Speech Communication Portfolio--Introduction

About the Portfolio

Welcome to the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville speech communication portfolio. This portfolio represents the speech communication portion of the SIUE institutional portfolio that is currently being developed. The purpose of this portfolio is to demonstrate student learning and the acquisition of communication skills through courses in Interpersonal Communication (SPC 103) and Public Speaking (SPC 105).

Origins of the Project

SIUE has joined the Academic Quality Improvement Project (AQIP), a new method in maintaining our regional accreditation. Over the next three years, SIUE will create an institutional portfolio as a tool to support assessment and the achievement of the four defined AQIP goals. Furthermore, this portfolio will be used as a tool that supports the university's commitment to continuous improvement.

The first AQIP goal is to develop comprehensive measures of student learning for ongoing program improvement. An important part of measuring student learning includes examining student learning in relation to the university's goals and objectives to be achieved through General Education courses. According to the SIUE undergraduate catalog, one of the specific objectives of the General Education program is "to develop skills in logic, computation, and written and oral communication." In order to develop oral communication skills, students are required to take either Interpersonal Communication (SPC 103) or Public Speaking (SPC 105).

A Portrait of Student Learning

As part of the institutional portfolio, the speech communication portfolio has been created to take a closer look at student learning in SPC 103 and SPC 105. Putting this portfolio on the internet allows the university to show many different types of information, including video and audio, as evidence of student work. Samples of student work will be presented throughout the website to create a portrait of student learning.

Vehicle for Communication

Most importantly, this portfolio will serve as a vehicle for communication that encourages discussion between departments, students and faculty, and between SIUE and the outside publics as we search for ways to improve the assessment of student learning. The hope is that this portfolio will also allow for formal and informal reflection on the areas of assessment in which we are excelling, those we are not, as well as what we can do to achieve our goals.


		About the Portfolio Welcome to the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville speech communication portfolio. This portfolio represents the speech communication portion of the SIUE institutional portfolio that is currently being developed. The purpose of this portfolio is to demonstrate student learning and the acquisition of communication skills through courses in Interpersonal Communication (SPC 103) and Public Speaking (SPC 105). Origins of the Project SIUE has joined the Academic Quality Improvement Project (AQIP), a new method in maintaining our regional accreditation. Over the next three years, SIUE will create an institutional portfolio as a tool to support assessment and the achievement of the four defined AQIP goals. Furthermore, this portfolio will be used as a tool that supports the university's commitment to continuous improvement. The first AQIP goal is to develop comprehensive measures of student learning for ongoing program improvement. An important part of measuring student learning includes examining student learning in relation to the university's goals and objectives to be achieved through General Education courses. According to the SIUE undergraduate catalog, one of the specific objectives of the General Education program is "to develop skills in logic, computation, and written and oral communication." In order to develop oral communication skills, students are required to take either Interpersonal Communication (SPC 103) or Public Speaking (SPC 105). A Portrait of Student Learning As part of the institutional portfolio, the speech communication portfolio has been created to take a closer look at student learning in SPC 103 and SPC 105. Putting this portfolio on the internet allows the university to show many different types of information, including video and audio, as evidence of student work. Samples of student work will be presented throughout the website to create a portrait of student learning. Vehicle for Communication Most importantly, this portfolio will serve as a vehicle for communication that encourages discussion between departments, students and faculty, and between SIUE and the outside publics as we search for ways to improve the assessment of student learning. The hope is that this portfolio will also allow for formal and informal reflection on the areas of assessment in which we are excelling, those we are not, as well as what we can do to achieve our goals.