Observed Learning Outcomes of Integrated Communication Training in Science Education: Skills and Subject Matter Understanding

In this paper we explore how different ways of training communication skills can be successfully implemented in higher education, and which effects these activities may have on science students’ learning. Using content analysis, we studied a material consisting of 34 reports, written by 70 academic science teachers, as part of a teacher-training course on communication in science higher education. In the course, the teachers developed and implemented communication tasks into their content courses, and analysed and reported on the observed learning outcomes. The tasks covered both written and oral communication addressing different audiences, inside as well as outside of academia. We found that integrating different ways of communication training in science courses entailed improved skills in sharing and discussing science information, and in addition, increased subject understanding. Thus, we conclude that the integration of communication training may effectively support students’ science learning in higher education.