Augmentative and Alternative Communication (1cr)

Evaluation methods and criteria

The course is assessed on an Accepted - Not accepted scale. A passed study attainment requires passing the exams included in the course. The aim of the exams and course assessment is that the student: • knows the basics of AAC communication • knows how to promote the customers' inclusion and equality with different AAC methods • remembers how to use online material in challenging communication situations and knows where to seek more information.

Evaluation scale

Hyväksytty/Hylätty

Content scheduling

The course is studied independently between January 12th and April 17th, 2026. According to students' 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 17th, 2026.

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 course supports sustainable development because it can be studied completely online and does not require travel. The promotion of justice, equality and accessibility increases well-being in society as a whole, and the themes of the course are related to improving inclusion and thus human rights for special needs groups. The competences for this course are: Initiative skills and working life skills = the student is able to tell about different AAC methods in the workplace, showing a model to others. Creativity and learning = 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 and proactive development = the student knows how to cooperate in a multiprofessional team and knows its importance when, for example, applying for communication guidance. Critical thinking and ethics = the student knows how to put themselves 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 and multicultural 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/Accreditation: 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 replacement application. The Degree programme leader is the person handling the applications (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