively use the study of Communication in your life. By optimizing interpersonal communication skills, one can gain better insights through improved listening skills, better understanding of how nonverbal communication can provide clearer understanding, and by how word choice, empowering vocabulary, and open communication channels can increase your leadership skills.

Defining Communications Study: What is Communications Study?

When we tell others that we are studying Communication, people often ask questions like, “Do you learn about radio and television?” “Do you do public speaking?” “Do you do news broadcasts?” “Do you work with computers?” “Do you study Public Relations?” “Is that Journalism or Mass Communications?” However, the most common question we get is, “What is that?”

It’s interesting that most people will tell us that they know what communication is, but they do not have a clear understanding of what it is Communication scholars study and teach in our academic discipline. If you memorize the definition below, you will have a quick and simple answer to what communication study entails.

Bruce Smith, Harold Lasswell, and Ralph Casey provided a good and simple answer to the question, “What is Communication study?” They state that communication study is an academic field whose primary focus is “who says what, through what channels (media) of communication, to whom, [and] what will be the results” (Smith et al., 1946).

Although they gave this explanation almost 70 years ago, to this day it succinctly describes the focus of Communication scholars and professionals. As professors and students of Communication, we extensively examine the various forms and outcomes of human communication. On its website, the National Communication Association (NCA), our national organization, states communication is “the discipline that studies all forms, modes, media, and consequences of communication through humanistic, social scientific and aesthetic inquiry.” Now, if people ask you what you’re studying in a Communication class, you have some answers!

Activity 3: Interactive – Communication Foundation Activity

Please complete the following interactive activity.

References

Smith, B. L., Lasswell, H. D., & Casey, R. D. (1946). Propaganda, communication, and public opinion: A comprehensive reference guide. Princeton University Press.

Johnson, T. (n.d.). Chapter 1: Introduction to human communication. In Introduction to Communications. OER Commons. https://oercommons.org/courseware/lesson/102256/overview