Understanding CE

The communications module for

engineering undergraduates

and events as well as perform effective

and ethical communication practices in
various situations.
Fast facts
Module Code: ES2331
Module Title: Communicating
Engineering
Semester Offered: First and Second
Semester; First offered in the second
Semester AY2012-13
Modular Credits: 4
Faculty: Non-Faculty-based Department
(Centre for English Language
Communication)

Background
The course ES2331 (Communicating
Engineering) or CE was born of the felt
need by the National University of
Singapore to develop among students
able communicators who at the same
time have a holistic and humane view of
engineering. Through the course,
students are expected to work towards
becoming critical decision makers,
creative problem solvers, effective
communicators, and responsible
professionals. CE, which focuses on
developing critical thinking in speaking
and listening situations, complements
the existing ES1531 (Critical Thinking
and Writing) module. In the course,
students are given opportunities to
critically analyze communicative texts

Module Description
This course aims to help students
communicate competently and ethically
in various communication situations. This
will be done through critical analyses of
communicative texts and events, as well
as applications of principles of effective
communication. In the process, the
course also helps develop students
ability to communicate engineering
practice to diverse audiences.
Course Objectives
At the end of the course, the students
should be able to:

(1) demonstrate an understanding of

communication as complex process
with ethical and cultural dimensions;
(2) demonstrate adaptive and affective
competence
in
various
communication situations
(3) use thought, language, and action
competently
in
various
communication situations; and
(4) use thought, language, and action
ethically in various communication
situations.
Teaching Modes
The course will be taught using a
combination of mini-lectures, tutorials,
conferences, and peer feedback.
Teachers will also evaluate students oral
performances in class.
Class participation is an essential
component of the continual assessment.
Students are expected to come to class
prepared for discussion of required texts.
Workload Hours per Week
The class meets twice a week and each
session is 95 minutes. Teachers may hold
optional feedback or consultation for 25
minutes after dismissal.
Course Assessment

Evaluation is based on continual

assessment (CA). There are two main
projects for the course: Communicating
Engineering Projects 1 and 2 (CEP 1 and
CEP 2). Other requirements that
constitute the CA are class participation,
and two reflection essays.
In preparation for CEP 1, students will be
assigned to work in groups of three to
four. Each group is required to interview
engineering practitioners or professionals
who work with engineers. Students have
to document and analyze the interview
process in terms of communication use
and content.
CEP1 culminates in a panel discussion
based on a specific theme using
information from the interview and other
research. Only the panel discussion is
assessed in CEP1.
CEP 2 is an individual persuasive oral
presentation on a technical topic for a
non-technical audience.
The students contributions to class
discussions, his/her performance in
group activities and class preparation will
be the basis for assessing the students
class participation.
Students are expected to submit two
reflection essaysone each after
completing CEP1 and CEP2. The essays
should discuss specific experiences and
surface insights from those experiences.

Course Assessment
1. 1. Class participation
2. 2. CEP 1
(Communicating in the
discipline)
3. 3. CEP 2
(Communicating in
public)
4. 4. Reflection essays (2)
Total

Percenta
ge
20%
35%

35%

10%
100%

TEDGlobal 2012.
http://www.ted.com/talks/amy_cu
ddy_your_body_language_shapes_
who_you_are.html
Herculano-Houzel, S. (2013, June). What
is so special about the human
brain? TEDGlobal 2013.
http://www.ted.com/talks/suzana_
herculano_houzel_what_is_so_spe
cial_about_the_human_brain.html
Mossberg, W., Swisher, K. & Jobs, S.
(2010, June 7). Steve Jobs
Onstage. The 8th All Things Digital
conference.
http://allthingsd.com/video/?
video_id=70F7CC1D-FFBF-4BE0BFF1-08C300E31E11

Texts and Readings

Student will be sent course notes and
optional resources through the
Integrated Virtual Learning Environment
(IVLE).
The required texts are:
Anderson, C. (2013, June). How to give a
killer presentation: Lessons from
TED. Harvard Business Review.
https://archive.harvardbusiness.or
g/cla/web/pl/product.seam?
c=26641&i=26643&cs=50619f96
8050ecb6fe6f0d041aec08bc
Cuddy, A. (2012, June). Your body
language shapes who you are.

National Academy of Engineering (US).

Attributes of engineers in 2020.
(2004). In The Engineer of 2020:
Visions of Engineering in the New
Century (pp. 53-57). Washington,
D.C.: National Academy Press.
http://books.nap.edu/catalog.php?
record_id=10999
Parry, H. (2012, Nov). Re-engineering
mosquitos to fight disease.
TEDSalon London.
http://www.ted.com/talks/hadyn_p

arry_re_engineering_mosquitos_to
_fight_disease.html
Trevelyan, J. (2010). Mind the gaps:
Engineering education and
practice. In: Proceedings of the
21st Annual Conference for the
Australasian Association for
Engineering Education. Sydney:

Engineers Australia.
http://aaee.com.au/conferences/A
AEE2010/PDF/AUTHOR/AE100035.
PDF
Should students need assistance with
language, they are encouraged to make
use of the services provided by the

Writing and Communication Hub which

has 3 locations at the Kent Ridge
campus:

Level 6 of the Central Library,

SELF, Level 2 of the CELC, and
U-Town ERC Writing Unit, 02-16