INSIDE THE LAB/OUTSIDE THE BOX: INTERPRETING NONVERBAL MESSAGES IN THE TEACHING AND LEARNING ENVIRONMENT

Authors

  • Sarah Farrow Cape Breton University
  • Dawn White Cape Breton University

Keywords:

Communication, Nonverbal Behaviours, Critical reflection

Abstract

The Dr. Mary A. Lynch Communication Lab at Cape Breton University is the first lab of its kind and the longest running lab in North America. A mandatory requirement of our introductory Communication classes, the weekly experiential learning lab sessions help students understand concepts, increase their self-awareness and effectiveness as communicators, understand cross-cultural perspectives, retain the theory learned in class, and develop their communication skills cognitively, affectively, and behaviourally, through small-group discussions, experiential learning activities, and critically reflective written journals. This paper provides a history of the Dr. Mary A. Lynch Communication Lab, explains the purpose and methodology of the lab, and how our pedagogical approach demonstrates teaching outside the box. Nonverbal communication accounts for the majority of the messages we send. It‘s also the primary way we construct and send messages about our identity unique to contexts and cultures.
Educators and students are constantly sending and interpreting nonverbal cues. This paper explores the nine forms of nonverbal behaviours as presented as a critical reflection activity to participants at the Atlantic Universities‘ Teaching Showcase and is representative of an activity delivered in the Communication Lab. Included are the questions posed to participants and a summary of the discussion surrounding each form of nonverbal messages in the context of the teaching and learning environment.

Author Biographies

Sarah Farrow, Cape Breton University

Sarah Farrow (sarah_farrow@cbu.ca ) is a Lab Instructor in the Communication Department at Cape Breton University. Instructing labs in Interpersonal Communication, Public Speaking, and Issues in Media Studies; Sarah has a passion for gender equality, inclusive language, nonverbal communication and mediated communication. She is thoroughly interested in how communication can influence teaching and learning environments and the impact that may have on societal norms.

Dawn White, Cape Breton University

Dawn White (dawn_white@cbu.ca ) is the Communication Lab Coordinator, a Senior Lab Instructor, and the Chair of the Communication Department at Cape Breton University. Dawn instructs experiential learning labs that accompany the introductory Communication courses, trains the Communication Lab Peer Facilitators, designs lab lesson plans, and engages in ongoing research of communication training and development. Aside from her work in the lab, Dawn works as a Distance Education Consultant assisting faculty with online course design.

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Published

2015-09-01

Issue

Vol. 18 (2014)

Section

Articles

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