Lesson Plan | Active Learning | Communication Process

Assumptions: This Active Lesson Plan assumes: a 100-minute class, prior student study with both the Book and the start of Project development, and that only one activity (among the three suggested) will be chosen to be conducted during the class, as each activity is designed to take up a significant portion of the available time.

Objectives

Duration: (5 - 10 minutes)

The Objectives stage is crucial to establish the focus of the lesson and ensure that students understand what is essential for their learning. In this context, the objectives are formulated to guide students in understanding the communication process, clearly identifying each agent involved and the role played by them. Furthermore, analyzing practical examples aims to connect theory with everyday situations, facilitating the application of knowledge in real contexts.

Main Objectives:

1. Describe the communication process by identifying the agents involved (sender, receiver, channel) and the elements that make up each stage.

2. Analyze practical examples of communication to apply the theory studied and identify the agents and channels used.

Side Objectives:

1. Encourage active participation from students in discussing the studied topics, promoting a deeper understanding through dialogue and the exchange of ideas.

Introduction

Duration: (15 - 20 minutes)

The Introduction serves to connect students' prior knowledge with the content that will be explored in the lesson, using problem situations that simulate real challenges and practical examples that illustrate the importance of the topic. This stage helps engage students, showing the relevance of studying communication in various contexts and preparing the ground for a practical application of knowledge during classroom activities.

Problem-Based Situations

1. Imagine a group of friends organizing a surprise birthday party for one of them. They need to communicate effectively to plan all the details, from the guest list to the decorations. How do the different communication agents (sender, receiver, and channel) come into play in this scenario?

2. Think of a situation in which a politician needs to give a speech to convince the public about the importance of a new public policy. What communication strategies should he use to maximize the effectiveness of his message considering the available agents and channels?

Contextualization

Communication is part of our daily lives, whether in personal, professional, or media interactions. Understanding how the communication process works is essential to effectively navigate these interactions. For example, understanding how news spreads on social media or how a company communicates with its customers can directly influence our perception of the world and our decisions. Additionally, curiosities about how great world leaders used communication to change the course of history, such as Martin Luther King Jr. in his 'I Have a Dream' speech, demonstrate the transformative power of communication.

Development

Duration: (65 - 75 minutes)

The Development stage is designed to allow students to practically and interactively apply the communication concepts previously studied. By engaging them in activities that simulate real and relevant situations, they have the opportunity to experience different roles in a communication process, reflecting on the importance of each agent and channel. These activities also promote collaboration, critical thinking, and creativity skills, essential for effective communication.

Activity Suggestions

It is recommended to carry out only one of the suggested activities

Activity 1 - Mystery at School: The Case of the Disappearing Invitations

> Duration: (60 - 70 minutes)

- Objective: Apply the concepts of sending, receiving, and communication channel in a practical and playful scenario, developing collaboration and critical thinking skills.

- Description: Students will be divided into groups of up to 5 people, and each group will represent different characters in a school: a group of friends organizing a surprise party, the school principal, one of the teachers, and the janitor. The challenge is that the invitations for the party have disappeared and each character has crucial information that needs to be communicated to others to solve the mystery.

- Instructions:

• Each group receives an envelope containing private information that only their character knows and a common goal: to find the invitations.

• Students must use their knowledge of communication to decide how and what to communicate to the other characters to advance in solving the mystery.

• After 60 minutes of investigation and communication, each group presents its version of the story, explaining how it used effective communication to solve the mystery.

Activity 2 - Political Debate: Influencing Opinions

> Duration: (60 - 70 minutes)

- Objective: Effectively utilize the elements of communication to persuade and influence, as well as develop argumentation and active listening skills.

- Description: Students will be divided into two groups and will take on the roles of different political parties in a debate about a relevant theme for their school community. Each group will need to use communication strategies to convince the audience (other students) of their position.

- Instructions:

• Each group chooses a representative to be the main speaker and prepares arguments based on data, logic, and emotion.

• The remaining group members act as support, passing additional information to the main speaker during the debate.

• The debate is structured in rounds, allowing each side to present its ideas and rebut the other.

• At the end, a vote will be held among the audience to determine which group was more convincing.

Activity 3 - School Radio: Creating and Communicating News

> Duration: (60 - 70 minutes)

- Objective: Develop writing, oral expression, and teamwork skills, in addition to understanding the different communication channels used in the media.

- Description: In this activity, students will create a small segment for a school radio program, where they will have to communicate school news clearly and engagingly. Each group will be responsible for a segment of the program (local news, sports, culture, etc.).

- Instructions:

• Students research relevant news for the school and select those that will be communicated in the program.

• Each group writes a script for its segment, focusing on how to present the news in an interesting and accessible way.

• The groups record their segments using resources available at school (computers, microphones, etc.).

• Once recorded, the segments are edited and organized into a complete radio program that will be shared with the school community.

Feedback

Duration: (15 - 20 minutes)

This stage of the lesson plan is crucial for consolidating students' learning, allowing them to articulate and reflect on the knowledge acquired and the skills developed during practical activities. Group discussion helps promote a deeper understanding of communication concepts, as well as stimulate the ability to critically analyze and evaluate their own actions and those of their peers. This feedback moment also allows the teacher to evaluate students' understanding and the effectiveness of the activities in conveying the proposed content.

Group Discussion

After completing the activities, gather all students for a large discussion circle. Start the discussion with a brief introduction, highlighting the importance of reflecting on their experiences. Encourage each group to share key learnings, challenges faced, and how they applied communication concepts in solving the tasks. Encourage students to discuss the different approaches used by each group and how it influenced the outcomes.

Key Questions

1. What were the biggest challenges in applying the concepts of sending, receiving, and the communication channel in the activities carried out?

2. How did the alteration of the communication channel (for example, from a debate to a radio) affect the effectiveness of the message?

3. What communication strategies proved to be the most effective and why?

Conclusion

Duration: (5 - 10 minutes)

The Conclusion stage serves to solidify the knowledge acquired during the lesson, ensuring that students have clarity about the concepts discussed and their practical applications. Additionally, it helps reinforce the importance of studying communication, showing how the learned concepts are relevant and applicable in various everyday situations. This final recap also helps students link theory and practice, preparing them to use the knowledge consciously and effectively in their lives.

Summary

In the conclusion of the lesson, the teacher should summarize the main points covered regarding the communication process, emphasizing the identification of agents (sender, receiver, and channel) and the key elements of each stage. It is essential to recap how these elements interact in different contexts, such as in the practical examples discussed and the activities carried out in class.

Theory Connection

During the lesson, students were able to connect the theory of the communication process with practice through activities that simulated real situations, such as the political debate and the creation of a radio program. These activities allowed for a direct application of theoretical concepts in contexts that students may encounter outside the classroom, reinforcing learning.

Closing

Finally, it is important to highlight the relevance of studying communication in everyday life. Understanding how information is transmitted, received, and interpreted is crucial for success in various areas, from social interactions to professional and academic contexts. This understanding helps improve the effectiveness of communication and avoid misunderstandings, contributing to more effective and empathetic communication.