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Foundational Skills for Communicating About Health
  • Level Foundation
  • Duration 15 hours
  • Course by University of Michigan
  • Offered by

About

Effective communication is a core skill that nearly every health professional will need and use during their careers. Yet, few health professionals receive even basic training in how to design communications to be clear and successful. As “foundational skills,” the content in this course can be applied to both oral and written communication, within and beyond health. Learners will develop the skills to: analyze and tailor a communication effort for different audiences, develop clear messages, create logical and compelling stories, understand and apply important considerations with language as well as nonverbal communication. This course is valuable and appropriate for both beginning and experienced health professionals who need to communicate effectively with other professionals, patients, policymakers, or the broader public.. Content is relevant to public health professionals, clinicians of all types (medical, nursing, dentists, social work, etc.), health advocates, and scientists and researchers in any health domain..

Modules

Topic 0

    • 4 Readings
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4 Readings

  • Faculty Introduction and Acknowledgements
  • Course Syllabus
  • Help Us Learn More About You!
  • Note about videos

Topic 1A: Communications Overview: Audience and Purpose

    • 3 Videos
    • 1 Discussion
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Introductory Story of Science exercise

1 Discussions

  • Example of a Health Communication Gone Wrong

3 Videos

  • Fundamental Concepts
  • What can go wrong?
  • Audience and Goals

Topic 1B: Audience / Goals Examples and Practice

    • 5 Videos
    • 4 Assignment
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4 Assignment

  • Audience / Goals Practice: Public Meeting
  • Audience / Goals Practice: Genetic Test Report
  • Audience / Goals Practice: Annual Clinic Report
  • Audience / Goals Practice: Airport Poster

5 Videos

  • Creating an Audience-Goal Worksheet
  • Audience-Goals Example: Community Brochure
  • Audience-Goals Example: Scientific Conference
  • Audience-Goals Example: Advocacy Brief
  • Audience-Goals Example: This Course Segment

Topic 2: Central Messaging

    • 6 Videos
    • 2 Readings
    • 1 Plugin
    • 8 Assignment
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8 Assignment

  • Half-Life Your Message Reflection
  • Create a Central Message
  • How many points in a paragraph (1)
  • How many points in a paragraph (2)
  • How many points in a paragraph (3)
  • Critique / rewrite paragraphs
  • Evaluate summary using rubric (1)
  • Evaluate summary using rubric (2)

6 Videos

  • The Importance of Message Prioritization
  • What makes a good Central Message?
  • Idea Space
  • Inverted Triangle
  • Inverted Triangle Examples
  • Inverted Triangle Useful Structure

2 Readings

  • Half-Life Your Message Activity Instructions
  • A Note About The Next Set Of Items

Topic 3A: Clear Language

    • 4 Videos
    • 2 Assignment
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2 Assignment

  • Passive voice to active voice
  • Replacing jargon in sentences

4 Videos

  • Central Messages in Data Graphics
  • Active vs. Passive Voice
  • Tools and Sites for Plain Language
  • Dejargonizer video

Topic 3B: Central Messaging Assignment

    • 1 PeerReview
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1 Peer Review

  • 3 Paragraph Summary Assignment

Topic 4A: Narrative Forms

    • 8 Videos
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8 Videos

  • Power of Stories
  • The Link Between Messaging and Narrative
  • Health Sciences & Management Can be Stories
  • ABT (And, But, Therefore)
  • ABT in Science Stories
  • Other Examples of ABT
  • ABT X 2
  • The Findings ABT

Topic 4B: Advocacy Messages & Macro Structures

    • 5 Videos
    • 3 Readings
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5 Videos

  • Post-Interview debrief Dr. Skip Lupia
  • One-pager Briefs
  • Advocacy Examples: Inverted Triangles + ABT
  • Advocacy Example: Repeated Inverted Triangle
  • Macro- vs. Micro-Message Structures

3 Readings

  • External Video (10 min): Communicating to Policymakers
  • Letter to EPA: CPP Replacement
  • Letter to EPA: Toxic Substance Control Act

Topic 4C: Narrative Examples / Practice

    • 1 PeerReview
    • 2 Assignment
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2 Assignment

  • Evaluate ABT x 2 examples
  • Create ABT x 2 from provided research paper

1 Peer Review

  • Create ABTx2 from provided research paper for peer review

Topic 5: Verbals and Nonverbals

    • 1 Videos
    • 1 Readings
    • 4 Assignment
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4 Assignment

  • Video Analysis - Step 1
  • Video Analysis - Step 2
  • Video Analysis - Step 3
  • Rubric Training Video Presentation Evaluation

1 Videos

  • Vocal Tones and Nonverbals

1 Readings

  • Vocal Tone Handout

Final Assignment

    • 1 Videos
    • 5 Readings
    • 1 PeerReview
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Rubric Training: Written Report Evaluation

1 Peer Review

  • Advocacy 1-Pager Final Assignment

1 Videos

  • Giving Constructive Feedback

5 Readings

  • Resources and Hand-Outs
  • Course Feedback
  • Congratulations! Course Complete
  • Citation correction
  • Keep Learning with Michigan Online!

Auto Summary

"Foundational Skills for Communicating About Health" is essential for health professionals aiming to enhance their communication abilities. Led by Coursera, this foundational course covers both oral and written communication strategies, focusing on tailoring messages, creating compelling stories, and understanding nonverbal cues. Ideal for both beginners and experienced professionals, it caters to clinicians, public health experts, advocates, and researchers. With a duration of 900 minutes, learners can choose between Starter and Professional subscription options.

Brian Zikmund-Fisher
Instructor

Brian Zikmund-Fisher