145-009 Effective Communication for Engineering

This subject is available to all first year engineering students. It is particularly suitable for international and local students from diverse language backgrounds.

Students will develop their competence in spoken, written and electronic forms of communication; they will develop an understanding of aspects of basic communication theory, group dynamics, critical thinking, the role of peer reviewing and teamwork. Tutorials will be held in a multimedia learning environment to develop students' knowledge of on-line technologies and web page publishing. Lectures and tutorials will be designed around topics that relate engineering to broader social contexts such as the environment and sustainable development, professional aspects of current Australian engineering projects and issues concerning engineering and management.

A combination of group and individual assessment will be used. Written work totalling 4000 words comprising a group written project of 800 words, a 2000 word report, a 10-minute oral presentation (equivalent to 800 words) using multimedia and a further 400 words written in class.

• S P Johnston & E Jones, Engineering and Society: An Australian perspective. 2nd edition, Longman, 1999.