1. Kirk Rose
P Paper Reflection
Taking the practice courses here at SJSU really gave me the tools to apply the theories I
was learning in my F and I courses. One class that really taught me good communication skills
was my class on mediation. While during this class I was not the focal point of the conversation,
I learned how to mediate a conversation. To mediate it to guide discussion in a productive
manner, so that things can be accomplished. Without mediation people would just be sitting there
arguing with each other and not getting anywhere toward a solution. Another class that I had that
helped me with these skills was my small group communication course. In this course we learned
about the phases groups go through in building comradery and performing tasks. An assignment
that helped enhance my mediation skills, I was learning in my other class, was having to lead a
discussion between a group of people on a controversial topic. The topic we discussed was
sexism. During the discussion I was not supposed to add in my own opinion on the issue, but to
ask questions that guided the discussion. Also I was in charge of making sure the conversation
didn’t get too heated where people were arguing with each other. These two classes really
developed my mediation skills.
One practice course that really taught me how to demonstrate my communication skills
and strategies was my training and development course. During this class we learned how to
gather information from an organization to figure out how to develop a training module for
future employees. In order to do this we need to use our quantitative skills to make a survey and
see the areas the organization needed to improve their training module. After collecting the data
we had to develop a training module to fit what the company was trying to accomplish with
training session. I feel the skill I learned that most can be applied is mediation. Like I explained
earlier it’s a skill to lead discussion in a positive way where people can accomplish a mutual
goal. This is a great skill to have because you can have discussions where people can learn new
things about other culture or whatever the topic is on. Mediation and learning how to create a
training module are two skills I feel I can take with me to the real world and help people with.