MULTIMEDIA COMMUNICATIONS
LENGTH OF TIME:
every other day for one semester
GRADE LEVEL:
9-12
COURSE STANDARDS:
Students will:
1. Use writing samples of model letter types, resumes, proposals, and presentations. (PA
Academic Std 1.4)
2. Create and design six different types of business letters. (PA Academic Std 1.5)
3. Write all forms of business letters (request, informative, bad news, thank you, application,
complaint, order, and transmittal). (PA Academic Std 1.5)
4. Create and design resumes and letters of applications. (PA Academic Std 13.2e)
5. Prepare answers to commonly asked interview questions. (PA Academic Std 1.4b)
6. Participate in a mock interview. (PA Academic Std 13.2a)
7. Write memos, instructions, proposals, reports, and news releases. (PA Academic Std 13.2e)
8. Use MS Word and/or MS Publisher to produce letters, memos, reports, brochures. (PA
Academic Std 3.6b)
9. Make oral and PowerPoint presentations to the class about plans for their project. (PA
Academic Std 1.6d)
10. Prepare and deliver an individual presentation. (PA Academic Std 1.6d)
11. Make informed judgments about television, radio, and film productions (PA Academic Std
1.2e)
12. Research information about how to develop web pages. (PA Academic Std 1.8)
13. Research examples online of different web page designs. (PA Academic Std 1.8)
14. Create and design an informative web page (two pages total). (PA Academic Std 3.6b)
15. Use peer editing to review designs, plans and presentations. (PA Academic Std 1.2e)
16. Read and comprehend informational materials to develop understanding and expertise and
produce written or oral work that: (PA Academic Std 1.2)
 Restates or summarizes information
 Relates new information to prior knowledge and experience
 Extends ideas
 Makes connections to related topics of information
17. Make connections to related technology topics by designing a web page for a particular area
of focus. (PA Academic Std 3.6b)
18. Prepare publications by relating new information to prior knowledge and experience. (PA
Academic Std 1.2b)
19. Write reviews about TV, radio, and/or film for the newspaper, newsletters, and other
publications. (PA Academic Std 1.4a)
20. Demonstrate an understanding of rules of English language in every written article, essay,
report, proposal, letter, and business document. (PA Academic Std 1.7c)
21. Analyze and revise work to clarify it when they produce a variety of drafts that result in
quality pieces of work. (PA Academic Std 1.2e)
Multimedia Communications
09/07/05
RELATED PA ACADEMIC STANDARDS FOR READING, WRITING, SPEAKING AND
LISTENING
1.2
Reading Critically in All Content Areas
1.4
Types of Writing
1.5
Quality of Writing
1.6
Speaking and Listening
1.7
Characteristics and Function of the English Language
1.8
Research
RELATED PA ACADEMIC STANDARDS FOR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
3.6
Technology Education
B. Information Technology
RELATED PA ACADEMIC STANDARDS FOR CAREER EDUCATION AND WORK
13.2 Career Acquisition (Getting a Job)
A. Interviewing Techniques
E. Career Acquisition Documents
PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENTS:
Students will demonstrate achievement of the standards by:
1. Writing these types of business letters: request, informative, complaint, bad news, and thank
you. (Course standards 1, 2, 3, 9, 13, 18)
2. Compiling a “Types of Business Letters” portfolio. (Course standard 1, 2, 3)
3. Writing a letter of application, resume and acceptance of job offer. (Course standards 1, 4, 5,
15, 17, 18)
4. Writing memos, proposals, and short reports. (Course standards 1, 5, 15, 17, 18)
5. Designing a web page that is informative on a topic of interest to the student. (Course
standard 12, 13, 14, 18)
6. Designing a brochure for a community business. (Course standards 6, 17, 18)
7. Preparing a TV/radio interview. (Course standards (11, 19, 20, 21)
8. Preparing an informative PowerPoint presentation. (Course standards 7, 8, 10, 15, 16, 17)
9. Preparing a persuasive PowerPoint presentation. (Course standards 7, 8, 10, 15, 16, 17)
10. Designing a presentation to inform an audience about a business in our community
product/service. (Course standard 7, 8, 12, 15, 16, 17, 18)
DESCRIPTION OF COURSE:
This course encompasses many important communication skills needed to survive in the 21st
century. Students learn how to speak and write effectively using the technology provided. The
course covers skills needed for business writing, web page design, job interviews, informative
and persuasive presentations, and TV/radio interviews. They prepare such documents as:
resume, letter of application, brochures, web sites, scripts for interviews, and six types of
business letters.
As a final project students prepare an informative presentation for a business in our community.
Digital and video cameras are used for presentations and interviews.
Multimedia Communications
09/07/05
TITLES OF UNITS:
1. Communication and writing process
2. Online communication activities
3. Business Letter Writing
4. First Amendment and the Internet
5. Informative Presentation
6. Writing to Get a Job
7. Job preparation (mock interview)
8. Creating a valid web site
9. Promoting a business through a variety of media
10. TV & Radio Interviews
11. Persuasive Presentation
12. Final Project—informative presentation about a business in
our community.
2 classes
1 class
3 classes
5 classes
5 classes
3 classes
3 classes
5 classes
4 classes
4 classes
5 classes
5 classes
SAMPLE INSTRUCTIONAL STRATEGIES:
1. All writing done at the computer
2. Field trips to view cutting edge presentation equipment
3. Presentations using PowerPoint
4. Peer editing of writing pieces
5. Collaboration with businessperson from community for final project
MATERIALS:
1. Computers
2. MS Office software
3. Teacher/References/Texts:
 Communication 2000 Effective Presentations; Dr. Patricia Andrews, Dr. David Heine,
Dr. Patricia Heine, Dr. Frank Kazemek; South-Western Educational Publishing
Company, 1999.
 School to Work; Sebranek, Meyer, Kemper, Van Rys; Great Source Education Group,
1996.
 Inter-Act, Using Interpersonal Communication Skills; Rudolph Verderber, Kathleen
Verderber; Wadsworth Publishing Company, 1998.
 The Communication Handbook for School to Work; Peter McBride, et al; South-Western
Educational Publishing Company, 1997.
 Basic Letter and Memo Writing; 4th edition; Van Huss; South Western Educational
Publishing Company, 1998.
 Communicating for Success; 2nd edition; Hyden, Jordan, Steinauer, Jones; South-Western
Educational Publishing Company, 1999.
 Speaking for Success; Jean Miculka; South Western Educational Publishing Company,
1999.
METHODS OF ASSISTANCE AND ENRICHMENT:
1. Field Trips
2. Internet
3. Collaboration with Communication students at Bucks County Community College, Perkasie
Campus
Multimedia Communications
09/07/05
PORTFOLIO DEVELOPMENT:
1. Samples of business letters
2. Resume
3. Letter of Application
4. Final Project
METHODS OF EVALUATION:
At the time each project or letter writing assignment is given, students receive detailed
instructions, together with a scoring rubric. Each rubric is tailor-made to the assignment.
In addition to scoring rubrics, peer editing is used to analyze written and presentation pieces
before they are graded.
INTEGRATED ACTIVITIES:
1. Concepts
Interactive activities to develop interpersonal communication skills:
Message Formation
Conversational Climate
Listening for Understanding
Empathetic Response
Disclosure
2. Communication
Writing letters, proposals
Oral presentations using PowerPoint
Using the telephone to speak with businessperson in the community
3. Thinking/Problem Solving
Peer review of written documents and presentations
4. Application of Knowledge
Oral presentations
Written documents
5. Interpersonal Skills
Working together with peer to edit oral presentations, written documents
Using the telephone to speak with businessperson in the community
Multimedia Communications
09/07/05