In this inaugural episode, podcast host Dr. Jill Fennell sits down with Dr. Amit S. Jariwala, Director of Design and Innovation at the Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering to discuss the Goals and Tenets of the Webb Communication Program. 

Show Notes and Timestamps: 

• Introduction, meeting the host and guest: 00:00
• Webb Communication Program Goals: 03:45
• Program History and Purpose: 06:32        
  • Program structure and scaffolding: 08:28
• Program Core Tenets 11:58        
  • Implicit Task 1: Balancing Cognitive Load and Content: 18:34
  • Implicit Task 2: Determining what counts as information: 21:34
  • Implicit Task 3: Determining the actionable threshold: 22:38
  • Implicit Task 4: The Trustworthiness Threshold: 25:49
  • Implicit Task 5: Understanding Genre: 28:23                
    • Situational Learning: 33:26                        
      • Audience Avatars: 36:52
• Tenets’ reflection of Engineering Students’ Needs: 39:49
• Program’s alignment with Industry Expectations: 42:39
• Appropriateness and Responsiveness in different learning scenarios: 45:03
• Working with GTAs and TAs on giving communication skills feedback: 47:24
• Communication and success in engineering careers: 49:17
• Advice and information for incoming students: 51:09        
  • Unique features of program: 53:31
• Student Takeaways from podcast episode: 54:14

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This podcast was edited by Dr. Lee Hibbard, Lecturer in Technical Communication at the University of Michigan school of Engineering.