Communication Activity

What you should learn:

One way versus two way communication
Providing sufficient detail for effective communication

How will you learn it:

Reading: Review the instructions below for preparing your own picture for activity.
Model: View the sample picture to assist you prepare a drawing.
Peer Participation: Choose one student in the class to serve as your “drawer”.

How you will show mastery of the standard:

To demonstrate your mastery:
1) Prepare a picture to be used for activity.
2) Submit your picture with “drawing” from your peer partner in this activity.
3) Complete and submit evaluation questions at end of activity.

In everyday interaction with others, communication involves the ability to listen and then
respond with questions, suggestions, comments, etc. This is referred to as two way
communication.

On some occasions, you may not have the opportunity to respond and must depend on
your listening skills to gather the complete message. This is one way communication.
For instance, you may be on a call and the customer may not be willing to answer
questions so you can clearly understand the message he or she is trying to convey.

In this activity, you will be experiencing a situation that involves one way
communication. How important are good listening skills when communicating? How
much detail is needed is to get your message across accurately? What are some of the
problems (or barriers) you encounter in a one way communication situation? Complete
the following steps to test your communication skills.

1) Prepare your own drawing.

On a blank piece of paper, draw a simple picture using basic shapes and designs. Your
picture should be an original design and does not have to represent anything specific.
Include a variety of details in your drawing as illustrated in the sample below.

DO NOT ALLOW ANY OTHER STUDENT TO SEE YOUR DRAWING.

SAMPLE

2. Select another student in the class to serve as your partner for this activity. This
student should also be on the same assignment and should have completed his/her own
drawing as instructed above.

3. Sit facing your partner and give him/her a blank piece of paper.

4. Without allowing your partner to see the picture you have drawn, describe your
picture to your partner and ask him/her to draw it on the blank piece of paper. You will
need to provide very specific directions and sufficient details so your partner can replicate
your picture on his/her paper. For example, you may say to your partner, “Draw a 3” line
at the bottom of your paper.”

Your partner MAY NOT ask you any questions or communicate with you in any manner
(verbally or non-verbally) during the activity. This is one way communication.

5. DO NOT LOOK AT YOUR PARTNER’S PAPER UNTIL YOU HAVE

FINISHED ALL OF THE INSTRUCTIONS.

6. When you have described your entire picture to your partner, compare his/her drawing
based on your instructions with your original artwork. How close did your partner come
in replicating your picture?

7. Staple your partner’s paper to your paper.

8. Now, switch roles. Your partner should have a drawing that he/she has designed. This
time, you start with the blank piece of paper and your partner will provide the instructions
for you to draw. How close did you come to your partner’s original artwork?

9. Give your paper to your partner for him/her to submit.

10. After you have completed the activity, copy the evaluation form below and paste into
a new document. Answer the questions and then print.

TO RECEIVE CREDIT FOR THIS LESSON, TURN IN THE FOLLOWING:

 Paper with your original drawing
 Paper with the picture your partner drew based on your instructions
 Completed evaluation form

COMMUNICATION ACTIVITY
EVALUATION FORM

1. On a scale of 1-10 (with 10 being an exact copy), how close did your partner come to
duplicating your picture? _____________ Why?

2. On a scale of 1-10 (with 10 being an exact copy), how close did you come in drawing
the picture your partner described to you? _____________ Why?

3. What difficulties did you encounter when describing your picture to your partner?

4. What difficulties did you encounter when drawing the picture your partner described
to you?

5. Why is one way communication more difficult than two way communication?

6. Why is it important to provide specific details when communicating with others?