Effective Communication

Practices to Build

Collaborative

Partnerships: Learning and

Teaching About Them

May 18, 20118:45-10:00

Project CONNECTAubrey Comperatore

Welcome

Please be sure to pick up the handouts provided

Communication for Collaboration:Objectives

To learn effective communication strategies

To experience the 5-step decision making process as in-service development

To provide you with evidence-based resources for professional development

To brainstorm ways in which you can use and teach communication strategies in other settings

Professional Development?

Using a sticky note, jot down a few words that describe what your impression is of a typical professional development session. What is usually included? How is it typically presented? Do they motivate, bore, interest, excite….?

On a separate sticky note, what do you wish professional development could be like? What topics would you like to see covered? What techniques would be used to present them? How do you want you and your staff to feel after participating?

What is Project CONNECT?http://community.fpg.unc.edu/connect

What is Evidence-Based Practice?

Evidence-based practice is “a decision-making process that integrates the best available research evidence with family and professional wisdom and values” or a combination of science and experience.

FPG Snapshot, #33, September 2006

Discussion 1

Discuss:

Why is communication important when working in early childhood inclusive settings?

What are some hurdles you have encountered when communicating with other professionals? With families?

Step 1:

Dilemma

Shawanda: Teacher’s Point of View

Ashley: Specialist’s Point of View

Step 2:

Question

PICO

PICO

P

PERSON

(who will participate in

the intervention)

I

Interventions

or practice(s) being

considered

C

Comparision

to other intervetions (if

there is research that compares two

or more interventions)

O

Outcomes

desired

Responses

Early childhood

professionals

Communication practices

N/A Promoting collaboration with other professional

s and families

Step 3:

Evidence

The policy and the research

say…

Effective Communication Strategies

Definition of Effective Communication

“Effective communication with professionals and families consists of specific communication strategies that can be organized into the following three categories: (1) attending and active listening; (2) seeking and verifying; (3) and joining and supporting. These communication strategies are used throughout the process of building trusting partnerships. Creating a partnership generally involves getting to know the other person and establishing trust, gaining an understanding of another’s priorities and needs, and reaching consensus on how best to work together.”

Communication Strategies:Carousel Walk

With your group, read the characteristics of your specific strategy. 1) Attending and active listening 2) Seeking and verifying 3) Joining and supporting

On your group’s chart paper, try to define and illustrate the key points for your strategy. You may use words, drawings, or symbols,

Choose one member of your group as the spokesperson to share.

Step 4:

Decision

Step 5:

Evaluation

Discussion 2

Discuss:

How can you envision using these communication strategies in your workplace?

How could you use these strategies in other areas? With families? In your personal life?

Role-Playing Extension

Brainstorm

With your group, how can you use the Project CONNECT resource to enhance your workplace?

For more information…

http://community.fpg.unc.edu/connect-modules

Dr. Pam Winton: connect@unc.edu

Aubrey Comperatore: comperat@email.unc.edu