Communication

January 13 - March 31, 2010

Classroom Dates:
  • January 27th
  • Febuary 24th
  • March 31st

This class utilizes Michigan State University’s established ANGEL ( A New Global Environment for Learning) course management system. It is in a "blended learning" format where an interactive computer system allows individual and group work on-line at the learner’s work-site. The time selected to do the assignments is the learner’s choice. The learners are responsible for their own learning. Blended or hybrid learning also requires classroom interaction with one’s peers.

This Communication course is offered in a 12-week blended format.  It is one of three Command Officer Development courses offered as part of the Command Officer Development Certificate Program from the Center for Police Executive Development (CPED) School of Criminal Justice at Michigan State University.  The other two courses in the series cover Accountability and Leadership.  Successful completion of all three courses will result in a Police Command Officer Development Certificate from the Center for Police Executive Development (CPED) School of Criminal Justice at Michigan State University.  The Communication course offered involves nine weeks of online training encompassing four hours per week (36 hours) combined with three, one-day eight hour classroom sessions (24 hours) for a total of 60 hours per class.

Course Objectives:

  1. To address the myriad of issues connected with communication in police organizations for police and corrections supervisors;
  2. To integrate acquired knowledge from the course with experience in the workplace;
  3. To be responsible for one's own learning in a highly interactive mode of instruction;
  4. To transfer knowledge and skills back into the workplace;
  5. To identify and discuss the meaning of dialogue and its importance in organizations;
  6. To identify conditions which make dialogue difficult and identify and discuss strategies on how to improve those conditions;
  7. To become acquainted with different methods to improve written, spoken and organizational communication;
  8. To understand the communication process and its impact when dealing with the community;
  9. To become proficient in a new style of learning that could be utilized by Departments in training personnel; and
  10. To examine your personal communication style and your communication style under stressful conditions.

Participation & Attendance:

The learner is responsible for successful completion of 95% of the assigned material and attendance in all three 8-hour sessions. Successful completion means that the participant has completed all assignments. Each participant must work with his/her agency supervisor as to where and how the work on the computer will be completed each week. It is expected that the time required on ANGEL will be approximately three hours per week. A variety of assignments are given in any week. Assignments will be given for a week at a time with required work due dates posted in the assignment. Throughout the 12 weeks, instructors will be giving constant feedback to the individual.