ERIC Number: ED428405
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 1999
Pages: 12
Abstractor: N/A
ISBN: N/A
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Available Date: N/A
Teaching Spirituality in the Interpersonal Communication Course.
Franklin, H. Carolyn
Attention to teaching and developing spirituality in interpersonal communication is timely. Today's technology usurps the "human" in human being. Humankind is displaced by computers, e-mail, and various websites which substitute for the "person" in interpersonal communication. This technology, combined with the emergence of widespread cultural diversity, can result in a loss of personal identity. It is imperative for instructional communication educators to find a way to guide students through tangles of beliefs toward creating an identity which will encompass a broad spectrum of needs to meet the intricacies of diverse cultures, and individuals, in today's society. Spirituality transcends race, religion, and culture. A spiritual awareness needs to be impressed on students to effect a positive influence in their lives--to teach spirituality, the instructor must have intuition and insight into the student and understand the student's needs. The instructor must guide the student into integrity and maturity through the concept of abundance, and must also guide the student to learn to trust, to be open and respect other opinions. The student must make "agreements," contracts which have clear guidelines against which students "may measure their own success" in trusting and respecting their own and others' opinions. A series of 13 classroom activities helps students to follow steps in the development of spiritual interpersonal communication. The instructor can help instill the student with a sense of self-worth which is a recognition of that spirit within him or her and can assist in the birth of spirituality for maximum satisfaction in interpersonal communication. (Contains 11 references.) (NKA)
Publication Type: Guides - Classroom - Teacher; Speeches/Meeting Papers
Education Level: N/A
Audience: Practitioners; Teachers
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
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