Communicating through social media poses fresh challenges for schools
Education depends on effective communication, and inadequacies in communication are unfortunately not comical, for all that they may make books such as Alice's Adventures in Wonderland compelling reading.
When the March Hare advises Alice to "Say what you mean," Alice replies: "I do - at least, I mean what I say. That's the same thing, you know". The Dormouse is quick to point out that it is not. "You might just as well say: 'I breathe when I sleep' is the same thing as 'I sleep when I breathe'!"
is compelling reading because of the comedy that arises from the inadequacy of language to provide meaning in communication. The lesson is that education depends on effective communication, and inadequacies in communication are unfortunately not comical.
In my 30 years of parenting and teaching, not only has communication visibly increased between parents and teachers, teacher and students and parents and administration, but also technology now provides several fast-paced avenues for communication.
Research tells us this increased communication is good because successful school and family partnerships mean students tend to have higher test scores, better attendance, finish more homework, behave better and go on to higher education.
Recognising this, schools are now communicating with parents more via Facebook for its power as a networking tool. Some schools also provide a Twitter feed to parents by linking to an RSS input from the school website and sending automatic tweets when the site is updated.
Teachers also use Facebook groups to share course material with students and set up subject or class Twitter accounts to communicate test dates and homework reminders.
While this one-way communication allows parents to stay updated, schools are faced with more unforeseen problems between parents and administration and teachers and students that often have their roots in social media groups.
