Publish Date:  May 19, 2016

SALINAS, Calif. – Hartnell Community College District and the Communication Studies Department present the Academic Expo Spring 2016 next week at Steinbeck Hall at 411 Central Avenue, Salinas with over 70 group projects on display.

Students enrolled in COM 1, Introduction to Public Speaking; COM 3, Introduction to Communication; COM 8, Interpersonal Communication; COM 20, Argumentation and Debate; and COM 35, Intercultural Communication were divided into groups of 3 to 5 to work on this final project requirement.  The Expo will be open to the public as follows:

Monday, May 23, 8:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.         Thursday, May 26, 8:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.

Tuesday, May 24, 8:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.         Friday, May 27, 8:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.

Wednesday, May 25, 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.    (Awards to be presented Friday at 10:30 a.m.)

This semester’s Expo features students from Communication Studies instructors Jason Hough, Gabriel King, Dr. Lana McDonnell, and Sara Parker. Students have to do original communication analyses on different topics and present findings, allowing them to apply communication principles to different scenarios. Each group has to create an original table display and backdrop to present findings in a public forum.

“These group projects demand the top three skills employers are demanding,” said Hough. “Students must work effectively in a group to produce work heavy in oral and written communication.”             

Hough created the Academic Expo model to introduce students to the basics of research and effective group decision making. The Expo has become a mainstay of the Communication Studies discipline on campus. Each instructor will select a Best of Class from each section; of these, a Best of Show will be selected by a panel of judges.  For more information, contact Professor Hough at jhough@hartnell.edu.

Hartnell Community College District – established in 1920

The Hartnell CCD serves over 16,000 students annually through its main campus in Salinas, the Alisal Campus in East Salinas, the King City Education Center, and various outreach learning centers throughout the Salinas Valley. Hartnell College, a Hispanic Serving Institution, provides workforce training, basic skills courses, and prepares students for transfer to four-year colleges and universities. Hartnell College is recognized for its innovative public and private partnerships that support world class STEM education, career technical education, fine and performing arts, humanities, and athletics. We are proud to be the winners of the Innovation Award for CSin3 – a Computer Science degree in three years.  We are growing leaders through opportunity, engagement, and achievement. For more about Hartnell CCD, visit www.hartnell.edu.

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