In study after study, “students perceive greater mastery of course materials through participation in” oral competence courses and activities (Cronin & Glenn, 359) i[Eres file].  Should this be a surprise?  The active ability to synthesize, organize, summarize, and articulate subject matters is a step beyond the passive acquisition of knowledge, and like writing, but also different from writing, it takes students that next step towards mastery of course knowledge. Integration of communication competence training is good pedagogy that can improve course effectiveness.  i  The attached linked article talks about how to use public speaking skills to improve our own classroom teaching.  [pdf file]

Another advantage of teaching an “R” course is the opportunity it provides to link theory and practice ever most closely in the teaching of subject matter courses, a linkage that reinforces the relation of coursework to the ideals of a liberal education. i We’ve devoted a page on this website to this topic.