Lesson Note on Written and Visual Communication: Meaning and Examples for SS 2

Class: Senior Secondary School 2 (SS2 / SSS2)
Term: 3rd Term
Week: 4
Age: 16 years
Duration: 45 minutes
Subject: Office Practice
Curriculum Theme: Business Communication
Previous Lesson: Types of Communication: Verbal and Non-Verbal Methods.
Topic: WRITTEN COMMUNICATION- MEANING
Subject Matter: Written communication (meaning, by letters, memos, magazines, and more), advantages of written communication, disadvantages of written communication, visual communication (meaning), advantages of visual communication, disadvantages of visual communication

Specific Objectives

By the end of the lesson, pupils should be able to:

Cognitive Domain:

• Define written communication.
• List examples of written communication.
• State three advantages and three disadvantages of written communication.
• Define visual communication.
• List examples of visual communication.
• State three advantages and three disadvantages of visual communication.

Affective Domain:

• Appreciate the importance of clear communication in an office setting.
• Participate actively in class discussions.

Psychomotor Domain:

• Identify various forms of written and visual communication from samples.
• Record accurate notes during the lesson.

Social Domain:

• Collaborate with peers during group activities and discussions.

Reference Materials

The following resources were used in planning this lesson:

• Senior Secondary Schools Education Curriculum
• State Unified Scheme of Work
• Etuk, G. (2018). Office Practice for Senior Secondary Schools. Abuja: Learn Africa Plc.

Instructional Materials

The teacher will teach this lesson with the aid of:

• Samples of letters
• Samples of memos
• Samples of magazines
• Posters
• Visual charts

Rationale for the Lesson

This lesson helps pupils understand different ways people communicate in offices and daily life. It enables them to recognize effective communication methods and their limitations, which is important for their future careers and personal interactions.

Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge

Pupils have a basic understanding of communication and its general purpose.

Lesson Content/Board Summary

WRITTEN COMMUNICATION AND VISUAL COMMUNICATION

Meaning of Written Communication

Written communication involves conveying messages through written symbols. It is a formal method of communication where information is recorded and can be referred to later. Examples include:

• Letters
• Memos (Memoranda)
• Reports
• Emails
• Magazines
• Newspapers
• Books
• Manuals

Advantages of Written Communication

The following are advantages of written communication:

• Record Keeping: Provides a permanent record for future reference.
• Clarity: Allows for careful drafting and revision, leading to clear and precise messages.
• Legal Evidence: Can serve as legal evidence in case of disputes.
• Wide Reach: Can be sent to a large number of people simultaneously.
• Thoughtful Consideration: Gives the sender time to think and organize their thoughts.

Disadvantages of Written Communication

The following are disadvantages of written communication:

• Time Consuming: Can take a lot of time to prepare, especially for complex messages.
• Lack of Immediacy: Does not allow for immediate feedback or clarification.
• Costly: Can be expensive due to paper, printing, and postage costs.
• Impersonal: Lacks the personal touch of face-to-face communication.
• Literacy Barrier: Requires the receiver to be literate to understand the message.

Meaning of Visual Communication

Visual communication involves conveying messages or information through visual aids. It uses images, graphics, symbols, and other non-textual elements to communicate ideas. Examples include:

• Charts (e.g., bar charts, pie charts)
• Graphs
• Diagrams
• Maps
• Posters
• Infographics
• Photographs
• Videos
• Body language and facial expressions

Advantages of Visual Communication

The following are advantages of visual communication:

• Easy to Understand: Often simpler and quicker to grasp than text, especially for complex data.
• Memorable: Images are often easier to remember than words.
• Cross-Cultural: Can overcome language barriers as many visuals are universally understood.
• Engaging: More attractive and can capture attention effectively.
• Impactful: Can convey emotions and complex ideas quickly.

