The Communication Process
Course Outcome: Identify communication strategies for diverse contexts using appropriate verbal and nonverbal techniques
We spend a large part of our day communicating with others…and ourselves. In this unit, we will be discussing the process of communication. The word “process” is used here to demonstrate that communication is an ongoing event. In fact, some scholars argue that you cannot not communicate! Because we are constantly engaged in communicating, it’s important to understand the basics of what communication is and what communication is not, and how it works. I want to point out that there are several different perspectives presented here and while some may be better than others, there is no “right” answer as to what communication is and how it works. Through the lesson sequence and assignments, I challenge you to form your own opinions and share them with others.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this unit, you will be able to:
- Define communication
- Differentiate between what is and what is not communication
- Identify the elements of the different communication models
- Explain and differentiate between the transmission, interaction, and transactional models of communication
