Communications in Business - session plans

Tutor	Paul Newman	Date	05/03/02		Time	12.30 - 14.30
Course	Communication in Business		Topic	1. Introduction to communication

Aim: To introduce the purpose, content and structure of the course

Learning Outcomes - By the end of the lesson learners will have:

1. An understanding of what they can expect to gain from the course and what they are expected to do
2. An overview of the range of business communications covered by the course
3. Thought about what makes communication effective

Topic/Approximate timings	Tutor activity	Learner activity	Resources / room layout
15 min - Introductions & register	Introduce himself & identify learners' names	Learn tutors name and introduce themselves	Informal (horse shoe) seating plan Whiteboard - to display names College Register
5 min - safety and housekeeping	Establish whether all learners know about College safety procedures and facilities	Listen to tutor and provide questions and answers	College literature
35 min - Course purpose and content	Describe the overall purpose of the course, the qualification obtainable, the topics included, what is expected of learners and the way the qualification will be assessed	Listen and question tutor	OCR Syllabus, assessment objectives & performance criteria
10 min - Break	Talk to learners individually	Raise personal concerns with tutor	Facilities for private conversation
40 min - Bad communication	Ask learners about their experiences of bad communication and use these to indicate what constitutes good communication	Talk about their own experiences and discuss those of other members of the group	Whiteboard - to record the main features of bad and good communication agreed upon
15 min - Summary & review	Summarise the results of the first lesson and introduce the topics for the next one	Listen and comment	Whiteboard - to refer to what has been achieved

Tutor	Paul Newman	Date	12/03/02		Time	12.30 - 14.30
Course	Communication in Business		Topic	2. Types & uses of communication methods

Aim: To explain the principal methods of communication and the ways they can be used

Learning Outcomes - By the end of the lesson learners will have:

1. An overview of the types of oral and written communications used in a business context
2. An understanding of the ways the various types can be used and their effectiveness in different circumstances

Topic/Approximate timings	Tutor activity	Learner activity	Resources / room layout
5 min - Register	Establish who is present and record information in register	Respond to their name	College Register
15 min - Preparing for assessment	Discuss exam technique and preparations for the assessment the learners will undergo	Listen to tutor and comment	Handout on OCR course requirements
35 min - Types & uses of communication	Give an overview of the main types of communications and describe and discuss the ways to use them most effectively	Listen and question tutor	Table of information projected on screen
10 min - Break	Talk to learners individually	Raise personal concerns with tutor	Facilities for private conversation
30 min - Planning and preparing communication	Describe and discuss key questions and points	Listen to tutor and comment	Key information projected on screen
25 min - Review topics and discuss practical preparations	Get feedback from learners about the topics covered and suggest practical research projects	Talk about their own experiences and pick a research topic	Refer to 'on screen' information

Tutor	Paul Newman	Date	19/03/02		Time	12.30 - 14.30
Course	Communication in Business		Topic	3. Writing an acceptable business letter

Aim: To explain the underlying principles and components of a basic business letter

Learning Outcomes - By the end of the lesson learners will:

1. Be able to recognise and produce the type of letter structure that is currently acceptable in a business context
2. An understanding of the underlying principles that make a business letter effective and adaptable to different circumstances

Topic/Approximate timings	Tutor activity	Learner activity	Resources / room layout
5 min - Register	Establish who is present and record information in register	Respond to their name	College Register
15 min - Introduction to the topic	Explain aims of session and what learners should learn from it	Listen to tutor and comment	Session plan projected on screen
30 min - Session exercise on composing business letters - part 1	Work through exercise and ask learners to choose from and comment on the options offered	Listen, choose from options and question tutor	Key questions & points projected on screen Exercise projected on screen
10 min - Break	Talk to learners individually	Raise personal concerns with tutor	Facilities for private conversation
15 min - Session exercise on composing business letters - part 2	Complete exercise	Listen, choose from options and question tutor	Exercise & key information projected on screen
30 min - Individual letter writing exercise	Set the learners the task of writing their own personal application for the job described in the exercise and give individual tuition whilst work is in progress	Write letter using IT facilities available to each of them in teaching room or paper, if preferred	IT facilities and paper
15 min - Review of session and preparation for exams	Discuss what has been learnt and how it can be applied more generally. Get learners to choose topics for their presentation exercise	Listen and comment to tutor and respond with ideas for their presentation exercise	Paper for tutor to record presentation exercise ideas

