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There are 4 modules in this course
Welcome to Ethics of Communication. Geared toward working professionals in both the corporate and nonprofit sectors, Ethics of Communication covers key topics in the modern world of business. Areas of focus include an in-depth examination of the ethical dimensions of professional communication, self-examination of individual conflict styles and preferences, and crisis management scenario analysis and strategy. You will develop and enhance skills related to these concepts through lectures conducted by Notre Dame Professor, Dr. Amanda G. McKendree, written communication exercises, self-reflection, peer-graded assignments, and a variety of readings.
This week, you will begin to learn how to adopt a communication ethics literacy mindset and address the question, “What is communication ethics?” You will be guided through a self-analysis of your own values through video lectures, activities, and peer-graded exercises. You will also learn to use communication ethics terminology.
Johnson & Johnson’s Credo: Communication Ethics in Action•5 minutes
Communication Ethics Literacy/Overview of Communication Ethics Definitions•9 minutes
Barneys New York: A Case of Shop and Frisk•8 minutes
Week 1 Review •3 minutes
13 readings•Total 60 minutes
Welcome and Course Overview•2 minutes
Course Overview and Requirements•5 minutes
Meet Your Instructor•4 minutes
Netiquette•5 minutes
Get help and meet other learners. Join your Community!•5 minutes
Introduction to Communication Ethics•2 minutes
How Companies Can Bolster Employees’ Psychological Safety•7 minutes
The Johnson & Johnson Credo•7 minutes
Introduction•2 minutes
Speaker Values Videos•15 minutes
Optional Resources•2 minutes
Reviewing What We’ve Learned•2 minutes
Reflections on Week 1•2 minutes
3 assignments•Total 40 minutes
Credo Statement Reflection•15 minutes
Defining Communication Ethics•10 minutes
Your Own Communication Ethics in Action Reflection•15 minutes
1 peer review•Total 60 minutes
Communication Ethics Literacy•60 minutes
1 discussion prompt•Total 60 minutes
Johnson & Johnson’s Credo•60 minutes
The Ethics of Listening
Module 2•5 hours to complete
Module details
This week is structured according to three learning objectives. The first objective will encourage you to reflect on your own values related to listening in personal and professional settings through summative reflection. The second learning objective will guide you through distinguishing between different listening types through a summative reflection assignment. The third learning objective asks you to create an action plan for improving your listening skills through a peer discussion.
Using the Five Types of Listening in Different Situations Reflection•15 minutes
Submit Your Action Plan•15 minutes
Effective vs Poor Listeners•15 minutes
Mindful Listening Exercise Reflection•15 minutes
1 discussion prompt•Total 60 minutes
Create an Action Plan•60 minutes
Conflict Communication
Module 3•6 hours to complete
Module details
This week has three primary components: (1) Assessing organizational/professional communication in conflict scenarios, (2) considering your own preferred style of conflict communication, and (3) planning strategic communication responses, including using appropriate tools to respond.
What's included
5 videos13 readings3 assignments1 peer review
Show info about module content
5 videos•Total 24 minutes
Conflict Communication Overview•4 minutes
Components and Causes of Conflict•7 minutes
Five Modes of Conflict•4 minutes
Analyzing and Responding to Conflict•7 minutes
Reflection: Conflict and Ethical Communication•3 minutes
13 readings•Total 173 minutes
Introduction•2 minutes
3 Steps Leaders can Take to Avoid Root Causes of Conflict•5 minutes
Conflict Between Persons: Chapter 1•30 minutes
Optional Resource: Conflict Between Persons Book•1 minute
Introduction•2 minutes
Assessing Your Conflict Style•15 minutes
Dealing with Conflict Avoiders and Seekers•35 minutes
Optional Resource: HBR Guide to Dealing with Conflict•2 minutes
Introduction•2 minutes
Video: Work Scenarios with Coworkers•2 minutes
Perspective: Managing Virtual Team Conflict•15 minutes
Conflict and Ethical Communication Reflection•2 minutes
3 assignments•Total 75 minutes
Components, Causes, and Terminology•30 minutes
Conflict Reflection•30 minutes
Scenario Reflection•15 minutes
1 peer review•Total 60 minutes
Managing Virtual Team Conflict•60 minutes
Crisis Communication
Module 4•4 hours to complete
Module details
This week's topics explore the dynamics of managing a crisis in a digital communication era with an integrated crisis communication framework. You will examine major scholars and crisis resources, and document your understanding of crisis communication ethics through a crisis scenario response. You will explore the major concepts and theories of crisis communication, identify best practices for creating crisis messages, and articulate the meaning and practice of communication ethics for crisis events. There will be one cumulative peer-graded assignment to assess your knowledge of all the learning objectives in this week. While completing this assignment, you will apply crisis concepts and devise strategies for communicating with various stakeholders. Acquiring these new interpretation skills will strengthen your responses to crisis scenarios and reinforce your understanding of the crisis planning and managing phases, as well.
Additionally, you will learn about the primary components and definitions of crisis and differentiate between risk, problem, disaster, and paracrisis. You will use your new interpretation skills to shape responses to crisis scenarios using technology tools.
What's included
7 videos9 readings6 assignments1 peer review
Show info about module content
7 videos•Total 41 minutes
Crisis Communication Overview•3 minutes
Defining Crisis•8 minutes
A Crisis Communication Framework•5 minutes
Crisis Communication Messaging•9 minutes
Crisis Communication Plan•6 minutes
Crisis Communication Ethics•8 minutes
Communication Ethics: Looking Back and Ahead•4 minutes
9 readings•Total 55 minutes
Introduction•2 minutes
Crisis Management and Communications•10 minutes
Changes in Communication Technology•5 minutes
CommTech Self-Assessment•5 minutes
Introduction•4 minutes
Model for Developing Crisis Messaging•10 minutes
Ethics of Crisis Communication•2 minutes
Communication Ethics and Crisis: Introduction•15 minutes
Next Steps•2 minutes
6 assignments•Total 92 minutes
Defining Crisis•7 minutes
Response Plan Reflection•20 minutes
Ethics of Crisis Messaging Reflection•25 minutes
Communication Technology Reflection•15 minutes
Scenario Reflection•15 minutes
Summative Course Reflection•10 minutes
1 peer review•Total 60 minutes
Crisis Response Scenario•60 minutes
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