GLOBAL STUDIES MODULE FORMAT
Ivy Tech Community College North Central- Global Studies Program
Name: Amanda Harsin
School: Ivy Tech- Madison campus
Course Number and Title: COMM 102 – Interpersonal Communication
Module Title: International Perspectives and Relativity of Communication Competence
Description of the Module: The curriculum committee decided to add one overarching objective to the COR. The first
objective of the course is “Understand principles and behaviors that contribute to effective interpersonal
communication in various world contexts.” The committee’s intent was for this objective to be overreaching enough
for any faculty member to carry the internationalization component through the remaining eleven objectives (for
example: ideas of self (2), beliefs (3), attitudes (3), values (3), perception (3), feedback (5), verbal and nonverbal
messages (6), context (8), conflict (10), or technology (11)).
This module specifically looks at “principles and behaviors of communication competence in various word contexts.”
Educational Objectives of the Module (should constitute a minimum of 12% of the course):
1. Understand principles and behaviors that contribute to effective interpersonal communication in various world
contexts.
Outline of Lectures/Discussions:
1. Relativity of Communication Competence in Intercultural communication (Session 2)
2. Understanding Culture & Communication- Defining culture/Hofstede’s cultural dimensions (Session 3)
3. The Influence of Culture on the Self & Self-Concept (Session 4)
Listing of Resources Used to Support the Module (readings, videos, podcasts, documentaries, etc.):
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Adler, Ronald B., and Russell F. Proctor. Looking Out/looking Ln. 13th ed. Boston: Wadsworth, 2011. Print.
-Chapter 1- “Competence in Intercultural Communication” pages 32-35
Floyd, Kory. Interpersonal communication. 2nd ed. Boston: McGraw Hill, 2011. Print.
-Chapter 1- “Characteristics of Competent Communicators” pages 27-30
-Chapter 2- “Understanding Culture and Communication” pages 36-49
-Chapter 3- “How a Self-Concept Develops” pages 77-79
“What is Culture?” Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57KW6RO8Rcs&feature=share
Description of the Assignments Used to Facilitate an Understanding of the Module Objectives (writings, interviews,
reflections, experiential projects or field work):
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Panel interviews (Session 4) with international students from different cultures to exhibit how communication
competence can be very different within intercultural and international groups.
Evaluation/Testing Used to Assess the Comprehension of the Module:
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750-100 word paper where student is asked to address as many of Hofstede’s cultural dimensions as relevant
to the panel interviews and discuss relativity of communication competence amongst student’s own culture
and represented cultures/nationalities.
Resources (Bibliography) used to Develop/implement the Module:
Adler, Ronald B., and Russell F. Proctor. Looking Out/looking Ln. 13th ed. Boston: Wadsworth, 2011. Print.
Floyd, Kory. Interpersonal communication. 2nd ed. Boston: McGraw Hill, 2011. Print.