Teaching Metatheory through Venn Diagramming

Communication theory courses are among the most difficult courses in communication curricula. The breadth and complexity of the discipline requires instructors to confront material with which they may have limited familiarity. Such courses are crucial, however, because learning communication theories cultivates critical thinking, helps students to understand the breadth and depth of the field, empowers individuals in their personal and professional lives, and fosters self-awareness (West & Turner, 2014). Central to any communication theory course should be the teaching of the epistemological, ontological, and axiological features of various theoretical approaches. Differing visual display options exist that may aid student learning. Venn diagrams, in particular, are useful for teaching and visualizing conjunction and disjunction, or, alternately, intersection and union (Waddell & Quinn, 2011). The activity proposed in this article engages students in an active, iterative process that asks them to account for their understanding of metatheory, exploring the complex field of communication studies and their place in it.