Please note: you are viewing unit and programme information
for a past academic year. Please see the current academic year for up to date information.
| Unit name |
Effective Communication Skills Development (Unit 216) |
| Unit code |
MEDIM0216 |
| Credit points |
15 |
| Level of study |
M/7
|
| Teaching block(s) |
Academic Year (weeks 1 - 52)
|
| Unit director |
Dr. Fowler |
| Open unit status |
Not open |
| Pre-requisites |
none |
| Co-requisites |
none |
| School/department |
Centre for Medical Education |
| Faculty |
Faculty of Health Sciences |
Description including Unit Aims
Good communication is at the heart of professional relationships in education and health settings. Research demonstrates the importance of good communication skills in providing effective health care and also highlights the need for the explicit teaching of these skills in the health professions. Drawing on the research bases of medical education and linguistics, the module will help participants improve their own communication skills and their knowledge of language in order to develop their ability to teach communication in the health professions. The module offers students opportunities to develop knowledge from relevant fields and then apply it to their own work and teaching. It will also highlight opportunities to access and review research in this multi-disciplinary area. This module will appeal to participants with an interest in language, communicating to a range of audiences (including patients and fellow professionals) and in the teaching of communication skills.
Intended Learning Outcomes
On completion of this module and related parts of the programme, the student should be able to:
- Identify how language varies according to participants and context.
- Define the discourse communities they belong to by identifying specific linguistic elements.
- Identify effective communication in a range of modes.
- Explore the range of communication skills needed in medicine.
- Use elements of conversation analysis to analyse an interaction.
- Provide detailed and specific feedback on interactions.
- Present information in appropriate language for different audiences.
- Select and use appropriate communication strategies in a range of contexts and with a range of participants.
- Confidently use both role play and video/audio recording in their teaching.
- Identify how own attitudes and feelings may impact on communication.
Teaching Information
An experiential approach will be taken. The following methods will be used:
- Discussion
- Video and analysis of interactions
- Role play
- Demonstration
- Practice of communication skills – active listening, explanation, structured feedback
- Reading
- Writing for specific audiences
- Critiquing each other’s work
Assessment Information
Formative – feedback on writing for different audiences and oral and non-verbal communication skills (peer assessment, self assessment and tutor assessment)
Summative
3000 word written assignment. One of following:
- Design a communications teaching session (to include lesson plan, materials and assessment) and write rationale for choices linking these to communication theory.
- Video a medical encounter (simulated or actual) with due consideration for ethics and analyse using conversation analysis. Use the analysis as a basis for detailed feedback to the student and an action plan for developing the student’s communication skills. Rationalise the choices in the action plan linking these to communication theory.
- A negotiated title that reflects the learning outcomes for this module and that draws on relevant research.
Reading and References
- Silverman, J., Kurtz, S. & Draper, J. (2005) Skills for Communicating with Patients, 2nd.ed, Abingdon, Radcliffe Publishing.
- Kurtz, S., Silverman, J, & Draper, J. (2005) Teaching and Learning Communication skills in Medicine, 2nd ed. Abingdon, Radcliffe Publishing
