aidemia--modules-lessonstartideas_type	Give a creative idea how to begin a lesson
Which subject	Health
What age group	College
What topic	Communication
Quantity	1
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Engaging Health Communication Lesson: "The Art of Listening"

Introduction

Welcome to today’s lesson on Communication in the field of Health! As future healthcare professionals, you'll find that effective communication skills are essential to your practice. To kick off our session, we’re going to explore an often-overlooked aspect of communication: listening.

Icebreaker Activity: “Listening Circle”

Objective

To highlight the significance of active listening in healthcare settings and stimulate discussion around its impact on patient outcomes.

Materials Needed

• A soft object (like a ball or a plush toy)
• An open space for participants to sit in a circle

Instructions

1. Form a Circle: Gather all participants in a circle, leaving enough space for the object to be tossed around.

2. Starting the Activity: Introduce the task. The objective is for each participant to share a brief story or experience related to health—this can include anything from a personal health journey to an observation about a healthcare setting. The catch? Only the person holding the object can speak.

3. Listening Exercise: As the participant speaks, the others must focus intently, practicing active listening. After sharing, they will toss the object to someone else in the circle, who will then share their story.

4. Reflection: Once everyone has participated, reconvene and discuss:

   • What did you notice about how our listening impacted the stories shared?
   • How did you feel when you were actively listened to versus when you had the chance to listen?
   • Can you identify how these listening skills relate to patient care?

Conclusion

This engaging exercise not only serves as a fun icebreaker but also sets the stage for a deeper exploration of communication's role in health settings. By emphasizing listening, you'll come to realize its critical role in building trust, understanding patient needs, and ultimately enhancing care quality.

Let’s move forward to our next topic, where we’ll delve into effective verbal and non-verbal communication strategies in health settings!