Optimising the training of communication skills: A case study in embedding

Studies among undergraduates in various disciplines point to students being poorly equipped with writing skills, among other study skills and related oral communication skills. These skills may be supported through separate study courses but investigation within the university setting has shown that these support structures are counterproductive. Essentially, these skills cannot be learnt apart from the subject content and learning process associated with the content. This paper investigates the teaching of communication skills within an embedded setting, where embedding involves communication skills that are developed as part of the curriculum of the content subject, and constitutes part of the subject´s assessment package. More specifically, it investigates the effectiveness of the development of writing skills, which is fundamental to the understanding and construction of subject-based knowledge within an engineering course. The paper first describes various modes of embedding, the collaboration between content and communication instructors at different stages of program design and assessment, and discusses the advantages and difficulties of embedding communication training into content courses. It then presents preliminary findings of a study on teaching communication in an embedded setting, involving surveys, interviews and reflections.