MCA - ELCS - NOTES -TECHNICAL PRESENTATIONS

MCA - ELCS - NOTES

Technical Presentations

Introduction

Professionals of all types make oral presentations to a wide variety of audiences. A professional has to present ideas for improved process operation to process management and he/she must convey new design concepts to his/her design team, or present design economics to management. An oral presentation may be a good approach when it is desirable to pass information to a group in a brief time, where the main ideas and conclusions are more important than details. This method allows interaction between the presenter and the group in ways that are fundamentally different from one-on-one interactions. With portable video conferencing now available, locations of members of the group are becoming less important. If the group is large or can not be easily assembled, then a brief written interim or summary report may be better. Such a report can now be prepared and circulated electronically. Judgement has to be exercised to find the best approach for each situation.Reading a written report almost never makes a good oral presentation. Written reports typically contain too much detail to be presented in an appropriate period of time. Also, the style of a written report usually sounds stilted when presented verbally. Thus, the seminar or other type of talk must be considered as a separate entity from the written report and must be well thought out and rehearsed prior to presentation.

Types of presentations

Workshops consist of a brief presentation followed by interaction with the audience. The purpose of a workshop is to introduce the audience to and involve them with engaging a skill or technique. [20 minutes to present and 10 minutes to respond to questions]

Posters present a visual display of student work on poster boards supplied by the College. Presenters should be able to provide a scholarly introduction to their work and be prepared to entertain the viewers’ questions. Examples of poster presentations include a research study, a creative unit plan, a pictorial display of art work, an essay.

Oral presentations involve a presentation of a paper or research project with or without visual aids. [20 minutes to present and 10 minutes to respond to questions]

Panel Discussions involve 3-5 students presenting and discussing their views on a scholarly topic and responding to audience questions. [45 minutes to present and 15 minutes to respond to questions]

Performances require students to provide an introduction to and perform their scholarly work Examples of performances include a poetry reading, dramatic reading, and dance, vocal or musical piece. Presenters should be able to provide the audience with an intellectual context for the performance and be prepared to entertain questions from the audience. [20 minutes to present, perform and 10 minutes to respond to questions]

Exhibits consist of a visual display of a collection or body of work by one or more students (i.e. paintings, drawings, prints, posters, photography, sculpture, ceramics, video, installation, multi-media). An exhibit should be accompanied by a general statement of purpose and individual artist statements that provide an intellectual context both for the collection as a whole and for its individual pieces. Presenters should be prepared to entertain the viewers’ questions.

Videoconferencing

The Instructional Use Of VideoconferencingVideoconferencing is essentially face-to-face instruction, only, at a distance. Any good course can easily and effectively be adapted to a videoconference format while maintaining the dynamic, engaging interaction between the instructor and the participants, as well as among participants, independent, almost, of geographical or time constraints.As in virtually any traditional classroom, the videoconferencing studios can be configured to hold a panel of experts, present a lecture or interview subject matter specialists.

There are visual teaching tools which can include printed texts, video tapes, computer files, photographs and sound. Participants at the remote sites can do the same: present their own video sequences, PowerPoint slides, charts and photographs in the format of their choice.In videoconferencing, as in any learning environment, choosing the best means of communication is vital for the transmission of information. Instructors may need to hone their awareness of the different features of written and oral language, with regards to distance communication.

Teaching in the Studio– The Control PanelThe tools and the technology may appear daunting to some instructors. The secret to maintaining control over the learning experience is proficient the use of the equipment in the studio. Mastering the basic function of the equipment is neither difficult nor time consuming. Although instructors are welcome to take control of the cameras during videoconferences, they also have the option of leaving the technological manipulation of slides, video clips and other media up to the producers. Instructors are, however, encouraged to familiarize themselves with the equipment at the podium prior to the first session.

