#  Compare the Strengths and Weaknesses of Different Models 

 



It is a valuable skill to clearly and succinctly express ideas. Students benefit from a structured environment in which to learn and practice how to convey their thoughts through informal class discussions to formal oral and written assignments. Further, by speaking or writing information, students internalize content and check their understanding. 

 

##  Examples in the ABLConnect Database 

 



  [### Equitable Academic Discussion Routines 

 ](/book/equitable-academic-discussion-routines) This activity follows an adjustable sequence of steps and rules for engagement to ensure that all students, even in large classes, are able to find each session clear, accessible, rigorous, and relevant and to feel that the classroom culture offers them... 

 

 

   [### Reasoning to the Best Conclusion 

 ](/book/reasoning-best-conclusion) Students are asked to write down a weird or random fact about themselves on a sticky note and to pass it to the person to their left. Each student is then asked to brainstorm logically possible explanations of the fact he or she has received. Through this... 

 

 

   [### Being in the White House Situation Room: Developing Strategic Options

 ](/book/being-white-house-situation-room-developing-strategic-options) Faculty develop a national security crisis and simulate placing the students on the National Security Council Staff to develop strategic options to drive U.S. foreign policy. By thrusting students into positions of responsibility for solutions to real... 

 

 

   [### Lord of the Rings - Music Analysis

 ](/book/lord-rings-music-analysis) Students analyze musical themes from "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring", first as a partnered homework assignment, then during a class discussion, and finally on their own as they passed by in the film. Introduction: This auxiliary unit... 

 

 

   [### Paper Outline Workshop

 ](/book/paper-outline-workshop) Students learn to construct a persuasive argument by brainstorming multiple ways to structure their final research paper using post-its, large pieces of paper, or whatever other materials students like. They organize and re-arrange primary sources in a... 

 

 

   [### Clinical Trials Smackdown

 ](/book/clinical-trials-smackdown) This activity teaches skills in critical assessment of the peer-reviewed published literature. It focuses on analysis of clinical trials in mental health, but the principles and methods are readily generalizable to other scientific literature. The... 

 

 

  

 

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 Why? Examples Research 

## Why?

 

 

While there are often opportunities for students to practice either written or oral communication, there are far fewer instances in which this is explicitly a skill that is being taught. Having a framework demonstrating effective communication as well as a system for timely feedback is important.

 



 

 

 

## Examples

 

 

###  Developing Communication Skills can be worked into a variety of activity types! Here are just a few examples:


 [Presentation](/presentation): Presentations are an obvious opportunity to focus on communication skills. Students will have to speak on a class topic in front of their peers. Take this opportunity to teach effective slide design, talk organization/logic, and speaking techniques.

 [Research](/research-description): Written research reports are a common assignment across secondary education classrooms. In addition to emphasizing research methods, emphasize the content and style of the final report. How should students structure the assignment? What tone and style is appropriate for the discipline and the type of report?

###  There are also ways to focus on Developing Communication Skills in unexpected activity types.


 [Case Study](/case-study-description): A case study typically requires a leader to head the class discussion. Rather than having the instructor play this role, students can be assigned to lead provided they have feedback prior to their presentation to ensure they cover the required material. This provides students an additional opportunity to make a clear and effective presentation and manage their classmates feedback to formulate a final summary on the spot. Students should be assigned cases on a rotating basis.



 



 

 

 

## Research

 

 

Coming soon!