COMMUNICATION AND COLLABORATION
PRESENTER GUIDE
Written and Adapted by
Andrea Damenti & Nami Quaranta
for the Illinois Statewide Technical
Assistance Project for Parents-ISTAC-P
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MODULE 3: Communication and Collaboration
Contents
Section: .................................................................................................. Page #
I. – Presenter Information
Foreword ......................................................................................................... 3
Overview ......................................................................................................... 4
Learning Objectives ......................................................................................... 4
Target Audience .............................................................................................. 4
Presenter Background Knowledge................................................................... 4
Preparing for the Workshop ............................................................................. 4
Workshop Room Set-Up .................................................................................. 5
Equipment, Materials & Supplies ..................................................................... 5
Workshop Presentation Guide Format ............................................................. 5
Agenda & Pacing ............................................................................................. 6
II. - Workshop Presentation – Scripted Curriculum
Welcome, Introduction & Workshop Objectives ............................................... 7
Illinois Education Support System............................................................. 8 - 10
Communication Style:
Communication Style Assessments ..................................................... 10-11
Identifying Your Communication Style Preference………………………11-14
Communicating Effectively for Collaboration ............................................. 15-21
Summary .................................................................................................. 22-23
III - Following the Workshop .........................................................................23
IV. - Materials & Handouts
Workshop Registration Flyer (PCM 3.1)
Workshop Sign-In Sheet (PCM 3.2)
Communication Style Self-Assessment (PCM 3.3)
Characteristics of Communication Styles (PCM 3.4)
Thinker sign (PCM 3.5)
Feeler sign (PCM 3.6)
Sensor sign (PCM 3.7)
Intuitor sign (PCM 3.8)
Perspective Taking In Communication (PCM 3.9)
Communicating Effectively for Collaboration (PCM 3.10)
Practice Norms of Collaboration – Group Activity (PCM 3.11)
Station #5: Norms Inventory (PMC 3.12)
Workshop Evaluation (PCM 3.13)
Resource Guide (PCM 3.14)
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MODULE 1: Introducing Your Child: Creating Your Child’s Learning Profile
FOREWORD
In cooperation with the Illinois Statewide Technical Assistance Center (www.IS-TAC.org), the Parent &
Educator Partnership advances the Illinois State Board of Education's priority to improve the delivery of
training and technical assistance to parents of students with disabilities throughout the State of Illinois.
Our goal is to enhance caregivers' ability to participate actively in their child's education. It is believed that such
participation will help ensure that students benefit when parents and educators work in partnership. The Illinois
Statewide Family Leadership Institute created this training curriculum in order to develop Parent Leaders.
Parent Leaders are parents that are equipped to help other parents understand and navigate the education
system, assist school districts in meeting the requirements of No Child Left Behind, Section 1118 and the
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, and nurture collaborative relationships.
The purpose of this module is to provide parents with an understanding of the Illinois Education Support
system, communication style preferences, and communicating effectively for collaboration.
Thank you for your part in this important initiative as a presenter of this training module for parents.
Merle Siefken, M.A., M.Ed
Project Director
Parent & Educator Partnership
An Illinois State Board of Education
Technical Assistance Project
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MODULE 3: Communication and Collaboration
I.
PRESENTER INFORMATION
OVERVIEW:
This guide is intended to assist you in delivering Module 3 of the Illinois Parent Educator Partnership Parent
Curriculum, “Communication and Collaboration.” The duration of this workshop is approximately 2 hours.
Participation in a child’s IEP is a parent’s right and of great benefit to school success. As a member of a child’s IEP team,
it is important to communicate effectively and be prepared to collaborate with other members of the child’s education
team.
Through this training, parents will learn about communication style preferences and collaboration skills to allow for
perspective taking in communication and encourage productive interactions in meeting the needs of their child.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
At the end of the workshop, participants will be able to advocate for their child through:
 A greater understanding of the educational support structure in Illinois, and the role of ISTAC-P.
 Knowledge of communication style preferences.
 Knowledge of how to communicate effectively for collaboration.
TARGET AUDIENCE:
This workshop is intended for parents of students with disabilities ages 3-21. Parents may come from a variety of
backgrounds-from stay-at-home parents, to those that work in the trades, in the service industry, to professionals. The
number of participants in each workshop will vary.
PRESENTER BACKGROUND KNOWLEDGE:
Presenters will need to:
 Understand the communication styles presented in this workshop.
 Know the Seven Modes of Collaboration.
PREPARING FOR THE WORKSHOP:




2 months prior to the workshop:
1. Secure approval, date, and location/site.
2. Make child care arrangements (if being offered), and determine refreshment menu.
3. Arrange for presentation audio visual equipment (laptop/data projector/cords).
4. Begin reviewing this Presenter Guide and all supporting workshop materials and handouts.
1 month prior to the workshop:
1. Coordinate distribution of workshop registration flyer to your targeted audience in your district or school.
2. Use a variety of media to advertise workshop information to the public (arrange district/school website, email invitation to related parent groups).
3. Begin rehearsing the workshop presentation using all supporting materials.
1 Week prior to workshop:
1. Print all workshop materials, Participant Guide (Power Point Slides with notes pages), sign-in sheet and
evaluation form. All templates are located at the end of this guide.
2. Order/purchase refreshments and name tags.
Day of workshop:
1. Arrive at least 30 minutes prior to presentation
2. Set-up seating, sign-in sheets, evaluations, refreshments);
3. 15 minutes prior to presentation: Greet participants as they arrive
4. Begin presentation on time.
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MODULE 3: Communication and Collaboration
WORKSHOP ROOM SETUP:
The room can be set-up in a u-shape or with round tables. Have one rectangular table at the front for the presenter’s
equipment and supplies. Set up another table near the entrance to the room for sign-in purposes and to hold participant
guides, handouts and name tags. Participants can write their name on the name tags after they sign-in.
WORKSHOP EQUIPMENT, MATERIALS & SUPPLIES:
 Workshop Registration Flyer Template
 Presentation Equipment-laptop computer, data projector and screen.
 Participant Sign-In Sheet
 Power Point Presentation file
 Workshop Activity Materials
o Communication Style Self-Assessment/Characteristics of Communication Styles
o Thinker, Feeler, Sensor, Intuitor Style Markers
o Activity: Practicing Norms of Collaboration/Station #5: Norms Inventory
o Workshop Evaluation
 Workshop Content Handouts
o Participant Guide (Power Point Presentation with Notes Pages) - one for each participant.
o Perspective Taking In Communication
o Communicating Effectively For Collaboration
 Participant Take Home Activity & Resource Materials
o Resource Guide
PRESENTATION GUIDE FORMAT:
Figure 1 displays the format of each section of the lesson presentation. Each page contains a copy of each Power Point
slide, the corresponding slide number and suggested script for each slide. The shaded box along the right margin of the
page contains helpful information and instructions related to that portion of the presentation such as:





Distribution of Handouts
Materials Needed
Definitions of Key Terms
Suggested Group Facilitation Techniques
Activity Instructions
Icon Key:
Resource
Guide
Handouts
About Us: ISTAC-P
*Slide Number
The ISTAC-Parents/Parent & Educator Partnership
provides parent-to-parent guidance by providing:
 Support, training, and parent leadership development
 The Parent Mentor Project
 The Parent Liaison Program
 Development of School, Family, and Community Partnership
 Lending library
 Online resource search
 Quarterly e-Newsletter
 Toll-free number, 877-317-2733
 Website: www.pepartnership.org
*Suggested Script
*Materials Needed
*Definitions of Key
Terms
*Suggested Group
Facilitation Techniques
*Activity Instructions
9
Power Point Slide
Figure 1
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MODULE 3: Communication and Collaboration
WORKSHOP AGENDA & PACING:
The estimated duration of the workshop of 2 hours allows parents to learn the outlined objectives
and to apply this knowledge in activities and discussion with other parents.

Activator – Completion of the Communication Style Self-Assessment -5 minutes
(prior to the beginning of the workshop).

Welcome and Introductions – 5 minutes

Workshop Objectives - 5 minutes

Lesson Presentation:
 Illinois Education Support System - 15 minutes
 Communication Style: Communication Style Assessments – total of 10 minutes
o Define Communication Style
o Note various assessments available
o Present assessment choice for workshop
 Communication Style: Identifying Your Communication Style Preference – total of 15
minutes
o Review Communication Style Assessment (completed by participants)- 5 minutes
o Introduce Four Communication Styles – 5 minutes
o Introduce Introversion/Extraversion – 5 minutes

Break-5 minutes

Lesson Presentation (continued):
 Communicating Effectively for Collaboration – total of 40 minutes
o Explore Personal Preferences/Perspective Taking in Communication – 15 minutes
o Note Meaningful Parent Participation in IEP Meeting – 5 minutes
o Introduce Seven Norms of Collaboration – 20 minutes

Activity: Practice Norms of Collaboration – 20 minutes

Summary & Discussion -5 minutes

Closing - 5 minutes
 Questions?
 Distribute Workshop Evaluation
Group
Facilitation
Technique:
You will need to
allow time to
answer
questions and
may wish to
consider
planning for
time in the
presentation
during which
you will pause
for questions.
An alternative
would be to
establish a,
“Parking Lot.”
Write, “Parking
Lot” on a blank
sheet of
flipchart paper
or dry erase
board you will
not be using.
Provide a few
stacks of post-it
notes on each
table, and ask
that participants
write any
questions that
come to mind
on them during
the
presentation.
Explain that at
each transition,
you will check
around the
room for any
written
questions, and
that you will
either answer
them at that
time, or you will
place them in
the “Parking
Lot” to be
answered later
or at the end of
the session.
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