Arrangements can be made to access the equipment for half an hour or an hour in order to learn basic functions without being disturbed.Basic functions of the control panel include selecting and operating the visual source to be transmitted to the learners. Many instructors will use PowerPoint Slides in teaching tools used in videoconferencing. To run a slide presentation from the podium the instructor simply chooses the PowerPoint Option from the LCD Media Selector Panel which takes him/her to the PowerPoint Slide-Show Panel.The LCD panel functions much like any slide presentation device. To begin the slide show at the first slide, or a designated slide the instructor touches “Start Slide Show” and continues through the presentation hitting ‘Next Slide”. Instructors wishing to jump to the end of the presentation can hit “Last”.

MCA- ELCS - NOTES -JARGON

MCA - ELCS - NOTES

JARGON

A jargon is a language, especially the vocabulary part of a language, peculiar to particular trade, profession, or other group. As such, it’s a valuable language – in the appropriate place. Much like slang it develops as a kind of shorthand, to quickly express ideas that are frequently discussed between members of a group. In many cases a standard term may be given a more precise or unique usage among practitioners of a field. In many cases this may cause a barrier to communication as many may not understand.

Specialists need this accurate vocabulary to communicate efficiently with others in the same specialty. A specialist may unknowingly use the jargon of the trade too much, just through long familiarity with it. That would be an understandable and forgivable error, but what is unforgivable is when the writer deliberately uses heavy jargon in an attempt to impress someone.

MCA - ELCS - NOTES - TYPES OF COMMUNICATION

MCA - ELCS - NOTES
TYPES OF COMMUNICATION

ORAL COMMUNICATION

Oral communication, also known as verbal communication, is the interchange of verbal messages between sender and receiver. It is also more natural and informal.

Man is the only species gifted with language. And the usage of language is primarily in speech. Writing comes afterwards. In any organisation, as in everyday life, both formally and informally, we communicate more orally than in writing. It is primarily oral communication that builds human relationships.

Forms of Oral Communication

Oral communication usually takes place in any of the following forms :

1. Informal Face to Face Talk: Informal face-to-face talk takes place outside the formally prescribed and planned organisational network. It occurs spontaneously and beyond organisational hierarchy. There are no set rules and no particular direction. It is multidirectional and strengths the social relations among organisational members. Sometimes it assumes the form of false and baseless rumours.

2. Interviews: The word ‘interview’ means ‘view between’ or ‘sight between’. It suggests a meeting between two persons for the purpose of getting a view of each other, or for knowing each other. Face to face conversation is more informal, casual and spontaneous. But interview is more formal, serious and structured.

3. Group Communication: Oral communication also assumes the form of group communication. Group is a gathering of two or more persons interacting and influencing each other through the process of communication. These groups may be formal groups – explicitly designed as part of the organisational structure – such as committees, task forces, quality circles, etc. It may also be informal groups which emerge spontaneously without deliberate design in the organisational hierarchy.

4. Speeches and Presentations: Speeches and presentations involve the oral communication by one speaker to the large number of audience members. They involve the same principles of oral communication and provide the advantage of influencing people with enthusiasm and confidence. Speeches are more formal and are delivered on formal occasional whereas presentations are usually short and less formal and are delivered with demonstrations of audio-visual aids followed by answers to questions from the audience.

AURAL COMMUNICATON

“Aural” refers to information that is heard. In other words aural communication refers to listening. The ability to listen, not just hear. Hearing is purely physiological. Listening is the ability to interpret what to hear. It is important not just to emphasize what is communicated, but the form that the communication takes.

A person whose hearing is impaired experiences barriers related to aural communication. The same person may be able to communicate orally, however. A person who has speech impairment, or a cognitive impairment that affects speech, may experience barriers in communicating orally, but have no difficulty receiving information that is conveyed aurally. Each person will require different auxiliary aids and services in order to be provided equally effective communication.

Listening

Listening might be defined as the art of hearing and understanding what someone is saying. Listener is the kingpin the entire process of communication for whom actually the message is meant to understand, interpret correctly and to act accordingly. Hence, listening is one of the most difficult aspects of communication.

