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Try it out – Chapter 1

Try it Out

🔐 Integrity Tip:

Don’t paste personal info, team names, or real company details into AI tools. If you’re revising a real message you’ve received, anonymize names and context first.

 

🔮Future Connection:

Preview the idea of collaboration with shared documents and feedback loops (Chapter 11). Later in the course, you’ll collaborate in shared docs, give feedback, and revise group messages. Practicing thoughtful editing and evaluating AI as a writing partner now will help you contribute with more clarity and confidence later.

 

Each chapter, has a corresponding AI-supported learning activity designed to help you engage more deeply with the concepts. These assignments are hosted in Canvas and follow a structured, iterative process using a provided template. You’ll use AI tools to:

  • Explore and clarify key ideas from the chapter
  • Practice applying concepts to real-world or professional scenarios
  • Reflect on your learning and refine your understanding through guided prompts

This assignment is an opportunity to build your confidence in using AI as a collaborative learning partner. It will help you develop critical thinking, communication, and digital literacy skills essential for success in modern business environments.

👉 To begin, go to the corresponding module in Canvas and open the “Weekly AI Assignment” for this chapter.

  • AI Practice Assignment Preview: Chapter 1 – Why Communication Breaks Down

    In this week’s AI-supported activity, students will explore why communication often fails in business settings and how to improve it. Then use AI to critically evaluate real-world communication artifacts, practice iterative improvement, and apply business communication principles to generate and refine professional messages.

    Focus: We kick things off with one of the biggest mysteries in business life: why smart people still write confusing, vague, or awkward messages that derail projects and relationships. Spoiler alert—it’s usually not about intelligence. It’s about clarity, intention, and feedback.

  • Using a guided template in Canvas, students will:
    1. Investigate the Chapter Theme with AI
      Students will prompt an AI tool (like ChatGPT) to explain key communication challenges in business. They’ll critique the AI’s response based on chapter concepts, identifying strengths, gaps, and inaccuracies.
    2. Analyze and Improve a Communication Artifact
      Students will choose a problematic message (e.g., vague or passive-aggressive) and use AI to generate revision suggestions. They’ll evaluate the AI’s recommendations and reflect on their effectiveness.
    3. Refine AI Output Using Chapter Concepts
      Students will edit the AI-generated message using Track Changes in Word or Google Docs, applying chapter principles to improve clarity, tone, and professionalism. A short reflection will connect their edits to real-world communication scenarios.

    📌 Note: The full assignment, including templates and submission instructions, is available in Canvas under the Chapter 1 module.

License

Business Communications in the Modern Age of Artificial Intelligence Copyright © by Doug Williamson. All Rights Reserved.

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