A Guide to Using LaunchPad for Choices & Connections
Choices & Connections comes with access to LaunchPad, Macmillan Learning’s online
platform that hosts LearningCurve, an adaptive quizzing software; How to Communicate
video activities that test students’ adaptive skills; Key Term videos, featuring100+ illustrative,
brief clips that bring communication concepts to life; Speech videos, a collection of student
• Create new assignments and activities. How to Communicate video activities make
excellent writing prompts, class discussion topics, and group assignments. The Key Term
videos and the Speech videos are great ways to provide students with another avenue for
understanding concepts. The Sample Speech Resources provide a prebuilt activity that
shows students how a student speech came together. See the list following this for more
ideas on how to assign How to Communicate and the video collections.
• Check student progress. When you assign students the LearningCurve lesson for each
chapter, you can gain insight into what topics students may need extra help with before they
come to class, leaving you more valuable class time to go over any problem areas. You can
HOW TO USE LAUNCHPAD IN CLASS
There are many ways you can incorporate LaunchPad for Choices & Connections in your
class. The list following contains several ideas for possible assignments or activities. These are
generic suggestions that work with almost any resource in the collection. For additional
suggestions, see the How to Communicate section in each chapter of the IRM.
1. Study plan: Have students complete the LearningCurve for a chapter. Based on their
2. The basis of a journal or homework assignment: Students are assigned to watch one or
3. “Improvement” paper: Students can watch a video and write a short analysis of how the
communication in the video could be improved. Questions to guide the paper may include
What could have been said or done differently to improve the communication/interaction
in the video? How would you have handled the situation?
4. “Point of view” analysis: To help students with their empathy and perception skills, ask
5. Media comparison paper: Students should watch several videos from a chapter and then
find clips from the media that illustrate the same concepts. Students can develop a brief
analysis comparing the clips and share it with the class: How well does the media version
illustrate the concept(s)? How does it compare to the book version?
6. In-class discussion starters: Because the How to Communicate and Key Term videos are
7. In-class role-plays: Students can role-play their own version of a concept being shown in
8. Response videos: Students can make their own videos (either in pairs or groups). These
could either be response videos to the existing ones or videos on different book concepts.
HOW TO ACCESS LAUNCHPAD
For instructors:
2. Sign in if you already have a password. If not, follow the instructions to set up an account.
3. Once logged in, you can search for resources by chapter. You can assign LearningCurve,
2. Students who do not purchase a new print book can purchase access by going to
macmillanhighered.com/choicesconnections2e.
For technical support
• 1-800-936-6899
• macmillanhighered.com/techsupport
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LAUNCHPAD MEDIA CONTENTS
LaunchPad for Choices & Connections includes How to Communicate video activities, Key
Term videos, and Sample Speech Resources that complement the material in the text, offering
examples and explanations of key concepts. Here is a quick list of the videos and where their
concepts appear in the text.
Chapter 1: Introduction to Communication
How to Communicate: Competent
Conversations, p. 24
Channel, p. 6
Linear communication model, p. 7
Noise, p. 8
Transactional communication model, p. 10
Chapter 2: Self and Perception
Horn effect, p. 51
Algebraic impressions, p. 51
Empathy, p. 53
Chapter 3: Mediated Communication
Power, p. 91
Display rules, p. 100
Chapter 5: Verbal Communication
How to Communicate: Disagreement with
Family, p. 124
Denotative meanings, p. 117
Connotative meanings, p. 117
“You” language, p. 122
“I” language, p. 123
“We” language, p. 123
Vocalics, p. 146
Haptics, p. 148
Proxemics, p. 149
Affect displays, p. 155
Selective listening, p. 179
Aggressive listening, p. 181
42
Chapter 9: Principles of Interpersonal
Communication
How to Communicate: Ending a
Chapter 10: Managing Interpersonal
Relationships
How to Communicate: Social Loafing, p.
274
Forming, p. 269
Storming, p. 269
Norming, p. 270
How to Communicate: Elevator Speeches,
p. 362
Speech thesis, p. 348
Topical pattern, p. 357
Spatial pattern, p. 358
Cause-effect pattern, p. 358
Impromptu speaking, p. 380
Manuscript speaking, p. 381
Extemporaneous speaking, p. 383
Immediacy, p. 384
43
Chapter 16: Informative Speaking
How to Communicate: Responding to
Chapter 17: Persuasive Speaking
How to Communicate: Emotional Appeals,
p. 454
Persuasive speeches, p. 434
Proposition of fact, p. 435
Proposition of value, p. 435
Appendix: Interviewing
How to Communicate: Managing Stress
Questions, p. A-24