Communication Process

What is the Communication Process?

The communication process refers to a series of actions or steps taken in order to successfully communicate.

Elements of Communication: Sender

The person who has a message to communicate is called the sender. The sender begins the communication process.

First, the sender has an idea for a message they need or want to send.

Multiple Choice

The sender...

• Ends the communication process.

• Begins the communication process.

Multiple Choice

How does the sender begin the communciation process?

• They have an idea for a message to send.

• They have a thought that they keep to themself.

Elements of Communication:




Message

The message is the information the sender wishes to send.

The sender decides which format the message will take.

There are many forms a message might take. The sender might choose to use written words, spoken words, pictures, or other visuals such as a YouTube video.

Open Ended

What is one message that you've sent in the last week? What format did it take? (Text, email, spoken face-to-face, etc.) Why did you send it that way instead of a different way? (For example, if you texted, why didn't you make a phone call?)

Elements of Communication: Encoding the Message

Encoding is the process of turning the idea for a message into words or symbols that can be communicated.

Most people convert their messages into a language of written or spoken words or symbols the receiver can understand. In order for the message to be understood, both the sender and the receiver must be able to interpret the words or symbols.

Multiple Choice

Encoding a message takes the message from a thought in the sender's mind and turns it into...

• another series of thoughts that are connected in the sender's mind.

• words or symbols that can be communicated with someone else.

Multiple Choice

Which best shows the process of encoding a message?

Elements of Communication: Channel

Once the message is encoded, it is ready to be sent.

The channel is how the message is sent such as face-to-face conversation, phone call, text, or any other vehicle that is appropriate for the situation.

Multiple Choice

The channel is...

• how the message is sent.

• when the message is sent.

• where the message is sent.

Multiple Choice

Which is an example of a channel?

Elements of Communication: The Best Channel

The sender decides the best channel through which to send the message. Factors that influence how a message is transmitted include:

• need for security or confidentiality

• importance of having a written record of the information

• need for the receiver to have the information immediately

• proximity

• number of people receiving the message

• level of formality necessary

• expectations of the receiver

Open Ended

If you had a secret you wanted to tell a friend, which channel would be a better way to tell the secret: spoken face-to-face or through a text message? Why?

Elements of Communication: Receiver

The receiver is the person who reads, hears, or sees the message. The receiver is also known as the audience.

The receiver can be a number of people, from one coworker to the thousands of people who see a television commercial.

Multiple Choice

Which best represents the receiver?

Categorize

Options (9)

Writes

Reads

Text Message

Speaks

Listens

Face-to-Face

Phone Call

Makes a Call

Gets a Call

Organize these options into the right categories

Sender

Channel

Receiver

Elements of Communication: Decoding

Once the receiver receives the information, it will be decoded.

Decoding is the translation of the message into terms that the receiver can understand. It occurs in the receiver’s mind. Decoding is usually seen as the process of understanding a message.

The message is not technically received if the receiver does not understand what has been read.

Multiple Choice

Decoding is the process of the receiver...

• understanding the message.

• returning the message.

Elements of Communication: Feedback

Feedback is the receiver’s response to the sender and concludes the communication process.

Providing feedback to a sender is a crucial step in the process. This tells the sender if the receiver understood the message as it was intended.

If the sender does not receive feedback to be sure the message was understood, the communication process has failed.

Open Ended

Imagine your teacher gave you the following message in class. What is one way you could provide feedback to express that you understood the message?

"Your project will be due at the end of the 6 weeks."