Version 1.

0 BBA111

SCHOOL OF BUSINESS AND INFORMATION

TECHNOLOGY
DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS AND
MANANGEMENT
BBA111: COMMUNICATION SKILLS AND LEARNING
SKILLS FOR EMPLOYABILITY

SYLLABUS AND DETAILED COURSE GUIDE

PART 1: COURSE DESCRIPTION AND RESOURCES

Lecturer: Hudson L. Kaneneka; BBA (University of Zambia), MSc
(Marketing) (University of Strathclyde)
Office: Main Campus
Office Hours: 08:00 – 17:00 Hours
Office Telephone: +260 211 387600
Lecturer’s E-Mail: hkaneneka@cavendish.co.zm

Course Description
This communication skills and learning skills course is designed to help
students to focus on personal-professional development journeys that will
transform them into educated, employable, and entrepreneurial citizens.
Modern entrepreneurship, and most employers require good oral and written
communication skills, knowing how to learn, and the ability to use common
technology tools. Learning how to learn will help students to continue
becoming better communicators and to continually acquire new knowledge
and skills as required in the rapidly changing modern global economy. The
best way to learn how to write well and to speak well, is by reading a lot and
practicing to speak well. Students are encouraged to read both online
resources and regular hard-copy books selected from their own areas of
interest as a supplement to this course.

MOOC-supplements and other online resources

1.Introduction to Public Speaking (from Coursera.org free course at link
below)

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https://www.coursera.org/learn/public-speaking/home/welcome
2. Communication Skills across difference (from Edx.org free course at link
below)
https://courses.edx.org/courses/course-
v1:CatalystX+ILDIV1x+2T2017/course/
3. Free English revision and courses at the British Council Website
http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en
4. Learning How to Learn (from Coursera.org at the free link below)
https://www.coursera.org/learn/learning-how-to-learn
5. Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL) at the free link below
https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/

Required Books
1. Effective Communication Skills by MTD Training and Ventus (available
for free at the link below as an open education resource )
http://promeng.eu/downloads/training-materials/ebooks/soft-
skills/effective-communication-skills.pdf
2. Elements of Style by Strunk and White (available for free at the link
below)
file:///C:/Users/Olubayi/Downloads/Elements%20of%20Style%20by%
20Strunk.pdf%20%202%20(1).pdf
3. Education for a Better World by Olubayi Olubayi (available for free at
the link below—can be accessed both by scrolling or downloading)
https://www.academia.edu/32798328/EDUCATION_FOR_A_BETTER_W
ORLD_SUSTAINABLE_DEVELOPMENT_AND_SERVICE_LEARNING
4. Mindsets by Carol Dweck (available for free at link below)
http://wtf.tw/ref/dweck.pdf
5. Mindshift by Barbara Oakley (available for free at the link below)
http://barbaraoakley.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Book-Extract-
Chapter-1-Mindshift.pdf
6. The Everything Practice Book by Dawn R. McKay. (book on job
interview skills: verbal communication, body language, dressing,
questions, and tips for interviews)
http://www.ssnpstudents.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/The-
Everything-Practice-Interview-Boo.pdf

Course Delivery
 Lectures
 Discussions
 Group discussions
 Team Work
 Class presentations
 Google Class

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 Student Learning Outcomes
General Learning Outcomes for Employability:
1. Communication skills: Students write summaries of concepts learned
in each course as part of the effort to develop strong writing skills.
2. Teamwork: Students demonstrate teamwork through active
collaborative learning including group projects and presentations.
3. Digital literacy: Students use digital tools, design and make Excel and
PowerPoint presentations of concepts learned to enhance their digital
literacy and public speaking skills.
4. Learning how to learn: Students demonstrate use of online resources
in learning as part of the process of learning how to learn and
becoming lifelong learners.
5. Analytical skills and ability to apply new knowledge: Students
demonstrate analytical skills and application of new concepts.
6. Problem solving: Students work individually and in groups to practice
problem solving.
7. Critical Thinking: students apply critical thinking skills by asking
questions and demanding evidence (5Ws and 1H: what, when, where,
who, why, how) in order to become better thinkers.
Specific Learning Outcomes for this course or module:

After completing this course students should be able to:

1. Identify and discuss parts of the communication process (source,

message, encoding, channel, decoding, receiver, feedback, context)

2. Describe the role of perspective and bias in communication (visual

perception, accent, prejudice, stereotypes, feelings, environment)

3. List and analyze different communication styles

4. Discuss and apply basic listening skills (self-awareness, active

listening, signaling attentiveness)

5. Demonstrate improvements in writing skills (emails with specific

subject headings, proper sentences, good paragraphs)

6. Develop a plan for using digital resources for personal-professional

development

7. List and discuss the skills that employers are looking for (good oral
and written communication skills; ability to use common
technological tools such as Excel and PowerPoint; self-awareness;
good personal-hygiene; capacity for teamwork; knowing how to
learn; etc.)

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WEEK 1:

TOPIC: What is Communication?

SUBTOPICS:
 What are communication skills?
 Parts of the communication process:
 source, message, encoding, channel, decoding, receiver,
feedback, context
 Employers look for good oral, written and technological
communication skills
Readings:
Effective Communication Skills by MTD Training and Ventus, Pages 10
to 17
http://promeng.eu/downloads/training-materials/ebooks/soft-
skills/effective-communication-skills.pdf
Free online video:

https://www.ted.com/playlists/226/before_public_speaking
This video is a TED TALK on effective public speaking

WEEK 2:

TOPIC: Factors affecting perspective in communication

SUBTOPICS:
 What is perspective?
 Visual perception
 Accent
 Prejudice and stereotypes
 Feelings
 Environment

Readings:

Effective Communication Skills by MTD Training and Ventus, Pages 18

to 24
http://promeng.eu/downloads/training-materials/ebooks/soft-
skills/effective-communication-skills.pdf

Free online video:

https://www.ted.com/talks/chimamanda_adichie_the_danger_of_a_single_st
ory
Video of a TED TALK on stereotypes against Africans

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WEEK 3:

TOPIC: Elements of communication

SUBTOPICS:
 Face to face communication
 Tone of Voice
 Body language and non-verbal communication
 Verbal communication
 Physical communication

Readings:

Effective Communication Skills by MTD Training and Ventus, Pages 25 to 30

http://promeng.eu/downloads/training-materials/ebooks/soft-skills/effective-
communication-skills.pdf

Free online video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKhsavlvuao
Free YouTube video on elements of communication and emotions

WEEK 4:

TOPIC: Communication Styles

SUBTOPICS:

 Communication style matrix

 Direct communication style
 Spirited communication style
 Systematic communication style
 Considerate communication style
 Examples of each type of communication style

Readings:

Effective Communication Skills by MTD Training and Ventus, Pages 30 to 45

http://promeng.eu/downloads/training-materials/ebooks/soft-skills/effective-
communication-skills.pdf
Free online videos:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0A-cIZBKQ4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Kudo7aIpFA
Two short free YouTube videos on communication styles

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WEEK 5:

TOPIC: Effective written communication

SUBTOPICS:
 When and when not to use written communication
 Complexity of topic
 Amount of discussion required
 Shades of meaning
 Writing proper emails (see video below)
 Writing business letters (see video below)

Readings:

Effective Communication Skills by MTD Training and Ventus, Pages 52 to 58

http://promeng.eu/downloads/training-materials/ebooks/soft-skills/effective-
communication-skills.pdf

Free online video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9TF7znkFvd8
Free YouTube video on “writing proper emails”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AxFs5zeRBn0
Free YouTube video on writing business letters

WEEK 6: CONTINUOUS ASSESSMENT TEST (CAT) 25%

 Taken at Exam Centre

WEEK 7:

TOPIC: Writing proper sentences and paragraphs

SUBTOPICS:
 How to write good paragraphs (one topic/idea per paragraph) –
formula for writing good paragraphs (see book by Olubayi page 155)
 Begin paragraphs with a topic sentence or conclusion or declaration
 Use positive statements
 Write proper sentences

Readings:

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Elements of Style by Strunk and White (available for free at the link below)
pages 7 to 17
file:///C:/Users/Olubayi/Downloads/Elements%20of%20Style%20by%20Stru
nk.pdf%20%202%20(1).pdf

Education for a Better World by Olubayi Olubayi (available for free at the link
below—can be accessed both by scrolling or downloading) Pages 155 to 157

https://www.academia.edu/32798328/EDUCATION_FOR_A_BETTER_WORLD
_SUSTAINABLE_DEVELOPMENT_AND_SERVICE_LEARNING

For extra help with writing skills and English visit the Purdue Online Writing
Lab (OWL) at the free link below
https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/

Free online videos:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F03w-vOV-xw
Free YouTube video on proper sentence structure

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nd4MScADY94
Free YouTube video on English Grammar

WEEK 8:

TOPIC: Learning how to learn part I: growth mindset for learning

SUBTOPICS:
 Having your own strong reason for wanting to learn (goal setting and
having a growth mindset that accepts that you can change and learn)
 The idea of lifelong learning
 Developing the habit of reading (see book by Olubayi pages 158 to
174)

Readings:

Education for a Better World by Olubayi Olubayi (available for free at

the link below—can be accessed both by scrolling or downloading)
Pages 158 to 174

https://www.academia.edu/32798328/EDUCATION_FOR_A_BETTER_WORLD
_SUSTAINABLE_DEVELOPMENT_AND_SERVICE_LEARNING

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Mindsets by Carol Dweck (available for free at the link below) Chapter 1 and
chapter 2
http://wtf.tw/ref/dweck.pdf

Free online video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_X0mgOOSpLU
Ted Talk by Carol Dweck on “growth mindsets” for learning how to learn

WEEK 9:

TOPIC: Learning how to learn part II: methods of learning

SUBTOPICS:
 Learn small chunks of information at a time
 Study in small high focus amounts of time time, Pomodoro technique
 Technique of deliberate practice

Readings:

Mindshift by Barbara Oakley (available for free at the link below) Chapter 1
http://barbaraoakley.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Book-Extract-
Chapter-1-Mindshift.pdf

