Course Level: Introductory.
Course Runtime: 23 minutes.
Course Format: e-learning – text and video.

Description

Communication sits at the centre of school life. It shapes learning, relationships, regulation, and a student’s sense of belonging.

This short, practical course invites you to look at the school day through a communication lens. Rather than viewing communication as a separate skill or specialist area, we explore how it already exists within everyday routines, lessons, transitions, and shared moments, and how those moments can be made more accessible and inclusive.

You will walk through a typical school day, reflecting on key times such as arrival, learning time, play, transitions, and the end of the day. Together, we consider why these moments matter, how communication shows up in different forms, and how small, intentional adjustments can have a meaningful impact on student participation.

The course recognises that communication is not limited to spoken language. AAC, gesture, symbols, facial expression, behaviour, and written language all play a role in how students express themselves, connect with others, and engage in learning.

This session is suitable for a wide range of roles and settings and does not require specialist AAC knowledge. Instead, it encourages thoughtful reflection on your own environment, your own students, and the routines you know well, helping you identify where communication could be clearer, more supported, and more embedded within everyday practice.

Course outline

Take a tour of the school day and explore key communication moments:

• Understanding the ‘communication lens’ in the classroom.
• Recognising communication in all its forms, from AAC to behaviour.
• Supporting arrival, learning time, and play.
• Managing transitions and the end of the school day.
• Practical ways to embed communication into everyday routines.

Content disclosure: This course focuses on inclusive communication strategies and environmental reflections. Specific AAC products will be included in a limited format if relevant.

Learner Outcomes

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

• Explain why communication is foundational to learning, participation, and belonging in school.
• Identify everyday moments across the school day where communication can be supported more intentionally.
• Describe practical ways to make communication more accessible within existing routines.

Completion requirements: You must complete all course content including reading all text and watching all video content. This course is assessed via a multiple-choice, five-question knowledge check at the end of the course. The pass score is 80%. You can take the knowledge check multiple times.

Instructor Bio

Kim Lawther | Education Product Manager

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Disclosures

Financial disclosure: Kim Lawther is an employee of Smartbox Assistive Technology and receives a salary.

Non-financial disclosure: Kim Lawther has no relevant non-financial disclosure.