Tutor	Paul Newman	Date	09/04/02		Time	12.30 - 14.30
Course	Communication in Business		Topic	4. Presenting oneself

Aim: To create a favourable impression in written and verbal business communication

Learning Outcome - By the end of the lesson learners will:

1. Be able to recognise that the same principals can be applied to improve both written and verbal business communication
2. Have the confidence to demonstrate this understanding under examination conditions

Topic/Approximate timings	Tutor activity	Learner activity	Resources / room layout
5 min - Register	Establish who is present and record information in register	Respond to their name	College Register
10 min - Introduction to the topic	Explain aims of session and what learners should learn from it	Listen to tutor and comment	Session plan projected on screen
35 min - Building on the experience of the written exercise from session 3	Review individual work done in session 3 and the follow-up work that learners have done in their own time to draw out insights	Show work and comment about personal insights gained from the exercise	Exercise projected on screen Key questions & points projected on screen
10 min - Break	Talk to learners individually	Raise personal concerns with tutor	Facilities for private conversation
30 min - Presenting oneself verbally	Explain the importance of preparation for all verbal communication and show how the same key concepts apply, as for written communication	Listen and comment	Key questions & points projected on screen
20 min - Review of session and preparation for presentation exercise	Discuss how far learners have got in preparing topics for a presentation exercise and comment about application of general principles	Listen, show preparation and comment	Key questions & points projected on screen
10 min - What will be required in the OCR examination	Discuss what has been covered in relation to exam requirements	Listen and comment	Handout on curriculum and assessment criteria

Tutor	Paul Newman	Date	16/04/02		Time	12.30 - 14.30
Course	Communication in Business		Topic	5. Forms & useful structures

Aim: To explain the use of forms in business communication

Learning Outcome - By the end of the lesson learners will:

1. Be able to understand the principals behind the use and design of forms in business
2. Be able to demonstrate that they can complete a typical business form

Topic/Approximate timings	Tutor activity	Learner activity	Resources / room layout
5 min - Register	Establish who is present and record information in register	Respond to their name	College Register
15 min – Feedback on letter writing & presentation exercise	Review individual work done in session 4 and the follow-up work that learners have done in their own time to draw out insights	Show work and comment about personal insights gained from the exercise	Learners’ work and OCR assessment criteria
35 min - Introduction to the use of forms	Explain aims of session, demonstrate use of forms and lead closed exercise on completion	Listen to tutor, comment and participate in exercise	Session plan projected on screen Exercise projected on screen
10 min - Break	Talk to learners individually	Raise personal concerns with tutor	Facilities for private conversation
20 min - Presentation exercise (part 2)	Invite two more learners to make a practice presentation & lead feedback	Make presentation (2 learners), listen and comment	Layout - presenters made the focus of attention
20 min – Individual preparation for OCR examination	Offer learners opportunity for practising skills learnt so far and being available to help individually	Practice either: letter writing, form completion or preparing presentations	Handout information for all exercises plus OCR assessment criteria
15 min - Review of session and plans for future sessions	Discuss what has been covered in relation to exam requirements and invite comment about the way future topics are tackled	Offer suggestions & comments and agree a plan for future sessions	OCR curriculum and assessment criteria

Tutor	Paul Newman	Date	23/04/02		Time	12.30 - 14.30
Course	Communication in Business		Topic	6. Reception duties

Aim: To help learners appreciate the importance of being the first point of contact and practice important skills

Learning Outcome - By the end of the lesson learners will:

1. Understand key reception duties and skills
2. Have practised skills within the learning environment

Topic/Approximate timings	Tutor activity	Learner activity	Resources / room layout
5 min - Register	Establish who is present and record information in register	Respond to their name	College Register
20 min - Introduction to the session & feedback on examination requirements	Explain the oral examination requirements further and the structure of the skills practise	Listen, comment and read role playing notes from screen	OCR & College literature Session plan & exercise projected on screen
30 min – Reception role play	Form learners into groups & allocate individual roles. Observe group activities.	Within group, take role of receptionist, enquirer or observer	Exercise projected on screen
10 min - Break	Talk to learners individually	Raise personal concerns with tutor	Facilities for private conversation
30 min – Feedback from exercise	Get feedback from each group and encourage general discussion on results of role play	Give feedback from observations and discuss what has been learnt about reception skills	Paper for observation notes and exercise, downloaded from screen
20 min - Presentation exercise (part 3)	Invite two more learners to make a practice presentation & lead feedback	Make presentation (2 learners), listen and comment	Layout - presenters made the focus of attention
10 min - Review of session	Discuss what has been covered in relation to exam requirements	Offer suggestions & comments	OCR curriculum and assessment criteria

Tutor	Paul Newman	Date	30/04/02		Time	12.30 - 14.30
Course	Communication in Business		Topic	7. Presentations and instructions

Aim: To help learners understand the skill of presenting relevant information to colleagues in oral and written form

Learning Outcome - By the end of the lesson learners will:

1. Understand the relationship and skills of presenting information (especially instructions) in written and oral form
2. Have practised skills within the learning environment

Topic/Approximate timings	Tutor activity	Learner activity	Resources / room layout
5 min - Register	Establish who is present and record information in register	Respond to their name	College Register
25 min - Introduction to the session	Explain the topics in the context of examination requirements	Listen, comment and read from screen	Session plan & OCR examination materials projected on screen
25 min – Presentation exercise (parts 3 & 4)	Invite remaining learners to make a practice presentation & lead feedback	Make presentation, listen and comment	Layout - presenters made the focus of attention
10 min - Break	Talk to learners individually	Raise personal concerns with tutor	Facilities for private conversation
35 min – Presenting written information	Talk about using memoranda and advertisements to pass on information	Suggest forms of words for use in answer to OCR exam questions from Jan 02	OCR examination examples from Jan 02 plus key questions & points projected on screen
20 min - Review of session	Discuss what has been covered in relation to exam requirements	Give feedback on exam details Offer suggestions & comments	OCR curriculum and assessment criteria

Tutor	Paul Newman	Date	07/05/02		Time	12.30 - 14.30
Course	Communication in Business		Topic	8. Exam preparation workshop

Aim: To help learners practice the skills of communicating with the examiner

Learning Outcome - By the end of the lesson learners will:

1. Understand examination requirements
2. Have practised exam components of their choice within the learning environment

Topic/Approximate timings	Tutor activity	Learner activity	Resources / room layout
5 min - Register	Establish who is present and record information in register	Respond to their name	College Register
25 min - Introduction to the session	Revise examination requirements and invite learners to discuss the areas about which they would like further guidance	Listen, comment and read from screen	Session plan & OCR examination materials projected on screen
25 min – Exam practice workshop (part 1)	Form learners with similar problems into groups to work through problems together	Participate in group activity	Layout - group learners with similar problems together
10 min - Break	Talk to learners individually	Raise personal concerns with tutor	Facilities for private conversation
25 min – Exam practice workshop (part 2)	Form learners with similar problems into groups to work through problems together	Participate in group activity	Layout - group learners with similar problems together
20 min - Review of session	Discuss what has been covered in relation to exam requirements	Give feedback on results of group activities. Offer suggestions & comments	OCR curriculum and assessment criteria
10 min - Preparation for mock written exam	Explain the way that the mock exam will be conducted	Listen & comment	OCR examination materials projected on screen

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