"I am excited to be in a class where others care about what I need": Conducting a needs audit in the human communication classroom.

This class activity explores the reciprocal dynamics of communication within the teaching–learning context, focusing on the interplay between instructors and students as well as among students themselves. Drawing from rhetorical relational goal theory, the needs audit is an applied activity centered on fostering empathy, cooperation, and nonviolent communication. By participating in the needs audit, students gain insights into their own needs, develop an understanding of their peers' needs, and recognize the pivotal role of effective communication in cultivating a positive learning environment. Courses: Any introductory or advanced communication course. Objectives: Students learn to understand three important claims: (1) instructors impact students; (2) students impact instructors; and (3) students impact other students. Through this activity, students and instructors collaborate to understand their own and others' needs in the classroom toward a more empathetic, cooperative, and nonviolent learning environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]