The learner will explore basic human limitations that create barriers to critical thinking including selective thinking, false memories, and perceptual limitations.

Learners reflect on their thoughts, feelings, and reactions toward such listening behaviors as interrupting, selective listening, and unresponsive listening.

Observe disorganization in an office setting and choose solutions to the problems as if playing the board game "Clue."

Learners consider steps for dealing constructively with criticism and conflict. This object includes a drag-and-drop exercise.

Students listen to three telephone messages and enter their evaluation of each one. They then read a list of guidelines for leaving effective messages.

Learners read about nonverbal communication. In a drag-and-drop exercise, they evaluate photos of people interacting and determine if the behaviors shown interfere with communication or enhance it.

Learners examine strategies for evaluating new ideas and accepting change. They consider a list of various reactions to change and a list of actions that enhance teamwork, and check those statements that apply to themselves.

Learners examine how language can interfere with clear communication. They select examples of ambiguity, assuring expressions, doublespeak euphemisms, jargon, emotive content, false implications, meaningless comparisons, and vagueness. In an interactive exercise, learners identify ways to overcome these barriers.

Learners evaluate how well others describe their points of view in a workplace problem-solving situation. They then apply techniques for explaining their points of view as well as for gaining understanding of others' perspectives. This learning object contains audio.

Vocabulary for discussing communication

Handling physical barriers when using mobile phones and radios