Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Spring 2019 - EASC 705 G100

Special Topics (3)

Technical Communication

Class Number: 5417

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Jan 3 – Apr 8, 2019: Mon, 4:30–7:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Instructor:

    Eileen van der Flier-Keller
    evanderf@sfu.ca
    778-782-7210
    Office: TASC 1 Room 7213

  • Prerequisites:

    Permission of the instructor.

Description

COURSE DETAILS:

DELIVERY METHOD:
In Person. Guest science communication experts will be an important part of the course delivery. 

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
As the role of science in society grows, so too does the need for effective science communication. Students will explore why we communicate science, the importance of knowing your audience, and best practices for a range of science communication approaches from traditional media, face to face, to online. 

COURSE DETAILS:
3 lecture hours/week together with the SCI 301 students 1 graduate student tutorial hour/week Tutorial time will be focused around writing and presentation assignments, critiques and discussion.

COURSE TOPICS:

  • Introduction 
         Why communicate science?
         Communicating to scientists vs non-experts
         Who is the audience?
         What’s your message: Issue? Problem? So what? Solutions?  Benefits?
         Refining the messages for different audiences
  • Communication formats
         Traditional media:Print newspapers, magazines, radio, TV
         Face to Face: Elevator pitch, presentations, TED talks, teaching, museums, live performances, informal learning             environments, classrooms, debates, science festivals, café scientifique
         Online: Blogs, websites, social media, podcasts, videos, twitter, infographics
  • Communicating Science Best Practises
         Speaking Science
         Storytelling
         Writing Science
         Doing Science
         Importance of Visuals
  • Evaluating Effectiveness of Science Communication

COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:

INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES

 By the end of this course students will;
1. Appreciate that communication with many different audiences is an important part of the science venture, and that scientists communicate with the public in a variety of ways BY writing journal responses to guest lecturers and responding to reflection questions.
2. Demonstrate an understanding of audience BY tailoring a message to a variety of different audiences and choosing an appropriate communication approach for each. Justify your choices.
3. Develop a message to communicate to an audience BY using a message box.
4. Demonstrate knowledge of the traditional and online communication approaches and best practices BY critiquing a science communication (blog, video, lecture), demonstrating understanding of use of jargon, visuals, message, and inverted pyramid.
5. Write short pieces targeted for specific audiences, and develop and deliver oral presentations for different functions.

Grading

  • Journal responses and reflections 15%
  • Participation in tutorial/critique/discussion 15%
  • Writing Assignments (Conference Abstracts, Plain Language Summary, Non-technical audience summary, Fieldwork/research blog post) 40%
  • Presentation: 1 minute science; 10 minute presentation 30%

Materials

RECOMMENDED READING:

The Elements of Style, Fourth Edition by William Strunk and E.B. White (Pearson) Escape from the Ivory Tower by Nancy Baron (Island Press 2010)  
Additional readings will be assigned during the course.

Graduate Studies Notes:

Important dates and deadlines for graduate students are found here: http://www.sfu.ca/dean-gradstudies/current/important_dates/guidelines.html. The deadline to drop a course with a 100% refund is the end of week 2. The deadline to drop with no notation on your transcript is the end of week 3.

Registrar Notes:

SFU’s Academic Integrity web site http://www.sfu.ca/students/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating.  Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.

Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the University community.  Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the University. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the University. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS