MODULE PURPOSIVE COMMUNICATION

CHAPTER 5: COMMUNICATION AIDS AND STRATEGIES USING TOOLS OF

TECHNOLOGY

Objectives:
At the end of the lesson, the students will be able to:
a.) identify the different communication aids;
b.) recognize the important use of different communication aids;
d.) shoot a video showing the convenient effects of technology in
communication

WHAT IS COMMUNICATION AIDS

If an individual’s speech is
unclear or has no speech at all, then a
computer can help him be understood.

A communication aid is anything

that helps an individual communicate
more effectively with those around him.

It is not essential for the user to

be able to read text in order to use a communication aid.
Many aids are symbols or picture-based and still provide
full functionality in order to communicate with others.

The use of PC to support an individual’s need is

likely to benefit him. But please be aware that getting the
correct equipment with the correct software, mounted into
correct place, controlled with a suitable method, and will be more than 40 percent of a
solution.

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An electronic communication aid can be a device that has been purposely built
for that job or a standard computer running specialist communication software with the
added benefit of being a computer as well.

CHOOSING THE CORRECT COMMUNICATION AID

- Choosing a particular electronic facility will require careful assessment of the

abilities and needs of the individual so that the best device can be chooses.
- The majority of aids need to be programmed with suitable messages and a
structure to suit the individual using the aids.

EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION STRATEGIES

Effective communications are vital to achieve the goals and objectives of the
course or career whether trying to improve services at the building level, secure funding
at the district level or shape policy at the national level.

1. IMBIBE LEADERSHIP ROLE IN COMMUNICATION

- Knowing and reaching out to key

audiences/stakeholders
- Recognizing communications
opportunities.
- Developing and conveying key
messages.
- Providing useful, relevant
information to group or
individual.
- Making use of resources
provided by the school, district or division level.
- Coordinating with colleagues within the school, district or division level.
- Encouraging school psychologist to be active communicators.

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2. DETERMINE KEY MESSAGE AREAS

Developing clear, memorable messages

are critical to effective communications.
Determining what your most important messages
are depending on the goal and the specific
situation but there are a few global issues that are
central to the profession today. The school or
district may help develop and disseminate key
messages on these global issues to a variety of
stakeholder audiences and for use by school psychologists.

These can include:

- Prevention/Early Intervention (Prevention is Intervention)

- Children’s Mental Healthy and School-Based Services.
- Problem-Solving Model and RTI (Implication of approach/role of school
psychologist).

DEVELOPING YOUR MESSAGES

1. IDENTIFY YOUR TARGET AUDIENCE.

Messages even on the same issue should be

tailored as narrowly as possible to the specific audience
because they have different concerns and perspective.

 Administrators
 Teachers/Other Educators
 Allied professionals
 Policymakers
 Advocacy Groups
 Media
 School Psychologists/Guidance Counselors

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CONSIDER YOUR AUDIENCE’S:

 Level of knowledge/awareness
 Primary concerns/expectations
 Perspective
 Possible barriers to understanding
 Ability/likelihood to take action.

2. FOCUS ON YOUR OBJECTIVE:

Consider why the issue is

important, to whom, and why at this time.
What do you want to accomplish?

 Raise awareness of
your role/value to
students/adults
 Raise awareness of a
specific issue.
 Increase your involvement/effectiveness on an issue
 Build support for specific policy/resource needs.
 Encourage parents/teachers/students to act

3. BE RELEVANT. THIS IS HOW TO BE

RELEVANT

 Relate the issue to a school,

district or division context.
 People focus on issues they
are concerned about.
 Articulate impact on
students/school
 Include some supporting

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points about what parents/teachers/students can do.

 Provide your contact information

4. BE CLEAR AND CONCISE. TO DO THIS:

 Pick your main point.

 State it at the outset.
 Back it up with 2-3 facts or data
points.
 Provide specific suggestions.
 Provide personal examples.
 Use audience appropriate
language.
 Avoid acronyms/technical
language.
 Use active tense.
 Use bullets to the extent possible.
 Ask a colleague to review.
 Proof your work (or ask someone else to)!

4. THE THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND. HERE THEY ARE

 Most people will only remember 2 or

3 points in any communications.
 Be brief.
 Think about the perspective of your
audience.
 You know the way more than your
audiences need to hear/read.
 Incorporate language relevant to
others.
 Think catch.

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5. BE CONSITENT TO THE POINTS YOU MAKE

 Emphasize the importance

of prevention and early
intervention.
 Identify the link between the
issue/topic and learning and
behavior.
 Reiterate the effective
interventions and proper
supports improve children’s
outcomes.
 Describe, at least briefly,
the school psychologist’s role in addressing the issue.
 Encourage people to seek additional information from your/their
local school psychologist.

