Business Communication 308

Using Technology for Business Communication

Instructor: Marcy Leasum Orwig Office Hours: Mon/Wed 1:00-2:00 & T/Th 10:00-11:00 Contact Email: orwigml@uwec.edu Office: 409 Schneider

Prerequisites:
BCOM 206-Business Writing and BCOM 207-Business Presentations

Materials:
The uniqueness of this class demands that we obtain much of our information from: Current articles Blogs Multimedia videos You will be given such assigned readings and videos throughout the semester. Please utilize our D2L course site to access these materials and to complete all your assignments.

Catalog Description:
The overall goal of this course is to teach you how to: Apply written, oral, and nonverbal communication skills for business purposes through a variety of technologies. Discuss emerging technologies and their effect on business communication. Learn to manage information and engage in distance collaboration within a business setting.

Course Information:
If you earn a grade of B- or better in this course, you can use this course to help fulfill the requirements of the Advanced Business Communications certificate. Activities and assignments may involve developing and participating in: Screencasts Information management Social media Webinair

Course Objectives
Upon successful completion of this two-credit course in business communication, you will: 1. Use current and emerging technologies in oral and written business communication. 2. Use distance technologies to communicate information. 3. Consider ethical issues when using technology. 4. Explore new technologies available to business professionals. 5. Understand how to properly manage information, especially in relation to email usage. 6. Use current technology to appropriately and professionally participate in social media for business purposes. 7. Understand the importance of collaboration via technology in the workplace. 8. Demonstrate the best practices in selecting and using communication technology. 9. Show sensitivity toward and awareness of diversity, including but not limited to diversity of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, social and economic class, ability/disability, age, and religion.

Class Attendance and Participation:

Classes are held in a discussion/workshop format both in class and online; therefore, regular attendance and active, productive, and courteous participation with classmates and the instructor are important: Missing more than three classes will lower your grade (i.e. B to B-, etc.) Being absent for more than five classes will result in a failing grade for the course. Running more than 15 minutes late to class, you will be counted absent. Please be aware that the majority of the coursework for this class involves group work. While group work can be challenging, in the business world it is a necessary skill. If problems arise during your group work, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Revision Policy:
Overall, I do not allow revision of assignments after the due date. With major assignments, you will have peer editing feedback that you can base revisions on prior to handing it in. Also, I encourage you to come to my office hours and ask me questions before the due date of any assignment.

Major Assignments and Corresponding Explanation:

Below is a list of the major assignments for the course. Please note that you will receive much more detailed assignment sheets as we make our way through the semester. These assignment sheets will provide a more thorough description and will include activities/readings for each class period.

All assignments must be placed in the D2L Dropbox in the appropriate assignment folder. I will not accept them otherwise. In addition all written assignments must be Microsoft Word documents. Assignments in other file formats will receive a score of 0 with no opportunity for resubmission. Make sure you have a backup copy of all work before you turn it in to be graded.

Assignments will be penalized one letter grade (e.g., from B to C) for each class period they are late. All assignments must be completed for you to receive a passing grade at the end of the semester.

Major Assignments & Descriptions Name Length Due Date

Sept. 19 Oct. 10

Points/Weight
150/15% 150/15%

Social Media Scavenger 2-3 minutes Hunt Screencast Business Facebook/Twitter Account & Report Business Event Promotion Media & Report 1-2 pages

1-2 pages

Oct. 24

150/15%

Business App & Report 1-2 pages

Wednesday, Nov. 7

150/15%

Final Report on Business Social Media Effectiveness Final Presentation (webinar) on Social Media Effectiveness

8-10 pages

Wednesday, Dec. 5

300/30%

TBA/Assigned

Monday Dec. 10 & Wednesday Dec. 12

100/10%

Grade Descriptions and Scale:

All grades in the course are recorded in the grade book as letter grades. Criteria for these letter grades are shown below along with the corresponding percentage scale: A-Exemplary work; the qualities of B writing, plus imagination and effective expression. B-Mature work; thorough analysis of the writing problem, appropriate and effective substance, good organization, and solid expression (style). No more than one or two small problems in correctness. C-Competent, developing work; satisfactory analysis of the problem, organization, and expression, but nothing remarkably good or bad. Acceptable sentence structure; other problems in mechanics or usage may occur.
4

D-Beginning-level work; presence of a glaring defect in context, substance, organization, style, or delivery; inadequate treatment of the assignment. Possibly some sentence structure errors or other errors in correctness. F-Basic-level work; lack of context, inadequate coverage of essential points, poor organization, ineffective and garbled expression. Glaring defects in correctness.

