Effective communication is essential to education but takes practice and dedicated personal reflection. Strategies listed below will enhance communication. Please also refer to the Communication section of this website for further information.
Active listening is a skill that greatly enhances the efficacy of feedback, reflective practice and facilitation of clinical reasoning. It demands alertness on the part of the listener (Trevithick, 2000 as cited in Health Education & Training Institute, 2012), aiming to understand the intended message as well as the content. Tips to practice active listening include:
- Allow student time to articulate thoughts.
- Summarise or paraphrase to ensure understanding.
- Seek clarification if necessary.
- Ask questions or give feedback to facilitate learning.
Tips to giving effective explanations include:
- Emphasise the key points.
- Do not talk too fast and use pauses.
- Choose words or terms that are clear and precise.
- Monitor for understanding of your explanation (e.g. ask for a summary – reword).
(Health Education & Training Institute, 2012, p 25).
Tips to facilitating discussion:
- Ask questions that promote deep and continuous discussion (open, focus or probing questions).
- Maximise participation e.g. Use a common experience or area of interest as the basis of discussion. Use non-verbal encouragement such as leaning forward, head nods and looking expectant. Use active listening.
- Create a positive learning environment by acknowledging/rewarding responses e.g. say ‘thank you’ or ‘well said’. Build on what is said by using discussion points as a springboard for further discussion.
- Outline the aims of the discussion and use a key discussion question.
(Muller & Urby, 2005, as cited in Health Education & Training Institute, 2012, p 27).
(This document has been reproduced from Health Workforce Australia (2013), Enabling Clinical Supervision Skills)
This video is an interview with a Clinical Education Co-ordinator discussing tips to facilitate the smooth running of a placement including the value of effective communication..