Listening is a process involving awareness, reception and perception. A common mistake is to anxious to say what we want to say, that we are not really listening to what is being said. It commonly happens when we are talking to someone, we observe that he is not really listening but only hearing. It appears that the listener is just waiting for the speaker to complete his speech so that the listening work is over or he can say his piece. Alternatively, if neither person is listening to the other, there is a complete breakdown in communication.

READING

Reading is an important communicative process and reading skills are probably the most important language skills required for academic and professional purposes. Quick, efficient, and imaginative reading techniques are essential in order to achieve academic success, because academic performance depends on the quantity and quality of reading.

Reading is a complex communicative process of receiving and interpreting the written word. It involves recognising what is written and comprehending the matter that is understanding the main and subsidiary points as well as links between different parts of the written material. While receiving and interpreting the written word the reader is concerned with four factors i.e., decoding, comprehending, text analysis and response.

Decoding or interpreting in reading refers to the process of changing the coded message into information.

Comprehension in reading refers to the identification of the central theme, main ideas, supporting details, and writing patterns.

Text analysis is essential for critical and evaluate understanding of a text.

Response is an action or reaction to the written message.

MCA - ELCS - NOTES - KINESICS

MCA - ELCS - NOTES

Kinesics

Kinesics, or body language, is one of the most powerful ways that humans can communicate nonverbally. It is used to portray moods and emotions and to emphasize or contradict what is being said.

Body language is very important. "To effectively communicate it’s not always what you say, but what your body says, that makes the difference,". There are various different types of body movement one can do to come across as being too strong or too weak. For example, when one first walks into the room and shakes hands with the interviewer you want to have good eye contact as well as a good firm hand shake. Not too strong, because you can come across as being a power player. Another important aspect to remember when you are on an interview and that is to mirror your interviewer, but not to the point that you over do it. For example, if the person that is giving you the interview crosses his/her arms than you can cross your arms. If he/she crosses their feet then you should cross your feet, but do it gradually.

The last two things to remember is when you first walk into the office do not cross anything unless the person that is doing the interviewing crosses his or hers first. Next when you are sitting down be relaxed as possible by opening your suit jacket. This shows the person that you are not tensed. The other aspect to remember is to lean forward in your chair, but not to close where you are in the individuals face. If you sit back in your chair you might be sending off signals, such as, aloofness or rejection. Finally, nonverbal communication can also be an effective sale when executives learn to read a client’s body language.

MCA - ELCS - NOTES - BARRIERS TO EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION

MCA - ELCS - NOTES
Barriers to Effective Communication

Although all of us have been communicating with others since early childhood, the process of transmitting information from an individual or group to another is a very complex process with many sources of potential error. By the time a message gets from a sender to a receiver, there are four basic places where transmission errors can take place and at each place, there are multitudes of potential sources of error. Social psychologists estimate that there is usually a 40-60% loss of meaning in the transmission of messages from sender to receiver. People in organizations typically spend over 75% of their time in an interpersonal situation. Therefore, it is no surprise to find that at the root of a large number of organizational problems is poor communications. In a work setting interactions involve people who not only do not have years of experience with each other, but is complicated by the complex relationships that exist at work.
It is critical to understand and be aware of the potential sources of barriers and constantly counteract these barriers by making a conscientious effort to make sure there is a minimal loss of meaning in your communication. The following
will suggest a number of barriers to effective communication at work.
• The choice of words or language in which a sender encodes a message will influence the quality of communication. In the English language, there are about 500 basic words in which are used everyday. These 500 words have over 10,000 different meanings. Because language is a symbolic representation of a phenomenon, room for interpretation and distortion of the meaning exists.
• Misreading body language, tone and other non-verbal forms of communication • Ignoring non-verbal language
• Selective hearing
• Hesitation to be candid
• Distrust
• Value judgment
• Power struggles
• Unreliable transmission (noisy, inconsistent)
• Defensiveness (Defensiveness is a typical barrier in a work situation especially when negative information or criticism is involved.)
• Distorted perception (How we perceive communication is affected by experiences. Perception is also affected by the organizational relationship two people have. For example, communication from a superior may be perceived differently than from a subordinate or peer.)
• Guilt
• Distortions from the past
• Stereotyping (Assuming the other person has certain characteristics based on the group to which they belong without validating that they in fact have these characteristics.)
• Cultural differences (Effective communication requires deciphering the basic values, motives, aspirations, and assumptions that operate across geographical lines. Given some dramatic differences across cultures, the opportunities for miscommunication in cross-cultural situations are enormous.)

Effective communication is an essential component of organizational success whether it is at the interpersonal, intergroup, intragroup, organizational, or external levels

MCA - ELCS - NOTES - VERBAL & NON VERBAL COMMUNICATION

MCA - ELCS - NOTES
Verbal and Nonverbal Communication

Communication is an indispensable part in people’s activities. It falls into two categories, namely, verbal communication and nonverbal communication. When it comes to communication, people tend to view it as verbal communication. Yet besides the language, non-language communication plays a dispensable role in people’s daily life. Both depend on each other.

Verbal Communication

In general, verbal communication means that people communicate with each other by means of language. Through verbal communication, people will learn who they are, and what the world around them is like. Furthermore, verbal communication expresses one’s thought and feelings to others, and to satisfy one’s emotional and material needs. In human’s daily life, communication is something that they do every day. Verbal communication is human’s main communicative form, in which language is its communicative tool.

Non-Verbal Communication

In a broad sense, nonverbal communication refers to all communicative means except verbal communication. nonverbal communication may divide into two categories: non-language information sent by body like body language, facial expression, eye contact, physical touch, smell and para language, and nonverbal information connected to environment such as time, space and silence. In a narrow prospect, definitions of nonverbal communication differ from one expert to another. Nonverbal communication may convey richer information than that of verbal communication. Sometimes, it can send messages independently, and in many situations it is employed in combination with verbal actions to transmit meanings.

Comparison of Verbal and Non-Verbal Communication

In social communication, verbal and nonverbal communication are not absolutely separate each other. Both are indispensable and interactive. Verbal communication sends information only in a way—language. Such information may be repeated, explained, complemented and reinforced with the accompaniment of nonverbal behaviors like tone of voices, smiling, nodding, eye movement, facial expression, etc. During people＇s face- to -face activities, verbal communication is a principle communicative means, but once verbal and nonverbal communication happen to conflict, nonverbal messages are more powerful in that it may reflect one＇s true thinking and feelings. Why is nonverbal communication more forceful than verbal communication when they conflict? The real value of these two kinds of communications lies in their differences.

Direct vs. Indirect

Verbal communication directly sends information through language, while nonverbal communication indirectly conveys messages through some non-language cues such as body languages, physical touch, spatial use and so on .When communicating through human language, people receive direct information. Then, in a conversation, the topic, the content, the direction and the purpose are obvious. Communicators are able to directly gain necessary information and they will reach an agreeable idea. Nonverbal communication, however, may indirectly bring a great variety of messages. Although nonverbal communication differs in different cultures, some basic emotions reflected by behaviors such as smiling, frowning, laughing and crying have common meanings in human communication. A smile signifies happiness, greeting, and welcome; Frown may display disagreement, unhappiness, discouragement, dissatisfaction, anger and so on. On the other hand, people in different culture have different attitude towards physical contact, spatial use and so on. Such indirect information without the aid of language is more effective than that of verbal language.

MCA - ELCS - NOTES - Informal Conversations Vs Formal expression

MCA - ELCS - NOTES

Informal Conversations Vs Formal expression

Conversation

What is conversation? As a starter we can think of it as two or more people talking and listening. They may be doing this either face-to-face or at a distance. It can be done via the spoken word or via sign or symbol (the most obvious case here is the use of chat rooms on the internet). This may sound a bit obvious, but as soon as we begin to think about conversation we can see it is a sophisticated activity that we often take for granted. Here we will start by listing some important qualities.

