Effective Communication: The infectious sparks that can help educate the world
Effective Communication: The infectious sparks that can help educate the world
Dawn Boyfield, Managing Director dbda
One of my favourite songs is ‘Light My Fire’, first recorded by the Doors in 1967, but it was the version by Jose Feliciano in 1969 that I loved. I was 18 and I thought then what an incredible metaphor about inspiring, exciting someone, kindling an interest which could lead to a burning flame! (younger readers will know Will Young’s version better - it got to number one in 2002!) It started me on a slightly obsessive road thinking how a small flame or spark could actually last a lifetime or even beyond as it was passed from one person to another. It was this initial thought that guided my early years in teaching and as that passion was kindled it grew into the flame that became my company dbda.
I have always believed that education is really ‘effective communication’ and that the role of those educational communicators is to inspire and inform. Education should not be just about filling a young person’s head with facts and figures, but more about providing that first spark in order to light a universe of their own ideas. As W B Yeats said ‘Education is not the filling of a pail but the lighting of a fire’.
All educators are communicators and vice versa and as such we need to consider the most effective way of creating that spark and once the fire is kindled we have to ensure that the information and messages are not only meaningful and interesting, but firmly embedded, by being presented with enthusiasm, variety and a sense of stimulated fun - be they printed resources, films, DVDs, live events or interactive activities. For this reason ‘visual’ communications has such an undeniable impact on the young, even for children with limited English who can so often quote and recite from their favourite film or TV programmes by heart.
In recent years nothing has quite revolutionised education as powerfully as the Internet. It has brought the world into the classroom (and home!) like never before.
Students have access to a worldwide wealth of information and it has provided opportunities for children to communicate their ideas to a wider audience: websites, blogs, newszines, social network sites, forums and video conferencing. Another powerful tool helping to engage young people is the Interactive Whiteboard (IWB). The Government aims to have one in every classroom, allowing students to interact directly with the learning material and it has allowed teaching to become versatile and dynamic. Whole classes can participate while the teachers communicate ideas visually in a dramatic format, text, pictures, charts, graphics, video, animation and interactive games. However, ‘Interactive Whiteboards have become the Marmite of ICT: people either love them or hate them’ as Stephen Heppel states (and don’t those words immediately communicate effectively!). Right now, on the whole, the UK is firmly in the ‘love them’ camp: very enthusiastic about the various positive impacts including evidence suggesting gains in children’s sense of positive identity, increased enjoyment, engagement, motivation and positive impacts on behaviour as well as a greater collaboration and participation in lessons by children, but there are still those techno reluctant teachers who are not yet persuaded!
The plethora of communication channels available can be confusing and that’s where you and I come in as responsible communicators. We need to ensure that whatever the channels we use, all of our material is relevant, accurate and hugely exciting and flexible in its delivery opportunities. This is a route for ‘arms open - engagement, not arms closed - telling’ as Fiona Reynolds (Chief Executive, National Trust) reminded us at the recent Annual IVCA Essential Communications Conference.
No matter what our end product is that we are delivering we must always make sure we remember some key criteria in the development process:
• Don’t take a stereotypical view - young people today are very discerning and far more sophisticated in their thoughts than we ever give them credit for; many are very streetwise and critical of false statements
• All students, whatever their ability, are entitled to be stretched and challenged, so be as inclusive as possible
• Listen to their views, opinions, feelings and involve them in the development process (remember good communication is a two way process)
• Also involve where possible the teachers, parents, carers and linked professionals - they after all have day to day interface
• Try to build the buzz! As Kenny Holmes said in the last Thought Leader ‘The Holy Grail... is a captive, wholly engaged audience’. A live event can play to all the senses and that’s why Theatre In Education is such a powerful stimulant, students feel personally involved. Although this route is not possible for every programme or subject, the next best thing has to be the Interactive Whiteboards with both visual and audial communication at work with active physical interaction.
The greatest part of education is to enable young people to make a difference, to learn how to facilitate change and discern what to change. Their own choices have consequences and these can make a genuine impact not only on their own lives but on the world.
We should through our communication with the next generation encourage them to use communication as a vital tool for solving problems, building relationships but crucially we must show them they can influence not only the future but their future and thus inspire them to do this in a positive way.
I said at the start that effective communication can be the infectious spark that can help educate the world. I like the word ‘infectious’ used in this sense: capable of being easily diffused or spread... like ‘infectious laughter’. But we must take care that we do not, in the word’s other sense, become responsible for a communicable disease, spreading, viral like, negative or destructive messaging. Now that would be no laughing matter!
So I leave you with the thought: how are you going to light that fire?
