The basic speech communication course: Establishing minimal oral competencies and exemption procedures

Abstract

An approach is presented to define oral communication competency, with a report of a project to measure “minimal competency” in cognitive and behavioral/performance dimensions of oral communication. Included are a taxonomy of sample competencies for the basic course and an approach to criterion‐referenced measurement. Implications are made for achieving the designated competencies through several basic courses which have similar desired learning outcomes but employ appropriate and unique activities to achieve the behavioral goals.