Communication Centers: A Theory-Based Guide to Training and Management

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Description

Communication Centers: A Theory-Based Guide to Training and Management offers advice based on extant research and best practices to both faculty who are asked to develop a communication center and for directors of established centers. Broken into easily understood parts, Turner and Sheckels begin with the development of communication centers, offering guidance on the history of centers, how to start a center, and, in a contribution by Kyle Love, creative approaches to marketing. They provide a communication perspective on selecting and training tutors, and then address how to train the tutors in their tasks of helping students with invention, disposition, style, memory, and delivery as well as presentation aids, including consideration of special situations and diverse populations. The authors explore ways to broaden the vision for communication centers, and conclude with chapters on techniques for assessment by Marlene Preston and on the rich rhetorical roots of communication centers by Linda Hobgood. The volume concludes with appendixes on guidelines for directors and for certification of tutor training programs. Communication Centers is a valuable resource for scholars in any stage of developing or improving a communication center at their university.

Reviews

Finally a resource that addresses the questions people looking to start communication centers must ask! As communication scholars and center directors, Turner and Sheckels eloquently weave theory and practice with the voices of some of the most respected communication center directors in the nation. Anyone looking to learn more about communication centers will treasure this book because it covers history and praxis in ways that set communication centers up for a powerful future in higher education. -- Kimberly M. Cuny, University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Turner and Sheckels have created a much-needed handbook for developing communication centers. Not only will new centers find this information invaluable, but established centers will also find some gems that may inspire staffs to be self-reflective and to question long-standing practices. This is a strong addition to the growing communication center literature. -- Wendy Atkins-Sayre, University of Southern Mississippi
This becomes the reference book for current and future communication labs. An intellectually accessible read full of communication lessons for center directors and public speaking tutors alike. Its like having these happy experts on your office shelf supporting your center! -- Bonnie Wentzel, Arizona State University

Author Bio

Kathleen J. Turner is professor and chair of communication studies and director of oral communication at Davidson College. Theodore F. Sheckels is professor of English and professor and chair of communication studies at Randolph-Macon College.