Our everyday language has changed to include some new words and phrases.
“Just Google it,” is a favourite of my father’s and not too long ago, we would not have known what that even meant. Now who doesn’t?
Apps, surfing the ‘net, smartphones, laptops, Skype, software, tweet, tablet, email; new words and new meanings for old words.
Communication has also changed in a very big way. The Internet, the worldwide web, social media, digital tools, these have all altered how we communicate with each other.
Our world has shrunk significantly because of these tools and communication strategies have changed as a result. Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, blogs and YouTube are all social media tools that are used to engage with each other either on a personal level or more broadly.
Conversations are taking place in virtual rooms, with participants coming from everywhere in the world to join in.
Social media as a communication tool is being seriously considered by the School District 51 Board of Education. At the March 13 board meeting, a demonstration of how Facebook could work to facilitate communication is planned and the board will likely make a decision on whether or not to trial it.
(This column will be published after the board meeting, so check out the SD51 – website www.sd51.bc.ca – to see the decision)
There are school districts in the province that have already begun using Facebook and Twitter as a way to enhance information sharing with their public.
It is very clear that the users of social media are our parents and students and if we, the board, want to ensure that our messages are being heard and we are hearing back, it makes sense to include social media as a strategy.
Key to a successful communication strategy is employing multiple types of communication vehicles. Written, verbal and virtual all belong in our communication toolkit.
The board began discussing the possibility of using social media as a communication tool because we were seeing that just holding a public meeting to discuss an issue – like the budget, new policy or a strategic plan – was not enough. We needed to extend our reach and social media could be a part of the answer. Important conversations could take place and no one needs to leave home.
It is our expectation that if we do decide to use social media as an engagement tool, we will start simply. Messages could be relayed and picked up through Facebook or Twitter.
It could be information such as “a bus route is cancelled because of weather” or inviting feedback on a specific education issue. As we move further down this road we could explore ways to get together online according to interest, issues or events.
This is especially helpful in a district like ours that is so geographically dispersed.
Communication and interaction with our public, staff and students is critical to the work of a board of education. It is vital that we hear and understand the views of our constituents.
We need to be adaptable, flexible and open to a variety of ways to engage you so that your views are better reflected in our decision making.
Stay tuned as we work our way through this potential new communication strategy. Hopefully we will be talking soon, just in a different way.
– Teresa Rezansoff is chair for the SD51 Board of Education