Conversation is a social activity. Apart from talking to ourselves, or to animals, we engage in it with others. To do this we need to think about their feelings, thoughts and needs. In turn, they too must think of us. We have to consider, for example, whether our words could upset or offend others; or whether they will help us in dealing with the matter in hand. Thus, if two or more people are to communicate, then they must:

Co-operate.

Think about others' feelings and experiences.

Give each other room to talk.

In other words, talking - conversation - is a reciprocal process.

Informal conversations happen in multiple ways.

1. Sometimes they are between two people (or sometimes a small group) that just happen as the opportunity presents itself. Let's say, for example, that a small group of parents/guardians are having a small get-together. During the course of conversation, someone brings up the fact that the police department recently busted up an underage drinking party in the neighborhood. That's a teachable moment -- a time at which a person is attuned to a topic and more likely to take away from the scenario key points about an issue or concern. That is, awareness can be raised, and new concepts can be learned.
2. Sometimes they are more deliberate--planned events where a small group of individuals come together for the purpose of discussing the issue. Let’s say, for example, that the community has just passed a social host ordinance and a few parents come together to discuss the implications that it has for property owners in the community. Or, an employee might choose to hold a brown-bag lunch at work on the issue of underage drinking as a way to lower employee benefit costs related to adolescent substance abuse treatment.
3. There area multitude of other scenarios and one thing they all have in common is a single individual--someone willing to bring up the topic.

Formal and Informal English

The difference between formal and informal English is not a difference between correct and incorrect, but a difference of what is known as register. A register is a variety of language related to a particular subject matter or area of activity, a set of words and expressions as well as syntactical features that may be said to characterise that specific area of language. There are many registers: technical, academic, mathematical, scientific, etc. Very broadly speaking, we can also speak of a “formal” and “informal” register in English. In writing academic reports and the like, it would be normal to draw most of the vocabulary and expressions from the formal register, and few, if any, from the informal. This entails avoiding colloquial (everyday) or slang expressions in your writing assignments. The question of register is far more complicated than indicated here; for example, there are many degrees of formality and informality. However, below are listed a few examples which may be of practical assistance.

Informal They did an experiment Then the Drive Manager goes through some steps to install the programme One after the other They found out what the important things were You can find out all about the survey on page 7 We think you should discuss the research findings at the next departmental meeting Doctors have come up with a new method of…. Safety officers are looking into the problem The cost of cleaning services has gone up 25% over the last three years Informal We do not think it is a good idea to do anything at the moment Many thanks to the staff at “Computers R Us” for their help on the technical side You need to get the patient’s help when doing these hearing tests There were no big differences between the three different groups we tested A lot of This seemed to fix the problem Enough This shows that … Numbers are going up They put the plan into action This let them keep the same temperature during the whole experiment These results are because of factors like weight, age …

Formal The experiment was carried out / performed The Drive Manager then performs / executes a series of functions / operations in order to install the programme At regular intervals They determined / discovered / established / identified the important properties / characteristics / issues Details of the survey are to be found on page 7 It is recommended that the research findings are discussed at the next departmental meeting Doctors have created / established a new method of…. Safety officers are investigating the problem The cost of cleaning services has risen by 25% over the last three years Formal It is suggested that no action should be taken at this stage Thanks are extended to the staff at “Computers R Us” for their technical support (Slightly less formal: We would like to thank ….) When conducting these audiological tests, the active participation of the patient being tested is required. No significant differences emerged between the three different groups tested Many / much / a great deal of This appeared to rectify the problem Sufficient This demonstrates… Numbers are increasing The plan was implemented / carried out This allowed / permitted / resulted in / ensured a constant temperature throughout the experiment / for the entire experiment These results are dependent on factors such as weight, age …

TABLE OF TENSES

TABLE OF TENSES

MCA - ELCS - NOTES - FEATURES OF INDIAN ENGILSH

MCA - ELCS - NOTES
FEATURES OF INDIAN ENGLISH