Study Guide

Learning outcomes

The student is able to
- communicate as a professional in field specific tasks
- speak and write English with the understanding of the appropriate style and register
- identify personal developmental needs in communication and language skills and develop realistic strategies for improvement
- search for information from professional publications and databases

Teaching methods

This course has a combination of contact lessons and virtual lessons in Zoom and is also partly implemented through a virtual game called International Correctional Services Officer of the Year.
The following competence areas are
• Oral communication skills needed for the workplace: presentations; describing services; interviewing skills;
• Constructive communication (Nonviolent Communication)
• Reflective written skills
• Intercultural competences
• Field-specific vocabulary and understanding
As mentioned above this course is based on a virtual game called International Correctional Services Officer of the Year in the game platform Seppo. Assignments are in the game which will be played in teams. Supporting material is provided in lectures. You will require a mobile device: phone, pad or laptop to participate. However, as the game is in teams one device per team is sufficient.
Also the basics of Constructive Communication (Nonviolent Communication) will be taught as a professional and personal communication method to facilitate, empathetic encounters with clients, self-empathy and self-development.
Upon completion of the course, a student should be able to
• communicate orally and in written form in workplace and academic related dialogues
• have a basic understanding of constructive communication
• use field related vocabulary
• be aware of field-related intercultural influences and possibilities

Location and time

See a more detailed schedule and instructions in Optima

Learning materials and recommended literature

All learning material is provided in Optima.
However, if you are interested in reading more on Constructive Communication you can read:
Marshall B. Rosenberg : Rakentava ja myötäelävä vuorovaikutus or Nonviolent Communication - A Language of Life (same book in English)

Alternative completion methods of implementation

AHOT (RPL – recognition of prior learning) and workplace acquired competences should be discussed with the teacher and then applied for. Suitable compensatory tasks will be developed accordingly.

Important dates

See a more detailed schedule and instructions in Optima

Students workload

For a 5 credit course you are expected to do 135 hours of work.
For this course, I have allocated 3 credits to the game (81 hours) and 2 credits (54 hours)for contact lessons and assignments

Content and scheduling

See a more detailed schedule and instructions in Optima

Grading scale

H-5

Evaluation methods and criteria

• As this is a communications course, compulsory attendance during the whole course is expected
• Evaluation includes both a written and oral demonstration of skills which are graded 0-5
• Both of the above skills demonstrations need to be accepted to pass the course
• The evaluation criteria for the course are available in Optima based on a combination of the Common European Framework for Languages and working life competences.
• Many workplaces require English skills of at least a B2.1 level according to the Common European Framework for languages, which is equivalent to a grade 3 according to the evaluation system in this course.
• Various assignments will also be given during the course which also need to be completed to pass the course.
• The final grade from the course will be given based on the aforementioned criteria as a grade between 0-5.
• The final grade which will be seen on the student's certificate is made up of 50% from the oral evaluation and 50% from the written evaluation.