Free online video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O96fE1E-rf8
Ted Talk video by Barbara Oakley on “learning how to learn”

WEEK 10:

TOPIC: Critical thinking

SUBTOPICS:
 Blooms taxonomy on 6 levels of knowledge acquisition
 The 5Ws and 1H as tools for critical thinking
 What is critical thinking?
 Seeking evidence

Readings:

Education for a Better World by Olubayi Olubayi (available for free at the link
below—can be accessed both by scrolling or downloading) Pages 134 to 154

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https://www.academia.edu/32798328/EDUCATION_FOR_A_BETTER_WORLD
_SUSTAINABLE_DEVELOPMENT_AND_SERVICE_LEARNING

Free online video:

https://ed.ted.com/lessons/5-tips-to-improve-your-critical-thinking-
samantha-agoos
Free video on critical thinking by Samantha Agoos from Ed.TED.COM (part of
Ted Talks)

WEEK 11:

TOPIC: Communicating your employability part I

SUBTOPICS:
 Professional body language and SLANT (sit up, listen, answer and ask
questions, node, track-speakers-with-eyes) for professional
communication
 Setting goals (see video lesson on “drawing your future”)
 Identifying your talents

Readings:

Education for a Better World by Olubayi Olubayi (available for free at the link
below—can be accessed both by scrolling or downloading) pages 175 t0 180
https://www.academia.edu/32798328/EDUCATION_FOR_A_BETTER_WORLD
_SUSTAINABLE_DEVELOPMENT_AND_SERVICE_LEARNING

ONE Free online video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4vl6wCiUZYc
Free Ted Talk video on how to plan by “drawing your future”

WEEK 12:

TOPIC: Communication in job interviews and at work

SUBTOPICS:
 Personal hygiene and body smells

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  Preparing for job interviews
 Making a good impression at the interview
 Types of questions to expect at the interview

Readings:

Free article on how personal hygiene and smells affect your self-esteem and
employability
http://www.hygieneexpert.co.uk/importancegoodpersonalhygiene.html

The Everything Practice Book by Dawn R. McKay. Free PDF of a book on job
interview skills: verbal communication, body language, professional
behaviour, questions, and tips for interviews. Chapters 1 and 3
http://www.ssnpstudents.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/The-
Everything-Practice-Interview-Boo.pdf

Free online videos:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m5kR7TPAkSw
Free YouTube video on answering the interview question “tell us about
yourself”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ScyQdo8gO8E
Free YouTube video on “natural ways to deal with body odour,” i.e., getting
rid of bad body smells that affect employability

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_NYrWqUR40
Free Ted Talk video on building confidence

PART 4: GRADING POLICY

Graded coursework (or cats), problem sets (or assignment examinations

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 ASSESSMENT COMMENTS % OF FINAL GRADE

1st Continuous

Assessment Paper
(CAT) 40

2nd Continuous Presentations and

Assessment Test (CAT) Field Reports

FINAL EXAM 60

TOTAL POINTS Add up all points 100

Out of 100%

Letter Grades

Letter Grade Percentage (%) Performance

A+ 75 -100 Distinction
A 70-74 Distinction
B+ 65-69 Merit
B 60-64 Merit
C+ 55-59 Credit
C 50-54 Pass
D+ 45-49 Bare Fail
D 44 and Below Fail

Part 5: Course Policies

Class Attendance, Participation and Emergencies
 Attending classes is mandatory for all students.
 Participation in group work or teamwork is required whenever such
work is assigned.
 In case of any emergency that disenables a student from attending
classes or completing work, the student is expected to communicate
with the lecturer or dean as soon as possible.
 Students with disabilities should inform the dean of the faculty of
any special needs that they may have.

Late Work and Missing Assessments

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  Each student is responsible for making sure that his or her work is
done on time.
 Any student who misses assessments or misses class should talk to
his or her lecturer/facilitator or professor as soon as possible and
seek the lecturer’s advice on how to make up for work missed or
assessments missed.
 Students who expect to miss classes or to miss assessments for
health reasons or special family reasons should communicate with
the lecturer or professor for the course as soon as possible.
 Students should note that there may be a penalty for late work, and
missed assessments. The penalty may include not being allowed to
sit for the final examination.
 Students who are unable to keep up with class work should consult
with the course lecturer or faculty dean or dean of students, and
seek advice.

Integrity and Zero Tolerance for Plagiarism

 All students are expected to abide by the university’s policy on
ethical conduct.
 Any student involved in cheating in tests, coursework or
examinations will be suspended pending investigations, and may be
expelled from the University.
 Any student involved in buying or selling tests or examinations will
be suspended from the University pending investigations.
 Any student involved in using sexual favors in exchange for marks
will be suspended pending investigations, and may be expelled from
the University.
 Plagiarism means presenting other people’s work from online or
from other sources as your own. Plagiarism is a serious offence and
will not be tolerated, and offenders will fail that particular course.
 Students are required to read the University’s policy on
examinations.

Make up for Missed Classes

1. There will be special make up classes for each class that is missed
because the lecturer could not come to class on a particular day

2. Students are required to treat make up classes as part of the

regular learning program

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