Scribbling and Babbling with the best: enhancing student communications skills to meet the world head on

Sophisticated communication skills are an important graduate attribute and key learning outcome for University of Tasmania graduates. Teaching and learning of these skills requires explicit modelling and instruction, using resources that are educationally sound and that are responsive both to our students' varied backgrounds and developmental needs as well as to the time and capacity constraints of teaching staff. The Scientific Communication Skills web site provides a multidisciplinary online resource which can be embedded into unit delivery, and/or to which students can be directed for independent learning opportunities.

In consultation with staff across the university, and guided by the University of Tasmania Blended Learning Model, this project will replace an outdated oral presentation guide (Babble) with a rich, multimedia resource, and will update an already successful online scientific writing resource (Scribble) to ensure it continues to meet student needs. There will be an emphasis on improving accessibility to all students and in creating resources which support staff in teaching communication skills across disciplines. The project team seeks to develop and share an effective process for redeveloping a high quality resource for use in multiple disciplines.