Quick review of Learning and Communication skills Course

LRSK 101

(1441-1442
( 1444 ) )
Learning Skills (LRSK-101)
 University Transition means:
• Changing mindset from High School to
University
• You are responsible for your own progress
• Becoming an Independent learner
• Use reflective exercise to work things out
yourself
• Engage in self-evaluation (self-assessment)
• Self-assessment of your study skills priorities

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 What does university mean/ involve for you?

▪ Transition & adjustment to a new life (actual stage).

▪ A news system.
▪ Work independently.
▪ New learning methods
▪ Interact and work with others (New students).
▪ Set new goals to achieve success.
▪ Make choices that work for you ( Learning styles).
▪ Organise your time effectively .
▪ Communication
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Time management is the process of organising one’s time
effectively to increase efficiency and productivity.
 The Importance of Time Management

▪ Reduce stress
▪ A Sense of achievement
▪ Increasing energy
▪ Increasing productivity
▪ Achieving A Goal
▪ An essential life skills
▪ Helps you be in charge of your schedule and life
▪ Helps you maintain physical and mental health
▪ Gives you time for important issues
Examples
crises, Weekly planning
problems, Long-term planning
Deadlines Exercising
Exam Family time
Taking extra class to improve a skill
Studying

Phone calls Watching TV

Text messages Playing video games
Most emails (some emails could be urgent and Using internet all the time (Facebook, Twitter,
important) Instagram, …)
Friend comes during your prime working time to Gaming
ask a favour Shopping
o Ideas for time organization
1. Create a plan (timetable)
2. Write a daily list (To do list)
3. Keep your documents organized
4. Develop a weekly schedule and meet deadlines
5. Prepare a long term plan
6. Avoid putting things off (procrastination)
7. Avoid overlapping assignments
8. Deciding on priorities (distinguishing between
important and urgent activities)
It is important to:
• Be flexible, if you didn’t finish everything on time, it
doesn’t mean that you failed
• Avoid leave big projects until the end, break it into little
pieces. Divide and conquer.
• Be realistic with expectations.
• Schedule time to relax

• Don’t be too much perfectionist

• Create artificial deadlines

SOME EXAMPLES ON BAD TIME MANAGEMENT
PERSONALITIES
the late-nighter
bad habits
the extension-seeker
stress/lose marks
the stressed-out non-starter
procrastination/ stress
the last minuter
not enough time/stress
the know-it-all
doesn't do the work properly/doesn't learn

the perfectionist
study takes over life/can't finish

the juggler
takes on too many commitments
Definition:
• Stress is any form of internal or external pressure that causes :
• physical or emotional strain
• Tension
• Positive stress
• Negative stress
❑ Your new environment .

❑Domestic duties .
❑ Relationships .

❑ Personal issues .

❑ Academic factors .

❑Deadlines .
 COMMON STRESS SYMPTOMS
Physical :

• Difficulty breathing
• Muscle pains
• Shaking hands
• Biting nails
• Headaches
• Dry mouth
• Diarrhea
 COMMON STRESS SYMPTOMS
Behavioral :

• Act of hostility
• loss of appetite
• Attitude change
• Lack of concentration
• Loss of memory
• Loss of confidence
• Feeling of depression
• Loss of motivation
• Displacement activity
• Irritability
 Strategies for managing stress

• Stay relaxed • Question your way of

• Sleep properly thinking
• Take breaks • Celebrate success
• Use the STOP exercise: • Manage your time
stop, breathe slowly/count to 100, • Be organised
smile, repeat 'stop' to yourself until
• Set priorities
you feel calm
• Take care of your body
• Treat yourself
• Get exercise
• Daydream
• Have a healthy diet
• Use a relaxation exercise
• Breath calmly
• Monitor your state of mind
• Listen to the voice in your
head
 Critical Thinking

* It is the process of a carefully thinking about a topic of all its

aspects by making careful, balanced and analytical judgments
to solve a problem.
Critical thinking is making sure that you have good
reasons for your Choices/beliefs/ideas.
 * Tips for Thinking Critically
1- Focus on the task on hand.

2- Write down your thoughts.

3- Try to be analytical, not descriptive.

4- When quoting evidence, use appropriate citation.

5- Draw on the ideas and opinions of your peers and tutors.

6- keep open mind.

7- Balance your argument.

8- Keep asking yourself questions and look under the surface.

