Oral Communication
Michael
Coghlan. (June 30 2011). Communication Skills Map. Retrieved from: https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikecogh/5968799428/in/photolist-a6rE7Y-7f3ZRC-7eZ768-7eZ7fi-7eZ7an-7f3ZM7-7eZ77x-7f3ZNS-7f3ZMU-7f3ZKm-7f3ZGq-7f3ZQ3-7f3ZJ5-6YhhFg-dAdPGQ-a9pQZz-a3Jb7g-rLwjGq-a3Jbbg-wML3wQ-tt14Yr-hrnCJN-a3Jbha-9bQ7sc-hrnAv9-a3JbNB-upsCLU-9tfQyr-9tfHyB-fy5FZH-fy5G1F-uq3PK8-u8g1Xy-tsPT2N-u9EuSM-ejHzza-rjzZdE-4EjNgb-fyesjQ-zhy4rd-a3JbHk-a3M2Td-a3M335-iLx9Yx-iLxDTN-iqE1ZV-iqEaP7-iqEmwS-iqDYKe-iqE1Fi
Oral communication is arguably
the most important strand of the four strands for literacy. The Ontario
Curriculum of Language discusses how “listening and speaking skills are essential”
for someone to possess (9). However, although oral communication is fundamental
for language, “the development of reading and writing skills can enhance” a
student’s “ability to use and understand oral language clearly, accurately, and
critically,” (9). Therefore, other strands of the curriculum just as reading
and writing can help further develop a student’s oral communication skills. In
addition, one of the main highlights of this strand is that it “focuses on the
identification and development of the skills and strategies effective listeners
and speakers use to understand and interact with others,” (10). Therefore,
students need to be given “opportunities to listen and to talk about a range of
subjects” (9). It is suggested that the language program should allow for
students to “engage in various oral activities in connection with expectations
in all the strands,” as oral communication demonstrates skills that are found
in the other three strands also (9).
I used EduGains – Literacy Resources by Topic as my starting point, in finding my resource. From here, I went to the “questioning” tab where I found the article “ALERT Make Room for Students to Pose and Pursue Questions”. The article discusses how students asking questions helps to direct their learning (1). A highlight in the oral communication strand is the ability to problem solve and understand. The article reveals the thought that students are putting into the work by asking questions, which develops problem solving skills and understanding (1). Students become critical thinkers by asking questions; as opposed to the teacher providing them with questions, which demonstrates the teacher putting in more work than the students. Moreover, by students coming up with their own questions to ask, it teaches students to be self-directed learners (4). This also demonstrates the students becoming engaged in their learning.
The oral communications strand of the Ontario
Curriculum of language grades 1-8 states that oral communication
“emphasizes
the use of higher-order thinking skills to stimulate students’ interest and
engage them in their own learning” (10).
This is enforced through the article because they
both deal with thinking and learning. The article discusses how students who
are actively participating in asking questions, become critical thinkers, which
allows them to develop problem solving skills and better understanding. The
resource reveals that if teachers ask all the questions, then they are doing
the thinking for the students. This is
not to say that teachers cannot help direct students thinking when needed,
though it is crucial for students to develop the skill of asking questions
because it demonstrates their ability to think more critically, without that
guidance.
This article is useful in the classroom because it
provides an example of a questioning circle. The questioning circle is similar
to a Venn diagram, but the objective of the questioning circle is to encourage
students to think of all the different areas individually, which reveals where
they may overlap with one another (3). Each area “the text (or subject itself),
the personal (or reader), and the world (or other texts/resources related to
the primary text),” should have a question for the student to pose prior to
brainstorming (3). Students can also use these questions to lead a discussion
with the class.
The educational benefits are that students will
become active participants in their learning. If students are becoming engaged
in their learning, and developing their critically thinking skills, they will
do better at communicating their knowledge, both inside and outside of the
classroom. This can only benefit students educationally, as their ability to
problem solve and understand material will lead to higher achievement.
No
attribution required. Retrieved from: https://pixabay.com/en/letters-learn-skills-career-804539/
That being said, these skills are beneficial for all
students to master because it causes them to become critical thinkers. The ability
to critically think allows for deeper understanding of topics that are being
discussed. Students can engage in more thoughtful discussion with their peers
by developing these skills. Lastly, these skills will also help students in the
long run when they look for employment because they develop critical skills
that employers are looking for such as communication skills, work ethic
(individually and with others), and analytical skills.
