Introduction
Communication is all around us and we participate in it everyday without a second thought, and some of us are better at communication than others. Some of the best communicators are the ones that understand all aspects of communication and they use their knowledge to help create better understanding in the world around them. Effective communication is necessary in everything we do, whether it is having a conversation with a significant other, writing an email to our co-worker, or texting our mom; if done ineffectively it can cause some confusion. In education and training it is especially essential we communicate effectively.
This instructional blog will be talking about the 12 signal systems all humans use in communication; no matter what your culture may be. The purpose of teaching you these signal systems is, to arm you with a small piece of the complex puzzle we call communication in hopes that you will seek to learn more!
Communication is all around us and we participate in it everyday without a second thought, and some of us are better at communication than others. Some of the best communicators are the ones that understand all aspects of communication and they use their knowledge to help create better understanding in the world around them. Effective communication is necessary in everything we do, whether it is having a conversation with a significant other, writing an email to our co-worker, or texting our mom; if done ineffectively it can cause some confusion. In education and training it is especially essential we communicate effectively.
This instructional blog will be talking about the 12 signal systems all humans use in communication; no matter what your culture may be. The purpose of teaching you these signal systems is, to arm you with a small piece of the complex puzzle we call communication in hopes that you will seek to learn more!
The Signals We Use–Dr. Donald K. Smith
On pages 145-146 in his book "Creating Understanding", Dr. Donald K. Smith has the following to say about the signal systems:
On pages 145-146 in his book "Creating Understanding", Dr. Donald K. Smith has the following to say about the signal systems:
In every area of communication it is the same. Until you know what to hear, you probably will not hear it. If we know the message intent, it is easy to "hear" a communication. But when we do not know the sender's purpose, how do we analyze the message to determine its content and purpose?
The twelve signal systems suggested here give a useful way to perceive and analyze messages, even those involving other cultures where signals are used differently from those in your own culture.
Two modes of communication are frequently recognized–verbal and nonverbal. Because systematizing communication according to twelve signal systems is more specific, it offers a useful way to analyze information content in messages.
The 12 Signal Systems
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When we use several signals so that they complement each other, more information can be transferred, and the impact of the message is increased dramatically. Using several signal systems in combination is similar to adding more pipes to a water system. A larger number of pipes carries more water. Similarly, each added signal system increases the information load carried. If one system fails to be understood, there is not a total loss of communication, because other signal systems are carrying the same or related information" –Dr. Donald Smith, p 161, "Creating Understanding"
Summary
What Dr. Smith presents is pretty remarkable! We constantly are using and observing the 12 signal systems without even realizing it, and if one of our systems fails to understand the message, the others help compensate so we can still process the information being presented to us. By being cognizant of all 12 signal systems we can begin to be smarter about how we communicate, which will in turn help us to be more purposeful in our communication strategies. Awareness is key. We want to be purposeful in our delivery methods of messages, because the more signals we can use, effectively, to communicate a message the more meaning we can transfer in that message. Effectively being the key word, ineffective uses of the systems will result in the decline of understanding.
The information provided here is just a small piece of the puzzle about communication in our lives, but it is a good start. I encourage you to dig deeper for the bigger picture of how it affects interactive learning and teaching.
What Dr. Smith presents is pretty remarkable! We constantly are using and observing the 12 signal systems without even realizing it, and if one of our systems fails to understand the message, the others help compensate so we can still process the information being presented to us. By being cognizant of all 12 signal systems we can begin to be smarter about how we communicate, which will in turn help us to be more purposeful in our communication strategies. Awareness is key. We want to be purposeful in our delivery methods of messages, because the more signals we can use, effectively, to communicate a message the more meaning we can transfer in that message. Effectively being the key word, ineffective uses of the systems will result in the decline of understanding.
The information provided here is just a small piece of the puzzle about communication in our lives, but it is a good start. I encourage you to dig deeper for the bigger picture of how it affects interactive learning and teaching.
References
Smith, D.K. (1992). Creating Understanding. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House.
Audio Clip retrieved from http://www.traditional-jazz.com/assets/clips/louisma.mp3
*Most of the images retrieved from http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Main_Page
By Anish.rocsta (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
By xlibber (Sundial Uploaded by russavia) [CC-BY-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
By Harald Hoyer from Schwerin, Germany (Let me touch! Uploaded by russavia) [CC-BY-SA-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
Smith, D.K. (1992). Creating Understanding. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House.
Audio Clip retrieved from http://www.traditional-jazz.com/assets/clips/louisma.mp3
*Most of the images retrieved from http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Main_Page
By Anish.rocsta (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
By xlibber (Sundial Uploaded by russavia) [CC-BY-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
By Harald Hoyer from Schwerin, Germany (Let me touch! Uploaded by russavia) [CC-BY-SA-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons