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

Nonstop. You can do test, when you have studied the course.
You can do the test as many times you like. You need to have 80 % of the answers right, then the test is accepted. There is four parts in the test.

International connections

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.

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 (which can be found in Messi). The student does the so-called replacement application. The person in charge of education is designated as the person handling the application (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

Assessment criteria, approved/failed

80 % answers right

Content scheduling

The course is studied independently between January 15th and April 15th, 2025. According to his/her progress, the student marks the tasks as completed on the itslearning platform.

The course ends with an electronic open book exam, which must be completed on the itslearning platform by April 15th, 2025.

Further information

You can reach the teacher through itslearning's Start page 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

Hyväksytty/Hylätty

Assessment methods and criteria

Accepted - Not accepted. The accepted course includes all four tests done and accepted. Assessments will be documented in Peppi after you have finished all the exams, at least they will be recorded at the end of May.