Study Guide

Objective

• you understand the basics of augmentative and alternative communication
• you know how to promote client inclusion and equality with the help of different communication methods
• you know how to use online resources in challenging communication situations

Content

• methods that support and replace oral communication
• forms of simplified language use

Materials

Teacher's materials in itslearning, only in Finnish.

For the exam, the student can also read literature supporting the topic, available only in Finnish.

In English supporting material:

Who's Afraid of AAC? The UK Guide to Augmentative and Alternative Communication
Alison Battye
2018

Teaching methods

Online studies, videos, distance lecture, independent exercises, exam.

Exam schedules

The exam is an electronic open book exam and has four sections. The sections of the exam open under the "Resources and activities" heading.

NOTE! Do not open the sections of the exam below until you are about to take it. Opening is counted as a taking the test. Do all four sections. You can take the exam when you have studied the course materials.

Take the exam no later than April 12, 2024, and you will have time to receive the evaluation during spring 2024.

The materials for the exam are the course contents and the supplementary reading found behind the links (especially Papunet's materials).

Each section of the exam can be attempted 2 times and the materials may be with you in the exam. Each section of the exam has a 20-minute time limit. In the fourth part of the exam, questions about signs are asked, so prepare for the comprehension task with the help of the course materials.

Please wait, when you return the exam, that it will download all the answers.

The assessment of the exam is 1-5. Answer each exam task according to the instructions. In multiple-choice tasks, one option is chosen.

Scoring, the total maximum score for the exam is 63 points. 30 points are required for passing performance. Scoretable in itslearning.

At the end of the exam, you can answer a feedback questiona about the entire course. It is voluntary, anonymous and has no time limit.

International connections

According to Innopeda, the goal of the course is to get students interested about the topic and to actively search information. It is not possible to teach everything about this topic in one course, but the course guides students to seek information from reliable sources and advises a good attitude - everyone has the right to communicate and there are many ways to do so.

According to Innopeda, the competences for this course are:

Initiative skills = the student is able to tell about different AAC methods in the workplace, showing a model to others.

Creativity = the student knows how to use different methods creatively with individual customers, the student develops the readiness to think differently, the student has a good attitude to experiment and the courage to interact.

Teamwork = the student knows how to cooperate in a multiprofessional team and knows its importance when, for example, applying for communication guidance.

Critical thinking = the student knows how to put himself in the customer's position, the student is able to question many prevailing practices, the student understands the importance of communication and interaction for everyone, including non-speaking (essential language) people.

Network skills = the student knows how to seek advice from multiprofessional networks and organizations, the student knows who to contact when student needs more information.

Completion alternatives

Possible AHOT: Approval is sought and decisions are made in Peppi. See the instructions in the student's Peppi instructions (the instructions can be found in Mess with the search term). The student does the so-called replacement application, i.e. section 9.4. The person in charge of education is designated as the person handling the application (in 2024: Olli Toivonen).

Student workload

The scope of the course is 1 credit, i.e. 27 hours of student work.

(Voluntary start, Zoom, 1 h)

Start: info, reading, links, video (1 min), about 1 h
Services: reading, links, video (6 min), assignment, about 2 h
AAC: video (3 min), observation, task, reflection, about 15 min
Easy language: reading, assignments, articles for the exam, about 8.5 hours
Assisted: videos (several, choose a few, 1 h), task, video (2 min), about 1 h
Tools: task, about 1 hour
Symbols: reading, links, task, about 1.25 h
Writing: reading, videos (2 min, 2 min), drawing by yourself, about 15 min
Subjects: reading, video (5 min), about 30 min
Unassisted: reading, assignments, about 30 min
Signs: video (2 min, 2 min, 14 min, 3 min, 4 min), task, video (6 min), about 3 h
Haptics: reading, task, about 30 min
Essential language: reading, video (2 min), about 15 min
Exam: duration 80 min, reading of materials, learning, 7 h

Content scheduling

The course is studied independently between January 15th and April 15th, 2024. The student marks the tasks as completed on the itslearning platform according to his own progress.

The course ends with an electronic open book exam, which must be completed on the itslearning platform no later than April 12nd, 2024.

Further information

You can reach the teacher through itslearning's page Start discussion activity tool.

Ask if there are any problems or something doesn't work. Also put tips if you find new material related to the topic that you think will be of interest to other students.

Evaluation scale

H-5

Assessment methods and criteria

The evaluation of the course is 1-5 and the same as in the exam.

Scoring according to the exam. The maximum score is 63 points. 30 points are required for passing performance.