ENHANCING COMMUNICATION SKILLS IN STUDENTS USING CONVERSATION PARTNERS

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ENHANCING COMMUNICATION SKILLS IN STUDENTS USING
CONVERSATION PARTNERS

• Linda Collier and Karen Sage, University of
  Manchester, Human Communication and Deafness,
  School of Psychological Sciences
• with thanks to Gill Pearl and the members of
  Speakeasy

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Introduction

• Why was the project introduced?
• What benefits are there for the-
• Students
• University
• People with aphasia

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1st Year Clinical Experience

• Run in co-operation with local Aphasia Support
  Groups
• Sure Start
• Communication Passports in ALD

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Aims of the Project

• To allow students to demonstrate communication
  competence in conversation.
• To enable people with aphasia to evaluate the
  students communication skills

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Introductory Workshops

• Introduced to the basic concepts of
• What is communication?
• What happens when communication breaks down?
• Rules of conversation
• Communication ramps

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People with Aphasia

• Introduction to people with aphasia
• Video own conversations
• Feedback from people with aphasia and local
  Aphasia Support Group information

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Visits to Aphasia Groups

• Presentation to Aphasia Support Groups
• Students visit the groups and hold 3
  conversations
• Conversations evaluated by the people with
  aphasia and the students

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University Tutorial

• Students experiences of communication abilities
• Reflective document
• Staff support

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Evaluation

• Students evaluation
• Experience of communication difficulties
• Empowerment of People with Aphasia

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Funding

• University Teaching and Learning Fund
• Payments made to the people with aphasia
• Transport costs made to Aphasia Support Groups
• Materials bought to be used by students and the
  groups.

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The Future

• Student Communication Passports
• Students as group volunteers
• Students making Communication Passports for
  people with aphasia in other settings.

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References

• Kagan, A. (1998a). Supported conversation in
  adults with aphasia. Methods and resources for
  training conversation partners. Aphasiology. 12
  (9), 816-830.
• Legg, C.,Young,L., Bryer, A., Training
  sixth-year medical students in obtaining
  case-history information from adults with
  aphasia. Aphasiology, 2005, 19 (6), 559-575
• Parr, S., Byng, S., Gilpin, S., Ireland, C.,
  (1997) Talking about aphasia. Buckingham Open
  University Press.
• Statement of guiding principles relating to the
  commissioning and provision of communication
  skills in pre-registration and undergraduate
  education for Healthcare Professionals.
  Universities UK (2003)