Note that assignments are due based on the Eastern Time zone (EST or EDT). This ensures that all students have the same deadlines regardless of where they live.

 

• Course length: 15 weeks

Note: If you are planning to graduate this semester, please communicate your intent to graduate to your instructor. This will alert your instructor to the need to submit your final grade in time to meet the published graduation deadlines. For more information about graduation policies and deadlines, please go to the Graduation Information on the My Penn State Online Student Portal.

	Activity
1: Defining Disaster Communication	Student Questionnaire Form (I, U) Initial Team Activity (I, U) 2001 Anthrax Attack Communication Issues (I, G) --> 20 points
2: Communicating about Disaster Preparedness with the Public	Anthrax Press Release (I, G) --> 20 points Credible Spokesperson (T, P/F) Course Project Topic (Participation, G)
3: Preparing Society's Infrastructure to Communicate about Disasters	CDC's Communication Plan and an Anthrax Event (T, G) --> 50 points Quarantine Plan Critique (I, P/F) Course Project: Outline (I, U)
4: Communicating to Mobilize Support for Disaster Preparedness	Communicating with Volunteers (T, P/F) Crafting a Public Service Announcement (I, G) --> 20 points Course Project: Communicating with the Public (I, U)
5: Preparing First Responders to Communicate during Disasters	The Role of Electronic Mailings (I, G) --> 20 points Crisis Management Team Advising (T, P/F) Course Project: Brochure (I, U)
6: Communicating about Disaster Response with the Public	The Role of Town Hall Meetings (T, G) --> 50 points Addressing an Anthrax Rumor (I, P/F) Course Project: Crisis Management Plan (I, U)
7: A Role for Society's Infrastructure in Communicating during Disasters	Organizational Crisis vs. Natural Disasters (T, P/F) Intra-role and Inter-role Conflicts (I, G) --> 20 points Course Project: Communicating Organizations (I, U)
8: Communicating with Volunteers during Disasters	Helpline Best Practices (I, G) --> 20 points Communicating as a Leader (T, P/F) Course Project: Disaster Helpline (I, U)
9: First Responders' Communication during Disasters	International Disaster Communication (T, G) --> 50 points Emotional Arousal (I, P/F) Course Project: Communicating Support (I, U)
10: Communicating about Disaster Recovery with the Public	Frameworks for Considering Literacy Levels (I, G) --> 20 points Revised Report (T, P/F) Course Project: Web Site Home Page (I, U)
11: A Role for Society's Infrastructures in Communicating about Disaster Recovery	9-11 Failures (T, P/F) Communication Monitoring (I, G) --> 20 points Course Project: Internal Communication (I, U)
12: Communicating with Volunteers Mobilized for Recovery	Volunteers and the Role of Crisis in Society (T, G) --> 50 points Crisis Activity Follow Up (I, P/F) Course Project: Leveraging Volunteers' Energies (I, U)
13: Communicating with First Responders Following Disasters	Creating a Lesson Plan (I, G) --> 20 points Precrisis and First Responders (T, P/F) Course Project Submission (I, G) --> 300 points
14: Disaster Communication and Social Justice	Guiding Principles of Ethical Communication (I, G) --> 20 points Collaboration between Public Health and Law Enforcement Drop Box (T, P/F)
15: Final Exam	Final Exam (I, G) --> 150 points Course Participation (I, G) --> 150 points