INTRODUCTION
Welcome to the Effective Communication Skills module. This module will give you the opportunity to identify and develop effective communication skills required when working in partnership with parents, children/young people, colleagues and other professionals. You will have the opportunity to explore historical and contemporary family structures. This will enable you to adapt your practice to meet the diverse and individual needs of the families that you are working with. You will consider your working relationships with parents and examine a range of strategies to effectively encourage them to be involved in their children/young people’s learning and development.
Furthermore, the module will provide you with the opportunity to explore theories and principles that underpin effective communication in education settings. This module will encourage you to reflect and develop your analytical skills to enable you to enhance practice within your setting.
MODULE AIMS:
• To develop students’ knowledge and understanding of effective communication skills for a range of purposes and within different contexts commensurate with roles, responsibilities and expectations of practice in early years.
• To develop students’ knowledge and understanding of the theories and principles underpinning effective communication in early years.
• To enable students to reflect upon and develop communication skills in order to enhance practice within their early years.
MODULE LEARNING OUTCOMES
On successful completion of the module, you will be able to:
• demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the theories and principles of effective communication and how this can enhance personal and professional practice;
• use and apply a variety of communication techniques to work effectively in different contexts for different audiences;
• show knowledge and understanding of how to modify communication strategies in order to respect diversity and meet the needs of groups and individuals within the early years;
• critically reflect upon your communication skills and identify ways to improve and enhance these for different contexts;
• critically analyse relevant issues and discourses that may impact upon effective communication in the setting, recognising limitations and the need to engage other professionals and/or adults where appropriate.
TEACHING AND LEARNING STRATEGIES
This module will be delivered through a variety of learning experiences, which will include you attending weekly lectures at your college or your institute of learning. Lectures may be offered face to face or online. The lectures will provide you with the opportunity to discuss and share examples of effective working practice when working with parents and the local community. You will explore variations in family structures and consider how stereotypical approaches can limit opportunities available to parents and their children/young people. You will be encouraged to reflect on your practice when communicating with parents and other professionals in order to assess how to modify your approach (if required). There is an expectation that you will build on this through your own research, discussion with peers and colleagues and critical reflection of the subject matter.
You will have the opportunity to critically examine a range of theories, legislation and documentation. This will develop a range of skills required for your presentation and essay. Furthermore, this will enhance your professional practice in the workplace promoting positive outcomes for children/young people, families and the community.
Your contribution in all aspects of this module is important for both your own learning and that of your fellow students. By engaging in lectures, seminars, workshops, discussions and wider reading you will enhance your learning experience.
ASSIGNMENT BRIEF
The assessment for this module is divided into two components. In both components of this assessment you will need to demonstrate that you are able to meet the learning outcomes for the module. The assessment of the module will consist of a presentation and accompanying essay.
Summative Task
Presentation and accompanying resources- Component One (50% of overall grade - equivalent to 2000 words)
You will develop and carry out an individual presentation. You are encouraged to be creative when developing your presentation. In the presentation you will choose an area for development in your setting. You will design and create a suitable resource that may include notes, posters and/or leaflets for distribution. Within your presentation, you will explain how you will use the resource to inform parents and practitioners of your chosen area for development.
You will deliver a presentation (10 minutes in duration) to peers and tutor(s) either online or face to face. Your tutor will discuss the details of the presentation with you. You will receive peer and tutor feedback based on the Presentation Feedback Sheet. Your presentation could include the following areas:
- The context of your setting
- The area you have selected for development
- Why you have selected the area for development?
- How will you inform parents (communication methods)?
- How will you inform/involve staff (communication methods)?
- How practice will be enhanced?
You will submit the resource and where applicable notes, posters and/or leaflets as a hard copy or an electronic copy on the designated hand in date clearly labelled with your student number and college or institute of learning. Please ensure you provide an appropriate reference list for this section.
Essay - Component Two (50% of overall grade - 3000 words)
In component two you will complete an essay, which will include the rationale of your chosen area for development drawing on relevant theory and research. Within your essay you will explore issues such as awareness of diversity, strategies used and style of presentation/communication approaches when sharing your chosen area for development with parents and practitioners. You will demonstrate the theories, principles and discourses that may impact on communication within your setting and the wider early years. Please refer to the learning outcomes when completing your essay.
It is essential that you underpin your essay with a wide range of relevant literature, following the Harvard referencing method throughout.
Collating final document prior to submission
Hard Copies/Electronic Copies
All PowerPoints/Prezi’s/posters/leaflets/photographs of accompanying resources related to the presentation (equivalent to 2000 words, 50% of overall grade) should be collated in hard copy/electronic copy within a physical or electronic folder along with a Reference List for submission (please avoid plastic wallets for physical folders). The folder should be submitted on the ‘Hand In’ date for this module. Your tutor will advice you on how this will be managed.
Online Submission
You should collate the following in one continuous document
• Self-Review Form
• Component Two - 3000 word essay