Analyzing and evaluating information

Steps for evaluating information :

• Be selective in your choice of resources
• Identify uncertain information
• Consider the age of the resource
• Look at the extent and quality of citations provided by
author
• Analyze the language used
• Look closely at the data and the graphs that are
presented
• Try to distinguish fact from opinion
• Look at who else cited the author's work and how
 * Some Definitions belong
Critical Thinking

• Fallacy : a fault in logic or thinking that means that an argument is

incorrect.

• Bias : information that emphasises just one viewpoint or position.

• Propaganda : False or incomplete information that supports an
extreme view.
Reflective Learning-
What is it?

• The ability to learn by reflecting on past

experiences and mistakes by which you can
improve the areas of concern.

• (Thinking about what you have learned and

making sense of that experience).

• So, Why reflective learning?

• We look back (reflect) in order to move

forward

• We learn from past experience to plan ahead.

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 Self-Reflection: Looking in the MIRROR

Looking Thinking about Planning

back… the Present for future

https://udksa.sharepoint.com/sites/LRSK141-SHAREDRESOURCES-
AUG2020/Shared%20Documents/Forms/AllItems.aspx?ct=1599936635949&or=OWA%2DNT&cid=f3d4d112%2D09f6%2Dcb20%2D73a4%2Dc204550e5169&originalPath=aHR0cHM6Ly91ZGtzYS5zaGFyZXBvaW50LmNvbS86Zjovcy9MUlNLMTQxLVNIQVJFRFJFU09
VUkNFUy1BVUcyMDIwL0VxMGJBVDVvR2NaS21USkZFNEhZbGFBQjdHWllHS3VEZjF6OWNuMGFHOG84bEE%5FcnRpbWU9WVA1WnVVeFgyRWc&id=%2Fsites%2FLRSK141%2DSHAREDRESOURCES%2DAUG2020%2FShared%20Documents%2FLRSK141%
20VIDEOS%20%2D%202020%2FV3%2ESelf%2DReflection%20%28reflective%20learning%29%2FWhat%20is%20a%20Critical%20Reflection%5FIntroducing%20the%20%E2%80%9CWhat%2C%20So%20What%2C%20Now%20What%E2%80%9D%20Model%2E
mp4&parent=%2Fsites%2FLRSK141%2DSHAREDRESOURCES%2DAUG2020%2FShared%20Documents%2FLRSK141%20VIDEOS%20%2D%202020%2FV3%2ESelf%2DReflection%20%28reflective%20learning%29 22
 Reflective Cycle
Any volunteers to
explain the cycle ..?

You should all be an

expert in this
now..!
25 January, 2023 Self Developing Department-Health Track 23
1/25/2023 Self Development Department 24
 Action Plan: How to make one?

* Effective action plan should use SMART objectives :

1. S – Specific (What am I aiming to achieve?)

2. M – Measurable (What milestones can I set myself?)
3. A – Attainable (What can I achieve in the time available?)
4. R – Realistic (Have I created achievable goals?)
5. T – Time bound (Can I finish in a given period?)

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26
 Four stages of information processing used in learning

Input: the process of taking in and recording information, which

has been received via the senses.
• Integration: the process whereby information is interpreted,
categorized, placed in sequence, and linked with previous
learning.
• Memory: the stage where information is placed into storage for
later retrieval and use.
• Output: the time when actions are taken based on the
processing of stored information; this can be in the form of
language or of action (for example, movements or gestures).
LSKL & COMSKL Team 28
 What does motivation & challenge mean?

Motivation: A reason for acting or behaving in a particular way. In other words, the
reasons that make us do or NOT to do something.

Two types of motivations:

1. Internal (intrinsic) motivations
2. External (extrinsic) motivations

Challenges: Something that needs great mental or physical effort in order to be done
successfully .
Internal and External motivation

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 Types of learning style

• Visual Learners prefer to learn by sight

– Prefer to see information such as pictures
– Easily distracted in lectures without visual aids
– Benefit from using charts, maps and notes
• Auditory Learners prefer to learn by hearing
– Prefer to hear information; can absorb a lecture with a little
efforts.
– May read aloud to themselves
• kinaesthetic Learners prefer to learn through
movement
– Prefer touch for taking information
– Role playing help to remember and learn

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 Note-Taking

•What is note taking?

– Writing down ideas from lectures and readings in your own words

•Why is note taking?

• Helps you engage/pay attention.

• Notes serve as a “file” of information for later use – study for
EXAM!
• Taking notes helps you become an “active listener” and a
“critical thinker”. (different to passive listening)
 What are the note-taking methods..?

Many methods :
▪ Keyword method
▪ Linear Method
▪ Matrix Method
▪ Mind-mapping Method (Concept Map)
▪ Cornell Method
The Cornell Method..
 Communication Skills (LRSK-101)

What is Communication?

➢ Effective communication is a connection between people that allows for

the exchange of thoughts, feelings, and ideas, and leads to
mutual understanding.
• Why? (Purpose/Function/Goal/Reason)
• Who? (Participants- sender, receiver)
• Where?
• When?
• What? (Content/Message)
• How? (Tone/Channel/Structure)
 Purpose

1/25/2023 Self Development Department 41

 Levels of communication
• There are 4 levels of
communication:
1. Intrapersonal
2. Interpersonal
3. Organizational
4. Mass/public

Self Development
1/25/2023 42
Department
 Levels of communication
• Intrapersonal :Only one person. Within!

• Interpersonal : Between two people or more .

• Organizational: one person to the organization like a college or

university announcement.

• Mass: Mediated system between sender and large number of

unseen receivers

• Public: Person speaking to public in general.

 Describing communication
• To understand communication properly, you must
remember that it is: 1. It is constantly undergoing change.
2. Even when you hang up the telephone, you
1. Dynamic: are communicating that you have nothing
more to say.
2. Continuous: 3. Communication is rarely entirely one-way. We
each take in information from the outside
3. Circular: world, determine what it means, and respond.
4. Even if we say something again in precisely
4. Unrepeatable: the same way, our listeners have heard it
before, and so respond to it differently.
5. Irreversible: 5. We cannot “unsay” words.
6. Complex: 6. We all assign slightly different meanings to
words. This variation is a product of our
backgrounds, education, and experience, and
means that there is always the potential for
misunderstanding.
(O’Rourke, 2009: 7)
Self Development
1/25/2023 44
Department
1/25/2023 Self Development Department 45
 Non-verbal communication
• Types of non-verbal:
1. Gesture
2. Facial expressions
3. Eye contact
4. Appearance
5. Touch
6. Verbal dynamics
• You can use non-verbal communication in order to:
1. Highlight/provide emphasis .
2. Regulate the flow or pace of communication
3. Repeat content of a verbal message
4. Provide an alternative to a verbal message

Self Development
1/25/2023 46
Department
 Gestures
• Gestures can have different types of meaning:
• Iconic
1. Shape
2. Size
3. Movement
4. Describing action
5. Speed
6. Direction
7. Relative position
• Metaphorical
• (e.g. looking at your watch when someone asks you the date)
• (e.g: touching to take turns)

• Have you ever played charades before?

Self Development
1/25/2023 47
Department
Communication elements :
 Elements(Types) of Persuasion

There are three components of persuasive communication: (EPL)

1. Ethos: Character and reputation; “source credibility” (Borg, 2007)
2. Pathos: emotional appeal
3. Logos: logical sense

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Activity 2: Elements of Persuasion

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Empathy and Sympathy

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• What two approaches to helping people with their problems
does the speaker mention? Sympathy / empathy
• Listen and write answers in the gap:
– 1. Empathy fuels connection, sympathy drives disconnection
– 2.Empathy involves recognising other people's
emotions and then communicating that
– 3. Empathy is like: "I know what it's like down here, and you are
not alone."
– 4. A sympathetic response often starts with “At least…”.
– 5. Sympathetic responses try to make things better,
but they usually don't help people.

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 Developing “source credibility”

Best speakers are :

– 1-Sincere: truthful – not just making true
statements, but also being true to your own
interests etc.
– 2-Authentic: ‘speaking from the heart’

• Can you relate one of them to buying products?

• Can you think of two words with the opposite
meaning?
• Sincere :(untrue, false, invalid)
• Authentic:(counterfeit,untrustworthy,imitative,
unreal)

LSKL & COMSKL Team 53

 What is Presentation?

Wednesday, January 25, 2023

 Public Speaking Skills

Before During After

Presentation Presentation Presentation
( Improve your self)
(Preparation) ( Showing)

Wednesday, January 25, A Journey Through Communications

2023 Dr. AHMED KHATIRY
 How to Start ??!!

1. Choose your Topic

Before
Presentation
(Preparation)

Wednesday, January 25, 2023 A Journey through Communications Dr. AHMED KHATIRY
 How to Start ??!!

