Communications strategies aren’t just the domain of the business and technology worlds. Every day in so many ways, whether we are aware of it or not, we use communications strategies in order to properly manage our lives.

Education is a sector in which effective communications strategies are vital to the smooth running of both administrational and practical matters, as well as ensuring the safety of staff and pupils. Sometimes these strategies are high profile like loudspeaker or tannoy systems, but other forms of communication can be less obvious like video surveillance systems. Here are a few of the more common ways educational institutions keep themselves connected.

Pagers and Alerters

For the most part, it is not practical for teachers to be able to access emails or answer phones during lesson time, so many larger educational institutions equip their staff with pagers or alerters. These serve not only to connect administration and faculty staff, but also to ensure the security of staff and pupils. With access to instant communications strategies like these it merely takes the push of a button to enable assistance to be summoned if, and when, required. In the case of a panic button, which is often installed in classrooms, the alarm is completely silent so as not to draw the attention of any potential perpetrator.

Mobile Phones

Nowadays it seems like the mobile phone is not an accessory anymore, but more like a physical extension of the arm. Whilst most schools will ban the use of mobiles within the classroom, they are fighting a losing battle when it comes to texting. With their mobiles set to silent, students can send and receive text messages, surf the Internet and even order a pizza if they like, all under an unsuspecting teacher’s nose. While during class these particular communications strategies devices are used in a slightly more subtle way, at lunch-time it’s a different story. The playground is alive with the sounds of I-Phones and BlackBerrys, and well gone are the days when you had to search for your friend after class to meet up for lunch – now it’s just a matter of a quick text or two and you can have an instant picnic party!

Caught on Camera

While in years gone past many people saw the installation of video surveillance equipment as an infringement of their privacy, in modern times they have become a symbol of safety and security. While not strictly a communications strategy in terms of being able to send messages or speak, video surveillance is invaluable when looking at an integrated solution for an educational institution. Pictures can tell a thousand words, both in real time and in hindsight, and there’s no getting around the cold, hard truth of being caught on camera. But although cameras can be very handy in keeping order amongst the chaos of a student body, there are more important reasons for installing video surveillance – those of security. Cameras can prove a stern deterrent to any would-be intruders or potential criminals and, in the case of security, prevention is definitely better than a cure.

Author Bio: Jenny Kettlewell is the Marketing Manager for Multitone Systems, a leading telecommunications strategy company. Multitone has implemented custom, integrated communications strategies for businesses and organisations in the public and private sector for over 75 years.

Category: Business Management
Keywords: communications strategies