Business and Professional Communication, 3rd edition
Kelly M. Quintanilla, Shawn T. Wahl
Chapter 8: Technology in the Workplace
Chapter Activities
Activities to Illustrate Key Concepts
Activity 1: Texting Exercise in Communication of Emotion
Description: This is a class activity to demonstrate the challenges with texting and emotions.
It is designed as an activity and discussion learning opportunity.
Directions:
1. Have students divide into groups of two and make sure that each has a phone with the
capabilities of texting. If someone does not, or it would charge the student per text, have
him or her sit aside for the tirst part of the activity and join in during the discussion part.
2. Each student should exchange phone/text numbers.
3. Ask the students to think about the following emotions: anger, disgust, fear, happiness,
sadness, and surprise.
4. Each student is to choose three of these emotions and compose a text that does not
mention the emotion, yet if the person was standing in front of them, the nonverbal
signals would detinitely demonstrate the emotion. Sarcasm can be used. Allow a few
Activity 2: Individual Writing Assignment and Class Discussion
Description: This is an individual retiective writing assignment followed by discussion. The
goal of the activity is for students to retiect on employees’ use of social media and other
personal technology during work time.
Directions:
1. Ask the class to spend 10 minutes (or less) writing a two paragraph to one page
re1ection on the topic of whether employees should use social media and other
personal technology during work time.
2. Once the students are done, ask them to go back and highlight or underline the specitic
media and other personal technology in the workplace, and if the class feels they should
be banned or restricted, what strategies would be used to implement this policy.
Activity 3: Brainstorming
Description: This activity is a class discussion brainstorming ideas and strategies. The activity
is designed to stimulate thoughul discussion on the topic of new technology in the
workplace.
Directions:
1. Use the whiteboard and write the words “new workplace technology” in the center of
the board with a circle around it.
2. Explain to the students that this activity is a brainstorming session where every idea and
thought is valued.
3. Students are to think about “new workplace technology” and quickly come up with
responses to this. It does not ma,er what the response is.
4. The instructor should choose a couple of volunteers to write while encouraging students
to quickly o9er ideas.
5. Each idea should be circled and a line drawn back to the main circle because this is the
visual starting point of the brainstorming.
6. Limit the time to 10 minutes and then ask the class to group the ideas into categories in
separate lists.