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.
Offered By
Foundational Skills for Communicating About Health
University of Michigan
About this Course
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What you will learn
Define and collect important information about a target audience in order to make appropriate decisions about the communication effort
Select an audience-appropriate communications goal
Craft a clear, concise core message for a communication effort
Deploy at least two different types of narrative structures to support communications about health topics
Skills you will gain
Health CommunicationStorytellingCommunicationMessagingTailoring communications
Shareable Certificate
Earn a Certificate upon completion
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Flexible deadlines
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Beginner Level
Approx. 19 hours to complete
Suggested: 5-6 weeks, 2-4 hours/week
English
Subtitles: English
Syllabus - What you will learn from this course
2 hours to complete
Week 1
In Week 1, we will consider how knowing your audience and your specific goals are the critical first steps to designing effective communications.
2 hours to complete
8 videos (Total 51 min), 3 readings, 5 quizzes
8 videos
What can go wrong?7m
Audience and Goals11m
Creating an Audience-Goal Worksheet7m
Audience-Goals Example: Community Brochure5m
Audience-Goals Example: Scientific Conference6m
Audience-Goals Example: Advocacy Brief5m
Audience-Goals Example: This Course Segment4m
3 readings
Faculty Introduction and Acknowledgements1m
Help Us Learn More About You!5m
Note about videos1m
5 practice exercises
Introductory Story of Science exercise20m
Audience / Goals Practice: Public Meeting10m
Audience / Goals Practice: Genetic Test Report10m
Audience / Goals Practice: Annual Clinic Report10m
Audience / Goals Practice: Airport Poster10m
3 hours to complete
Week 2
In Week 2, we will focus on developing clear takeaway messages so that communications can achieve their objectives.
3 hours to complete
6 videos (Total 40 min), 2 readings, 8 quizzes
6 videos
What makes a good Central Message?7m
Idea Space3m
Inverted Triangle7m
Inverted Triangle Examples11m
Inverted Triangle Useful Structure4m
2 readings
Half-Life Your Message Activity Instructions10m
A Note About The Next Set Of Items1m
8 practice exercises
Half-Life Your Message Reflection15m
Create a Central Message30m
How many points in a paragraph (1)5m
How many points in a paragraph (2)5m
How many points in a paragraph (3)5m
Critique / rewrite paragraphs10m
Evaluate summary using rubric (1)10m
Evaluate summary using rubric (2)10m
2 hours to complete
Week 3
This week, we focus on using plain language to avoid jargon, and continue to practice finding a clear central message.
2 hours to complete
4 videos (Total 31 min)
4 videos
Active vs. Passive Voice6m
Tools and Sites for Plain Language8m
Dejargonizer video5m
2 practice exercises
Passive voice to active voice10m
Replacing jargon in sentences20m
4 hours to complete
Week 4
In Week 4, we will learn how to use narrative forms to tell the story of science and how to think about the larger macro-structures of messages, especially when your message is designed to advocate for your central point.
4 hours to complete
13 videos (Total 56 min), 3 readings, 3 quizzes
13 videos
The Link Between Messaging and Narrative3m
Health Sciences & Management Can be Stories4m
ABT (And, But, Therefore)7m
ABT in Science Stories6m
Other Examples of ABT3m
ABT X 24m
The Findings ABT2m
Post-Interview debrief Dr. Skip Lupia4m
One-pager Briefs4m
Advocacy Examples: Inverted Triangles + ABT3m
Advocacy Example: Repeated Inverted Triangle4m
Macro- vs. Micro-Message Structures1m
3 readings
External Video (10 min): Communicating to Policymakers10m
Letter to EPA: CPP Replacement10m
Letter to EPA: Toxic Substance Control Act10m
2 practice exercises
Evaluate ABT x 2 examples20m
Create ABT x 2 from provided research paper45m
Offered by
University of Michigan
The mission of the University of Michigan is to serve the people of Michigan and the world through preeminence in creating, communicating, preserving and applying knowledge, art, and academic values, and in developing leaders and citizens who will challenge the present and enrich the future.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?
Once you enroll for a Certificate, you’ll have access to all videos, quizzes, and programming assignments (if applicable). Peer review assignments can only be submitted and reviewed once your session has begun. If you choose to explore the course without purchasing, you may not be able to access certain assignments.
What will I get if I purchase the Certificate?
When you purchase a Certificate you get access to all course materials, including graded assignments. Upon completing the course, your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile. If you only want to read and view the course content, you can audit the course for free.
What is the refund policy?
Is financial aid available?
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