Disadvantages of Visual Communication

The following are disadvantages of visual communication:

• Misinterpretation: Visuals can be misinterpreted if not clear or properly explained.
• Costly: Creating high-quality visual aids can be expensive.
• Time Consuming: Can take time and skill to design effective visuals.
• Limited Detail: May not be suitable for conveying very detailed or abstract information.
• Accessibility Issues: May not be accessible to visually impaired individuals without additional aids.

Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques

Discussion, Lecture, Demonstration, Question and Answer, Visual Aids

Instructional Procedures

Step 1: Introduction

Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Set Induction
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher greets the pupils and asks them to mention different ways people communicate with each other in their daily lives.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond by mentioning various communication methods like talking, writing, and showing pictures.
Learning Point: Pupils recall prior knowledge of communication and are introduced to the lesson topic.

Step 2: Explanation of Written Communication

Time: 10 minutes
Teaching Skill: Explanation/Lecture
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher defines written communication, explains its nature, and provides various examples such as letters, memos, reports, and emails, showing samples where available.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen attentively, observe the samples, and take notes.
Learning Point: Pupils understand the meaning and forms of written communication.

Step 3: Discussion of Advantages and Disadvantages of Written Communication

Time: 8 minutes
Teaching Skill: Discussion/Questioning
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher leads a discussion on the benefits and drawbacks of using written communication, encouraging pupils to contribute their ideas.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils actively participate in the discussion, sharing their thoughts on the advantages and disadvantages.
Learning Point: Pupils identify the strengths and weaknesses of written communication.

Step 4: Explanation of Visual Communication

Time: 10 minutes
Teaching Skill: Explanation/Demonstration
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher defines visual communication, explaining how images and graphics convey messages, and gives examples like charts, graphs, posters, and body language, displaying relevant instructional materials.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen, observe the visual aids, and take notes.
Learning Point: Pupils understand the meaning and forms of visual communication.

Step 5: Discussion of Advantages and Disadvantages of Visual Communication

Time: 7 minutes
Teaching Skill: Discussion/Questioning
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher facilitates a discussion on the benefits and limitations of using visual communication, prompting pupils to think critically.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils engage in the discussion, sharing their perspectives on the pros and cons of visual communication.
Learning Point: Pupils identify the strengths and weaknesses of visual communication.

Step 6: Reviewing Communication Samples

Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Practical Application/Observation
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher displays samples of letters, memos, magazines, posters, and charts, and encourages pupils to identify which type of communication each represents and ask questions.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils observe the samples, identify the types of communication, and ask clarifying questions.
Learning Point: Pupils gain practical insight into different forms of written and visual communication.

Step 7: Evaluation/Review

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Questioning/Assessment

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher evaluates the learning by asking the following questions:

1. Define written communication.
2. Mention three examples of written communication.
3. State two advantages and two disadvantages of written communication.
4. What is visual communication?
5. Give three examples of visual communication.
6. State two advantages and two disadvantages of visual communication.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils answer orally and in writing.

Learning Point: Pupils demonstrate understanding of the lesson.

Step 8: Conclusion

Time: 2 minutes
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher summarizes the key points of the lesson and assigns homework, asking pupils to find more examples of written and visual communication used in their community.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen to the summary and copy down the homework.
Learning Point: The lesson is concluded with a recap and an assignment for reinforcement.

Lesson Keywords

• Written Communication – Messages conveyed through written symbols.
• Memos – Short written messages used for internal communication.
• Visual Communication – Messages conveyed through images, graphics, or non-textual elements.
• Charts – Graphical representations of data.
• Posters – Large printed pictures or notices used for advertising or display.

Differentiation

For pupils who grasp concepts quickly, the teacher will encourage them to research specific types of business letters or visual communication tools. For those who require more support, the teacher will provide simplified definitions and more guided examples, possibly working in smaller groups.

Note for teachers using this lesson plan

Teachers should ensure they have sufficient samples of written and visual communication materials to show the pupils. Encourage active participation and real-life examples from the pupils’ environment to make the lesson relatable. Emphasize that effective communication often combines both written and visual elements.