2. Considering Audience

Before
Presentation
(Preparation)

Wednesday, January 25, 2023 A Journey through Communications Dr. AHMED KHATIRY
 How to Start ??!!
3. Prepare Outline

Before
Presentation
(Preparation)

Wednesday, January 25, 2023 A Journey through Communications Dr. AHMED KHATIRY
Wednesday, January 25, A Journey Through Communications
2023 Dr. AHMED KHATIRY
 Opening Your Presentation
▪ Introduce yourself

▪ Why should they listen

▪ Get audience attention .

▪ Get audience response

▪ Clearly defining topic

During Presentation
▪ Overview ( Showing)

Wednesday, January 25, A Journey Through Communications

2023 Dr. AHMED KHATIRY
 Opening

During
Presentation
( Showing)

Wednesday, January 25, 2023 A Journey through Communications Dr. AHMED KHATIRY
 Presenting Main Points
➢ Supporting evidence

➢ Examples
During Presentation
➢ Feedback & questions from audience . ( Showing)
➢ Attention to, and focus on, audience…
are they listening?

➢ Make point-transition,…make point-transition,…make

point-transition, etc.…

Wednesday, January 25, A Journey Through Communications

2023 Dr. AHMED KHATIRY
 Visual Aids

➢ PowerPoint slides
➢ Overhead transparencies
➢ Graphs/charts
➢ Pictures During Presentation

➢ Films/video ( Showing)
➢ Flip charts
➢ Chalk or white board
 The physical Skills

1. Eye Contact

2. Gestures

3. Space and Movement

During Presentation
4. Voice , tone . ( Showing)

Wednesday, January 25, A Journey Through Communications

2023 Dr. AHMED KHATIRY
 Concluding Your Presentation
❖ Inform audience that you’re about to close.

After ❖ Summarize main points.

Presentation
❖ Answer questions.

❖ Ask the audiences about their reflections.

Wednesday, January 25, 2023 A Journey through Communications Dr. AHMED KHATIRY
Wednesday, January 25, A Journey Through Communications
2023 Dr. AHMED KHATIRY
Wednesday, January 25, A Journey Through Communications
2023 Dr. AHMED KHATIRY
Communication elements :
 LRSK 101
Communication for a Job
 Conflict in Workplace
Work together to discuss the reasons of conflict in
workplace (mentioned in this video.)
• List the reasons :
• Weak leadership or management
• You are not understand the limit of your role
.
• lack of experience .

71

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bBUpfmAwOAQ
 Writing your Complaint Letter

❑ Address your letter to the customer service

department.

❑ Quickly get to the point of your letter.

❑ State what outcome or remedy will satisfy you.

❑ Attach copies of supporting documents.
❑ Give them a time limit to resolve the matter.
❑ Finish the letter respectfully.

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 Interdisciplinary
Communication
• An engineer does not work in isolation, in fact a lot of their work requires teaming with

other professions and disciplines in order to get a job done

• Knowing a widely spoken world language increases our chances of understanding,

whether we are contacting stakeholders, management, or hiring employees for the job.

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 Engineering & Science Fields
• Oral communication and presentation skills are considered one of the best career
abilities in determining a student’s career success or failure.

• An important aspect of Engineering & science field is having the ability to

communicate an idea to another person, company or a client.

• One good strategy is to use examples in order to make the information more
accessible.

• You do not need to share every single technical detail of the project or plan, as this can
be confusing .

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 Engineering & Science Fields

• Visual communication plays a significant role in

the field of engineering & Science Fields as it can
often give a better vision of the project than an
oral description.

• There are software programs such as AutoCAD

(™) and Microstation (™) that allow engineers to
create highly advanced blueprints.

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• Written communication is important within technical
fields. No project is approved without an approved
proposal. (outline, report, e-mail)

• The proposal serves as a formal written plan that

shows what a person will do in their project.

• It is important that the proposal should be written in a

clear and professional manner.

• E-mail will be a major form of communication

between engineer and stakeholder, partner, manager,
etc.

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Nonverbal Communication
 What is a CV?
- Is it an outline for your education, qualifications, experiences,
skills?
- Is it a job-seeking tool?
- Is it a marketing document?

In a nutshell,
Curriculum Vitae is a summary of your career history, skills
and experience you gained during the course of your life.
 Writing Your CV
CVs may have contents as:
- Name and address

- Contact Details

- Career Objectives/ Professional Profile

- Experiences / employment history (Start with the most recent).

