Communication

Communication and how we deal with information in one way or another has been in the news this week. The technology behind the explosion of information sharing has changed the way we communicate with each other for ever. But surely with these new freedoms and technologies comes greater responsibilities in the way we use it. It can be a force for good but it can also be a force for evil. I personally believe that these forms of communication have brought great advances in the way we interact with the modern world. Today businesses all over the world conduct their activities via the web or by emails. The days of travelling half way round the world to attend meetings is fast disappearing with the advent of video conferencing. Where in days gone by news would take hours to reach the public today it is instant and we expect to be informed as thing happen.  You see the evidence of this on buses, trains and on our streets every day, and night. There was a survey out the other day looking at what annoyed people the most when having a meal out with a loved one and whilst travelling on public transport. Yes you’ve right, mobile phones, yet mobile phones are now no longer just phones there’re compact computers able to access the web your emails and guide to the nearest coffee shop.

So how are governors and governing bodies adapting to this new world of technology and the access to all this information. I would hazard a guess, not well! Most governors  still drown under the mountains of paperwork at governors meetings, clerks still think their main role is to stand in front of a photocopier for hours on end and governors still turn up at meeting with their brown envelopes usually unopened.

Over the last year I have been converted to a paperless way working and running the governing body, no more papers, no more brown envelopes and no more files taking up my book shelves at home. I now also have a clerk who is truly involved in managing the governing body the way I as the chair want. The benefits of a paperless governing body have brought unexpected outcomes. One of which is the governing body has unfettered equal access to all the information they need to make to the governing body a force for change.

Facebook, Twitter, Blogging and using virtual space are all different ways of communicating with governors which if used well enables and empowers governors and governing bodies to do a better job for their schools. Whilst the past week might have put some people off the use of new technologies we have to except the fact its here to stay.