Effective communication is critical to the successful implementation of change

initiatives. Clear communication about the change is essential; messages should
be easy to read, user-friendly, informative and relevant to the audience.

CONSIDERATIONS

KEY THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN COMMUNICATION CHANGE

- Consistent, timely, honest, accurate communication.

- Explain the vision, plans, anticipated benefits and progress of the change
initiative.
- Capture and address questions and issues (promptly!)
- Aim to maximize participation in the change process by involving employees.
- Constantly reinforce common themes and messages.
- Encourage discussion and dialogue about change.

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- Adapt communications strategies as needed in order to address and resolve

unforeseen issues.
- Adapt the communication to the audience.
- Ensure the communication is effective.

KEY THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN CREATING A COMMUNICATION PLAN FOR

CHANGE INITIATIVE

 What do you need to

communicate?
 With whom do you need to
communicate?
 How will you generate
awareness of the
proposed change?
 How will you educate and
engage people?
 What do you want to accomplish with the change and how can you
use communications to assist with this?

UNDERSTANDING YOUR AUDIENCE

 Who are they?

 What do they
know/understand already?
 What drives/motivates
them?
 What question/concerns
might they have?
 What tools/channels will
you use to communicate?
 Who is the primary contact for employee questions/concerns?

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LEADERS FOR CHANGE

The person leading the change has a

critical role to play; they should:

 Provide a clear vision

and explanation and
vision for the change –
the rationale, possible
impacts and expected
benefits.
 Send consistent and
supportive messages
 Model the behaviors
expected of others
 Provide regular updates during consultation and implementation
stages
 Be open to feedback and suggestions, consider
comments/suggestions and respond.
 Consider what communication will work best for delivery of the
message: face-to-face, email, etc.

COMMUNICATION TOOLS

Nick Roland (2017) emphasized

that with the proliferation of digital
technology in the late 20th century and
early 21st century, communication has
never been more personal and powerful.

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1. PHONES

- Before landlines are used as the primary

communication tool of the people.
- Cell phones were thought of as luxury.
- Now, wireless phones are dominant form of
communication in many countries including the
Philippines.
- Text messaging is rampant.
- The advent of the smartphone has enabled
mobile phones to have PC functionality to send
large pictures and video files.

2. E-mail

- In 1945, Massachusetts Institute of

Technology researchers and staff first used e-
mail.
- E-mail is a function of the Internet, and users
can access it from myriad of devices including
cell phones.

3. SOCIAL NETWORKS

- Twitter is a form of mass

communication, as messages get
spread to may recipients.
- Twitter is a social medium, with that it
enables instant interaction among users
who can communicate directly and
“retweet” other Twitterer messages.
- Facebook is social media platform
similar to it predecessor MySpace.

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- Facebook has numerous functions and benefits and allows users to

communicate on a one-on-
one basis or to large groups.

4. INSTANT MESSAGING ANS

SKYPE

- Instant messaging saw its

peak early in the 21st century
before the rise of the more
interactive social media
platforms.

THE USE OF TOOLS OF TECHNOLOGY IN COMMUNICATION

- Using technology in communication has become a necessity, it’s now part of our
lives.
- People communicate through emails, faxes, mobile phones, texting services,
video conferences, video chat rooms and other social media channels.
- As time goes on, more emerging technologies will change the way we
communicate and it will be up to us to embrace them or not.

THE IMPACT OF TECHNOLOGY IN COMMUNICATION TO A BUSINESS

- Today, every business uses technology in its own way to reach the media and
targeted consumers.
- Businesses have embraced technology by easing communication within
companies and among investors and suppliers.

FEW USES OF TECHNOLOGY IN COMMUNICATION TO A BUSINESS

- EASY PRODUCT LAUNCH

- PRODUCT OR SERVICE SURVEYS

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- SOCIAL INTERACTIONS WITH CONSUMERS

- VIDEO CONFERENCING
- USE OF DIGITAL NETWORKS

THE IMPACT OF TECHNOLOGY IN COMMUNICATION TO INDIVIDUALS

- Technology has changed the way we

interact and communicate with others.
- With the increased use of social-
based networks, people can create
new relationships and discover old
friends.
- With technology, parents can
communicate and keep track of their children.

FEW USES OF TECHNOLOGY TOWARDS INDIVIDUAL

- TEXT MESSAGING SERVICES

- SOCIAL NETWORKING PLATFORMS
- PARENTAL SECURITY APPS
- FREE INTERNET CALLS
- USE OF EMAILS

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