A 94-100% A-90-93% B+87-89% B 83-86% B-80-82% C+77-79%

C 73-76% C-70-72% D+67-69% D 63-66% D-60-62% F 59% and below

Academic Dishonesty:
I encourage you to work together on assignments (e.g., collaborative writing assignments, peer editing, asking questions about an assignment) but obvious plagiarism will not be tolerated in this course. Plagiarism is a serious offense and will not be treated lightly. Any work that suggests the copying or appropriation of anothers work without proper attribution will result in a grade of F for the assignment, a formal report of the deans in both the College of Business and Schofield Hall at UW-Eau Claire and with the appropriate authorities at other home campuses, and recommendation that you drop the course.

My assumption is that you will do your own work and that academic dishonesty will not be an issue. While I realize that the Internet makes cheating much easier, I have also discovered that it also makes cheating much easier to detect. If you are tempted to cheat, ask yourself why. If you feel the need to cheat because the work is too hard or youre overwhelmed by the learning environment, contact me. I will work with you so that you complete the course with your self-respect intact. If you feel you need to cheat because you got behind or blew off the course, preserve your self-respect by accepting the lost points or by dropping the course and taking it when youre in a better position to succeed.

Computer Ethics:
You are expected to use the university computers responsibly and to communicate courteously with others in your class. Please familiarize yourself with UWEC's policies.

Disability Accommodation:
In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if you have a documented disability or special learning need, please contact me to discuss how we can accommodate your need or contact Alice Bayerl, Director, Services for Students with Disabilities/Project AIM, Old Library 2136, (715) 836-4542 or at bayerlam@uwec.edu.

Racial, Ethnic, or Sexual Harassment:

Racial, ethnic, or sexual harassment will not be tolerated in this classroom. UWEC's policies on racial, ethnic, and sexual harassment can be accessed via the university's homepage.

Tentative Schedule:
Week/Date
Unit/Topic
Week 1: Sept. 5 Week 2: Sept. 10 & Sept. 12

Corresponding Assignment

Due Date

Introduction to Course Investigate Uses of Technology in Business Investigate Uses of Social Media Scavenger Sept. 19 Technology in Business Hunt Screencast Introduction to your Business

Week 3: Sept. 17 & Sept. 19

Week 4: Sept. 24 & Sept. 26

Week 5: Oct. 1 & Oct. 3

Practice Uses of Technology in your Business Practice Uses of Technology in your Business Practice Uses of Technology in your Business Practice Uses of Technology in your Business Practice Uses of Technology in your Business Business Event Promotion Media & Report Oct. 24 Business Facebook/Twitter Account & Report Oct. 10

Week 6: Oct. 8 & Oct. 10

Week 7: Oct. 15 & Oct. 17

Week 8: Oct. 22 & Oct. 24

Week 9: Oct. 29 & Oct. 31

Week/Date
Week 10: Nov. 5-Nov. 7

Practice Uses of Technology in your Business Analyze Uses of Technology in your Business Analyze Uses of Technology in your Business Analyze Uses of Technology in your Business Analyze Uses of Technology in your Business Share Uses of Technology in your Business Finals Week

Business App & Report Nov. 7

Week 11: Nov. 12 & Nov. 14

Week 12: Nov. 19 & Nov. 21

Week 13: Nov. 26 & Nov. 28

Week 14: Dec. 3 & Dec. 5

Final Report on Business Social Media Effectiveness Final Presentations (webinars)

Dec. 5

Week 15: Dec. 10 & Dec. 12

Dec. 10 & 12

Week 16: Dec. 19

Final

Day of Exam, 1:00-3:00

Marcy Leasum Orwig, 2013. All rights reserved. No part of this syllabus may be reproduced, copied, modified or adapted, without the prior written consent of the author. Contact Marcy Leasum Orwig at orwigml@uwec.edu for further information or permission.
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