MAKERERE
UNIVERSITY
:
COLLEGE COLLEGE OF INFORMATION SYSTEMS AND
COURSE:
COMPUTER SCIENCE
INFORMATION SYSTEMS AND TECHNOLOGY
COURSE UNIT:
COMMUNICATION SKILLS
NAME:
STUDENT NO.
REG.NO.
LECTURER NAME:
KAWEESI MUGAGGA
2100717375
21/U/17375/PS
JUSTUSKAREGYEYA
QUESTION 1
You have been invited for a conference on a theme “E-LEARNING AS
ALTERNATIVE FOR UNIVERSITIES”, take place on 10th- March
2022 at Makerere Auditorium;
a). Using your knowledge of communication skills, explain at least ten
barriers that may affect the proceedings of the conference.
b). Suggest solutions to these barriers.
1a). Conferences of this nature with such a theme are idea seeking and
therefore require a very effective communication system. However this
may not be achieved due to a couple of barriers which are hindrances to
effective communication.
Language barriers. English language being the official used in such
official conferences yet it isn`t a mother tongue for the different
categories of people invited, some of the communication being passed
on may not be understood by some participants who aren`t good at
English.
Noise from the neighboring blocks to the auditorium and vehicles
passing by. This noise might also arise from students in the halls like
Mitchell nearing the auditorium which may disrupt the attention of the
audience.
Alarming and ringing phones. This is a very common habit among most
people in conferences of this nature as they fail to turn off their phones
or at least silence them during conferences. These phones when they
ring they disrupt the attention of people in the conference and the
message being delivered may be missed.
Differences in prioritization. Some participants may not see it as a
priority holding a conference on such a theme and their priority may
quite different from the intended objectives of the conference for
example their priority may be renovation and rehabilitation of the
university infrastructure other than focusing on such a theme. Because of
this, such participants may fail to listen to what is being communicated
but instead challenge and decampaign and demonstrate against the
theme.
Wrong communication technologies. There may be use of weak signal
strength microphones and low sound speakers thus sound quality during
speeches fades and words can`t be clearly heard.
Negative attitude towards E-learning. Some people may already have
had a negative attitude towards e-learning and my not see it a concern to
discuss the relevancy of e-learning and all that is being delivered about
the theme.
Poor listening skills among the audience. Since in such a conference
audience is expected to pay extra-ordinary attention and concentration to
what is being communicated; this might be hard/difficult to attain thus a
good way forward may not be drawn.
Information overload. Prevalence of many speakers/speeches on the
agenda makes the conference autonomous and excessive ideas ideas or
suggestions and messages are passed on; it becomes hard for everyone in
the conference to memorize, sort and choose which of the suggestions
they should second and which decisions to make and sometimes end up
forgetting the would be important suggestions.
Use of jargons and slogans. Some speakers during conferences tend to
use jargons and slogans are not understood by everyone in the
conference.
Impairments like blindness, deafness and muteness. Since this
conference outreaches to many people including the deaf, blind and
mute participants; so any communication passed on orally, or even in
visual form may not be picked by such a group of people thus they may
end up not benefitting.
Conflicts among universities. The fact that different universities are
involved in this activity yet these universities may have conflicts that is
either among the administrators or among students and this may disrupt
the message being shared as some may diverge from the theme to
quarrels and fights of their prior conflicts and misunderstandings based
on academic and sports competition.
b). These can be possible solutions to overcome these barriers;
Language barriers. Interpreters may be employed in this case as a means
to enable all participants understand what is being communicated.
Noise from neighboring blocks and vehicles passing by. Cardboards and
other soundproof materials may be put in place to cut-off any interfering
noise or sound originating outside the auditorium building.
Negative attitude. Prior sensitization programs should be carried out to
change minds and sensitize the all participants about the relevance and
importance of E-learning to change their negative attitude towards it so
that they don`t compromise others` ideas during the conference.
Alarming and ringing phones. Rules and regulations governing the
conference may be posted at the entrance point informing all participants
to shut down their phones and any other electronic devices before
entering the conference room.
Wrong communication technologies and faulty public address systems.
Ensure purchasing of high quality communication gadgets like
microphones and speakers and prior testing them before the conference
to avoid interference during speeches.
Use of jargons and slogans. All presenters or speakers should be advised
to avoid use of jargons and slogans and also use official English words
to avoid leaving anyone behind.
Impairments. The impaired ones should also be catered for; deaf may be
provided with sign language interpreters and the blind should be
provided with an audio version of whatever is being communicated.
Conflicts among universities. A top council of universities where all
universities are equally represented should be put in place to solve
misunderstandings among the different parties of the universities and
promote togetherness and a common goal based university system.