The first phase of the new ISU English program, emphasizing real-world communication experience, is under way.

ISUComm is the title given to the reorganization of English 104 and 105 classes. Traditionally, writing has been the focus of these classes, which are requirements for every student at Iowa State who does not test out.

While writing will still be the largest emphasis in the classes, skills such as public speaking, visual communication and group communication will also be stressed.

ISUComm was created in response to the widespread faculty and employer concerns about the communication skills of ISU students. English 104 and 105 classes are being redesigned into WOVE units and will be renamed UComm 112 for freshmen and UComm 212 for sophomores.

WOVE stands for Written, Oral, Visual and Electronic, which are the forms of communication being emphasized in the classes.

An example of a visual communication exercise scheduled to be taught in the WOVE sections involves analyzing advertisements and examining the subtle messages within those ads.

Another example of an emphasis on visual communication can be seen in the way students will write papers. Instead of the typical typed paper, students will also be asked to combine data with graphs and charts into papers to support their arguments.

In order to study oral communication, students will use group decision-making techniques to find similar and different positions on subjects. “We want to use oral and visual communication to create well-informed opinions about subjects,” said David Russell, professor of English.

Russell and a graduate student are team-teaching 52 students in three sections of the ISUComm program.

He said evolving communication techniques have made a change in curriculum necessary.

“Changes in technology have made writing so it increasingly integrates both oral and visual communications,” he said. “You can see this on the Web.”

ISUComm is also providing assistance to other colleges through consultations. Faculty from different university departments will have the chance to express how they think communication needs to be taught in order to prepare students for their specific field of study.

“We strive to see what students need academically and also to be better communicators,” said Denise Vrchota, adjunct assistant professor in the Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication, who is coordinating the consulting efforts.

“The consultants look at what the departments have and also how they can make better assignments and projects in communication for students.”

Members of the ISUComm steering committee believe this curriculum will provide students the most progressive communication experience offered to any student in the nation, said Michael Mendelson, chairman of the ISUComm steering committee.

“We are excited about developing teaching techniques and putting them on the Web. We are consciously integrating oral, visual and electronic communication to improve writing skills in students,” Russell said.