The Communication Star

The Communication Star is a dynamic and innovative learning and assessment tool, designed by Claire Moran, Angela Lee and Dr Anne Killett, Lecturers in Occupational Therapy at the University of East Anglia.
Technology No. I926

The Star was developed to address the specifics of communication skills. The Communication Star comprises of 10 points, each representing an essential element of communication, in the context of a professional conversation. The star acts as a visual aid, demonstrating their journey towards becoming a star communicator. Particular attention has been paid to specific non-verbal communication skills such as active listening and effective positioning.

The maximum score is 10 in any given area. The context of the conversation becomes important when you consider that your responses may differ in various circumstances, such as dealing with an angry patient.

Communication training sessions are delivered alongside the Star.

The Communication Star

Contact the team for more information

If you are a commercial organisation and wish to use The Communication Star, please contact us to obtain a commercial licence.

If you are a non-commercial organisation you are welcome to download The Communication Star here and to use it under the terms of this licence. Non-commercial organisations will be required to complete some details and a short questionnaire. We may only contact you to request feedback of your use of the questionnaire and not for any other purpose.

  • swap_vertical_circlemode_editAuthors (3)
    Claire Moran
    Angela Lee
    Dr Anne Killett
  • swap_vertical_circlelibrary_booksReferences (17)
    1. Ali M (2017) , Communication skills 1: benefits of effective communication for patients, Nursing Times [online]; 113: 12, 18-19.
    2. Barthes, Roland ([1964] 1967). , Elements of Semiology. (Translated by Annette Lavers & Colin Smith). London: Jonathan Cape.
    3. Bayne, R., Nicolson, P. and Horton, I. (1998) , Counselling and Communication Skills for Medical and Health Practitioners. Leicester: BPS.
    4. Bloxham, S and Boyd, P. (2007) , Developing Effective Assessment in Higher Education, Open University Press
    5. Creek, J and Lougher, L. (2014) , Creek’s occupational therapy and mental health. 5th edition/ edn. Ed by Bryant, W. Fieldhouse, J. and Bannigan, K. Edinburgh: Churchull Livingstone/ Elsevier.
    6. Doolittle, P. E. (1997) , Vygotsky's Zone of Proximal Development as a Theoretical Foundation for Cooperative Learning., Journal on Excellence in College Teaching. Vol. 8 (1), pp. 83-103.  (Accessed 22 March 2021)
    7. Fortin AH 6th. , Communication skills to improve patient satisfaction and quality of care, Ethn Dis. 2002 Fall;12(4):S3-58-61. PMID: 12477157.
    8. Gilligan, C. et al. (2021) , Interventions for improving medical students' interpersonal communication in medical consultations’,, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2021, Issue 2. Art. No.: CD012418. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD012418.pub2. (Accessed 22 March 2021).
    9. Kolb DA, Fry R , Toward an applied theory of experiential learning. Theories of Group Process Edited by: Cooper C. 1975, John Wiley: London.
    10. Nguyen MH, Gruber J, Marler W, Hunsaker A, Fuchs J, Hargittai E , Staying connected while physically apart: Digital communication when face-to-face interactions are limited., New Media & Society. February 2021. doi:10.1177/1461444820985442
    11. Popova ES, Taylor RR , Evaluating Students' Use of Therapeutic Communication in Entry-Level Education: The Observer Version of the Clinical Assessment of Modes (CAM-Observer)., Am J Occup Ther. 2020 Sep/Oct;74(5):7405205130p1-7405205130p7. doi: 10.5014/ajot.2020.039396. PMID: 32804631.
    12. Rogers, C. (1951, reprinted 2003) , Client-Centered Therapy: its current practice, implications and theory. London: Constable.
    13. Neil Katz & Kevin McNulty , Reflective Listening ©1994
    14. Nestel, D., Tierney, T , Role-play for medical students learning about communication: Guidelines for maximising benefits., BMC Med Educ 7, 3 (2007).
    15. Schell, B, Gillen, G, Scaffa, M. and Cohn, E. (2013) , Willard and Spackman’s Occupational Therapy 12th edition, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.    Therapeutic relationships and client collaboration’
    16. Sheldon, Lisa Kennedy, and Dany M. Hilaire , Development of communication skills in healthcare: Perspectives of new graduates of undergraduate nursing education, Journal of Nursing Education and Practice 5.7 (2015): 30
    17. Solman, B and Clouston, T (2016) , Occupational therapy and the therapeutic use of self, British Journal of Occupational Therapy 79:8 pp 514-516.
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Creative Commons Licence
Creative Commons Licence

Term: perpetual

Price per unit:
£0.00 excl. VAT

Commercial licence - The Communication Star
Licence for use of software by commercial organisations

Term: 1 year

Price per user:
TBD