"The Intersection of the Assignment and Technology: Engaging the Learner to Improve Communication Skills" - Christine Colella & Lindsay Davis
From Christine Colella
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From Christine Colella
Title: The Intersection of the Assignment and Technology: Engaging the Learner to Improve Communication Skills
Description: Increasingly complex and fast-paced learning environments call for students who are prepared with skills to best optimize their ability to communicate using technology. Engaging technology to engage the learner is continual quest for educators teaching at a distance. Faculty will share how using Flipgrid they designed an assignment that gave the students an opportunity to develop and practice their communication skills. The fact that this high-stakes skill was able to be practiced first in a non-threatening environment led to self-reflection and an expression of increased confidence.
Abstract: Increasingly complex and fast-paced learning environments call for students who are prepared with skills to best optimize their ability to communicate using technology. Educators are challenged to develop new teaching strategies which actively engage the student. Remaining aware of new technology and platforms which compliment distance learning is crucial. This utilization of technology to develop, assess, and evaluate communication can be fine-tuned for any discipline. Students who need to communicate any type of vital information in a variety of professional settings should have the opportunity to practice in a nonthreatening environment. Faculty in a clinical practicum course combined an evidence-based technique for case presentations with the use of an intuitive video recording platform called Flipgrid for a low-fidelity simulation assignment. The development of this assignment was generated by a need to give students an opportunity to practice real-world communication in a nonthreatening environment. Students were supplied a copy of a sentinel article explaining the case presentation technique and two patient case studies. They were required to present the case using the technique through a Flipgrid video recording. Repeated practice and the ability to assess their performance with each recorded attempt allowed for self-assessment and reflection. The ability to view other students’ case presentations allowed for the opportunity to see the case presented from different perspectives. The faculty were able to highlight areas for improvement and offer feedback based on student performance. Following the assignment, the students reported that their thoughts were better organized and they had increased confidence in their presentation and communication skills resulting in a well prepared and engaged student.
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