- Educational Qualification. (Start with the most recent ).

- Awards/ achievements (if you have any).

- Voluntary work (if you have done any).

- References ( available upon request).

What do you put in your CV when you’ve just left school or college?

- Write your professional profile in a smart way to show employers:

Your positive qualities, strengths and skills at this early stage and an
idea of the direction you hope your career will take.

- In qualification section, write about any university courses closely

related to the sort of position that you’re applying for.

In achievement section, write about any duties or responsibilities -

you have undertaken at school or university.

- In work experience section, write any personal experience or

voluntary work even it differ from the sort of job you’re applying for.
 Common Mistakes in Writing CVs
1- Don’t tell lies.
2- Don’t leave gaps in your career history.
3- Don’t include irrelevant information.
4- Don’t include hobbies and interests ( Unless they
develop skills relevant to the job).
5- Don’t make it too long.
6- Don’t use an inappropriate email address.
7- Don’t forget to write identifier on every page if the CV
consists of more than one page.
8- Avoid spelling and grammar errors.
9- Avoid Poor presentation.
 Cover Letter Importance

- Cover letter: is the letter that goes along with your CV. It encourages
employers to read CVs if it is well written.

- Why do you think cover letter is important?

- Can you use the same cover letter for all positions you are applying
for? Why ?
 Cover Letter Contents

▪ Remember :Cover letter highlights key selling points and adds value.

1- Opening paragraph - outlines the purpose of the letter:

- Who you are, what specific job you are applying for, and where you
saw the job advertised.( Why you are writing)
2- The main paragraph(s): what you have to offer and what you have
done ( Give examples) :
- Highlight the main evidence that your skills and experience match the
job requirements and what you can make of contributions to the job.

3- Closing paragraph - a polite and positive ending, stating when you

would be available for interview.
 What is the professional e-mail?
Writing a Professional Email
❑ Add a subject
❑ Add an appropriate greeting such as “Ms.” “Mr.,” or “Professor.”
❑ Write in full sentences
❑ Avoid grammar and spelling errors.
❑ Chose an appropriate closing and sign with your name.
❑ Use a standard font, such as Times New Roman or Arial
❑ Try to keep it short and stick to what is most important.
❑ You can bold something that is very important
❑ Press enter twice after writing the greeting, body, and closing.
Press enter
twice
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 Things to Avoid when
Writing a Professional E-mail

Slang
Emojis
Writing in all
Wordiness Capital letter
 Job Interview: A Two-way Communication Process

- How can you prepare yourself for a job interview?

Here are some ideas:
1- Review own skills, experiences and qualities:
- Check CV
- Anticipate questions and identify relevant examples
- Prepare key selling points
2- Research organisation:
- Websites, reports, articles, company literature, etc.
- Contacts with knowledge of organisation
- Personal visit or telephone call
 - How can you prepare yourself for a job interview?

3- Research job and occupational area:

- Job description
- Current issues

4- Prepare your answers for common questions about you, job and general
knowledge.

5- Prepare and practice a mock test and a presentation if you have been asked
to deliver.

6- Prepare your documents; put them in a folder.

7- Sleep well the night before.

8- Healthy light food and drink enough water.

 Job Interview DO’s & Don’ts
Do’s Don’ts
Be punctual and arrive before the Panic and tell lies
interview in good time
Dress appropriately and act Talk too much
appropriately
Take care of your body language Interrupt interviewers before
completing their questions or
sentences
Answer the questions being asked Talk about salary unless they bring it
up
Be serious, enthusiastic and positive Sit there like a statue
Express yourself and your views What else...
clearly
What else...
 During the Interview/DON’T

• Asking about the salary

• Talking too much or too little
• Asking about the result of the interview
• Shaking legs while sitting
• Asking the interviewer any personal questions
• Talking negatively about job or about your previous boss
• Being too nervous
• Texting or answering a phone call
• Chewing gum
• Holding many things (folder, cell-phone, cup of coffee, purse, etc.)
 During the Interview

• Sit appropriately
• Smile
• Make eye contact
• Answer the questions in an appropriate tone of voice.
• At the end of the interview, do not forget to thank the
interviewer for their time.

91
 What creates a bad impression during the job interview?
- Poor personal appearance

- Negative attitude – evasive, using excuses

- Lack of interest and enthusiasm

- Lack of preparation

- Poor knowledge of role

- Failure to give concrete examples of skills

- Lack of career plan , What else?