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Communications (FETAC Level 5)

  • Course Fee: Special Offer price Now only: €249.50
  • Was: €499
  • FETAC Level 5 component Certificate in Communications (G20001).
  • Distance learning/eLearning home study course leading to a FETAC award.
  • There are no lectures to attend, and all course materials are provided.
  • Students can complete this course within 3 months which is ample time and can start it at any time of the year that is convenient. If students need to extend this period for any reason during or near the end of the course they can request an extension through the college.

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Who should complete this course?

  • Learners who wish to gain a FETAC credit in Communications at Level 5.
  • Level 5 Communications is ideally integrated with other Level 5 modules but may be offered as a stand-alone module. Evidence of achievement.

Learners who successfully complete this course will:

  • develop an awareness of the essential role played by communication in human interaction.
  • acquire communication skills relevant to vocational and personal development.
  • understand the communicative principles and practices involved in gathering and relaying information acquire the skills and confidence to convey and interpret meaning, in writing, orally and visually.
  • develop a critical awareness of communications messages and media.
  • explore the use of modern communication and information technology, and its application in personal and vocational life.

This distance learning, FETAC accredited course means that students can study flexibly at home, or at any convenient place and time, and can gain a nationally accredited Qualification.

Students receive a comprehensive Course Manual, Assignments, Efficient Studyguide, and unlimited one-to-one Tutor Support for the course duration. The course documentation for this FETAC certified course is detailed and easy to read. If students require extra time to complete the course they can apply for an extension.

Assignments may be emailed or posted  to the College whichever is more convenient.

Topics covered include:

  • Unit 1 Listening and Speaking
  • Unit 2 Reading and Writing
  • Unit 3 Non-Verbal and Visual Communication
  • Unit 4 Communications Technology.

Preferred entry level:

  • Level 4 Certificate, Leaving Certificate or equivalent qualifications and/or relevant life and work experiences.

Programme Entry Requirements:

  • If you take this course by distance learning the course material will be posted to you. You can complete and return assignments/projects which must be typed rather than handwritten either by post or by email.
  • If you take this course by eLearning you will need basic IT skills and have access to broadband.
  • All students will be required to record their oral presentations on video so the tutor can review your presentation style and provide better feedback.
  • All participants must have access to a professional environment to fulfill the Skills Demonstration assessment requirements of the course – which is at least 20 hours work experience for minor awards.

Assessment:

Students will be expected to complete four tasks:

Collection of Work 50%
Skills Demonstration 50%.

Collection of Work:

The internal assessor will devise guidelines for candidates on gathering a collection of work that demonstrates evidence of the following communication skills:

Writing Skills. Evidence should include a range of relevant documents, including a short structured report and a minimum of 3 other pieces.

  • a short structured report. It may be based on any topic, using information gathered from a variety of sources. It could be based on the candidate’s vocational area, or research done for another module (e.g. Work Experience Vocational Area Profile). The report may be handwritten or word processed, approximately 500 words.
  • a piece of personal writing e.g. short story/poem, letter of complaint/thanks/condolence/congratulations, etc.
  • business documents such as letter, memorandum, notice of meeting, agenda, minutes (narrative/action) or other relevant workplace documents.

The documents may be handwritten or word processed. Evidence of drafting, re-drafting and editing should be attached to at least one of the finished pieces. At least one item should be handwritten, where possible.

Communications technology skills. Evidence of using communications technology (CT), for example:

  • sending and receiving both one-way (eg fax, answering machine, downloading information from the Internet) and two-way (eg email, mobile phone).
  • displaying awareness of current and relevant issues, such as discussion of the uses, advantages/disadvantages and impact of CT. This may be a short written/oral piece, and   could be a topic for the report, oral presentation or discussion.

Skills Demonstration:

In one or more skills demonstrations, candidates will be assessed in the following skill areas:

  • listening and speaking skills
  • visual communication skills.

The internal assessor will devise suitable tasks which may be carried out in the vocational area, or during work experience. The skills may be assessed over a period of time, and may be integrated into a single task. For example, candidates may demonstrate their dialogue skills in conjunction with their oral presentation skills.

Listening and Speaking Skills:

  • Oral presentation skills. Candidates should make a presentation of approximately 5 – 10 minutes duration. The presentation should be recorded, on audio or video tape. The presentation may be on any topic of interest to the candidate. Ideally it should be on a vocational topic but may draw on other aspects of this module.
  • Dialogue skills – the ability to communicate one to one in a formal setting e.g. on the telephone, in an interview, a meeting or question and answer session at the end of the oral presentation. The dialogue should be recorded on audio/ video tape.
  • Discussion skills, including non-verbal communication, listening and speaking skills. Candidates should participate in a formal group setting, such as a discussion or meeting.

Evidence of the group interaction may be verified by the internal assessor.

  • Message taking and giving skills, displaying knowledge of communications process, also information extracting, summarisation skills, and message composing. Evidence
    should include: – original information in writing or on audio or video tape, – message recorded on audio or video tape.

Visual Communication Skills

Candidates should communicate without words, either by:

  • designing/producing (an) image(s) with or without text such as: notice/poster/web page/brochure/flyer/greeting card/ book cover/storyboard/video/flags/map/diagram/photograph/ painting/sculpture/textile/sign.
    or
  • communicating non-verbally and visually eg making a nonverbal presentation such as mime or dance, done singly or in groups.

Accreditation:

  • Following successful completion you will receive a FETAC Level 5 component Certificate in Communications (G20001) from FETAC.
  • The Further Education and Training Awards Council (FETAC) is the national awarding body for further education and training in Ireland. The Open College is registered with FETAC to offer programmes leading to FETAC awards in the National Framework of Qualifications in Ireland. Click here for details of the National Framework of Qualifications.
  • Click here for more detailed Accreditation information.
  • There is a €85 registration fee payable to include administration, moderation and accreditation.

Request a Free 2013 Prospectus:
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Further Study Options:
»Click here to view some further study options.