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Communication Skills

Science Laboratory Technology · Level 5  ·  5 Chapters

Compiled by: Kennedy Wachira

Can I download Communication Skills notes as a PDF?

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What Communication Skills covers

Communication Skills for Science Laboratory Technology Level 5 teaches laboratory staff to pick channels, write clearly and speak so instructions are understood. It opens with the communication process, its principles, barriers, information flow and organisational policies. Written communication covers types, elements and what an organisation requires. Non-verbal skills deal with body language, gestures, posture and the workplace dressing code. Oral communication covers pathways, questioning techniques, etiquette and active listening. Group discussion covers establishing rapport, turn-taking, action plans, conflict resolution and team-work, the skills a practical session or a results meeting depends on.

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Careers after Communication Skills

This unit prepares you to work in laboratories where requests, results and safety notices move between technicians, supervisors and clients.

  • School science laboratories in Kisii - You give clear spoken instructions to students, post written safety notices and use posture and gestures to keep a practical session orderly.
  • County hospital laboratories in Nakuru - You pass test requests and results along the right channel and keep written records in the form the organisation requires.
  • Water testing laboratories in Kisumu - You take part in group discussions at the bench, take turns, settle disagreements and agree action plans for sampling rounds.
  • Food quality control laboratories in Thika - You ask effective questions and listen actively when a production supervisor explains what must be checked.
  • Self-employment supplying laboratory consumables in Eldoret - You build rapport with school and clinic buyers, keep to workplace etiquette and earn from repeat orders.

The same five skills carry from one laboratory to the next: channels, writing, non-verbal cues, speaking and group work.

Chapters

1
Apply communication channels
8 topics
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2
Apply written communication skills
3 topics
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3
Apply non-verbal skills
3 topics
Open chapter →
4
Apply oral communication skills
4 topics
Open chapter →
5
Apply group discussion skills
7 topics
Open chapter →
What Communication Skills covers: 25 main topics in 5 chapters

1. Apply communication channels

  1. 1.1 Communication Process
  2. 1.2 Principles of effective communication
  3. 1.3 Channels/medium/modes of communication
  4. 1.4 Factors to consider when selecting a channel of communication
  5. 1.5 Barriers to effective communication
  6. 1.6 Flow/patterns of communication
  7. 1.7 Sources of information
  8. 1.8 Organizational policies

2. Apply written communication skills

  1. 2.1 Types of written communication
  2. 2.2 Elements of communication
  3. 2.3 Organization requirements for written communication

3. Apply non-verbal skills

  1. 3.1 Utilize body language and gestures
  2. 3.2 Apply body posture
  3. 3.3 Apply workplace dressing code

4. Apply oral communication skills

  1. 4.1 Types of oral communication pathways
  2. 4.2 Effective questioning techniques
  3. 4.3 Workplace etiquette
  4. 4.4 Active listening

5. Apply group discussion skills

  1. 5.1 Establishing rapport
  2. 5.2 Facilitating resolution of issues
  3. 5.3 Developing action plans
  4. 5.4 Group organization techniques
  5. 5.5 Turn-taking techniques
  6. 5.6 Conflict resolution techniques
  7. 5.7 Team-work

Revise this unit

Exam-style questions 70 Written to CDACC standard, with answers Test yourself 158 Multiple-choice, one at a time Practise questions 132 Quick recall — check you know the facts
3 more for this unit
Oral exam preparation 37 What the assessor asks, and how to answer out loud Worked calculations 14 Step-by-step maths with the common mistakes Quick cards 790 Myth busters, skill tips and scenarios

Beyond the syllabus

Decision simulator 4 On site, what would you do? Workplace scenarios 80 Real site situations — what would you do? Turn this into income 48 Where this skill earns — what to charge, how to find clients

Other units in Module I