Have you ever said something in conversation or over text that you immediately regretted? Well, don’t stress. This article shows you the many different ways you can communicate at work and remain professional.

TYPES OF COMMUNICATION IN A SCHOOL

First things first. Let’s look at the different ways to communicate and define those in regards to professional communication in a school.

• Written communication: The written word is definitely a lost art. Texting and instant messaging has taken over. You’d be surprised how many people cannot put together a simple letter these days without their ‘LOLs’ and other trendy text verbiage. In a professional setting, written communication encompasses writing memos, letters, resumes, and more. Grammar and punctuation are imperative in written communication.

• Oral communication: Using your voice allows you to communicate what you think and feel. Oral communication is helpful when giving presentations, teaching, leading meetings, and in daily conversations with coworkers.

• Visual communication: When you use visual aids to convey a message or idea, it is considered a visual communication. It can be anything from a billboard, a power point presentation, or a sign posted in the classroom. If you can read it and look at it, more than likely it is a form of visual communication.

• Technology-based communication (email, text, social media): This type of communication is consistently growing as technology advances. Basic forms of technological communication are email and an inter-company instant messenger. However, with the increase in social media, many businesses are taking their communication to new mediums with Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and more.

EFFECTIVE TEACHER-PUPIL COMMUNICATION

Effective communication is essential for a well-run classroom. Although this sounds simple and obvious, it requires much more than a teacher saying something out loud to a student.

Communicate Respectfully

• Use a tone that is honest and tactful, choosing words that are appropriate to the situation and non-inflammatory.
• When taking on a listening role, make eye contact and focus on the speaker.
• Speak in turn, never interrupting the speaker. Teachers who model respect with their students have more respectful classrooms overall because students learn how to communicate respectfully and see its effectiveness.

Repeat Your Message in Different Ways

• Effective communication requires using different techniques in communication.
• When you want to make a point, consider what visual tools can help you in addition to your verbal communication.
• Give the students something to do that reflects the idea you are communicating.
• Repeat yourself at least twice verbally and offer something for students to look at, hold, or do that will also reinforce your message.

Check for Understanding

• A teacher should always check for understanding.
• The simple question, “Do you understand?” will not result in much information, as most students will either nod or sit passively.
• Students can write down one sentence that summarizes what they think the lesson or lecture was about, or they can write a question they have about the lesson.
• In a one-on-one conversation, a teacher should ask the student to repeat the main point or outcome of the conversation.

Nonverbal Communication

• Everyone communicates nonverbally through facial expressions and gestures.
• Effective communication in the classroom requires careful use of these nonverbal cues.
• A teacher who rolls her eyes at a student’s question sends a louder message than her careful and expert verbal response.
• A disapproving stare can work wonders on a student who is off task.
• A bright smile for a student who is having a bad day means more than he will ever reveal.
• Gestures and animated facial expressions also give weight and enthusiasm to what a teacher has to say.
• Students who see a teacher actively engaged in what she is teaching will be much more engaged themselves.

GENERAL CLASSROOM COMMUNICATION

Classroom communication exists in three categories:

• Verbal,
• Nonverbal and
• Written.

Verbal communication means anything that a teacher or student speaks aloud.

Nonverbal communication refers to body language that people express. Written communication is writing directed at a specific audience, such as report card comments or student assignments.

The types of classroom communication are:

1. Teacher/Class Communication
2. Teacher/Student Communication
3. Student/Teacher Communication
4. Student/Student Communication
5. Student/Class Communication

EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION IN A SCHOOL

There are four elements of effective communication that help improve the two-way information sharing process. These four specific elements are:

• practical, 
• factual, 
• concise and clear,  
• persuasive.

ELEMENT 1: Practical

Example: School A discourages the use of corporal punishment as a discipline tool. Kamsi, the Proprietress, is putting together a mandatory email that will be sent out to all teachers about a new policy regarding corporate punishment if any teacher is caught administering corporal punishment to a pupil. It seems many teachers tend to seek control of their classes through corporal punishment, and this is devaluing the School.

Kamsi will ensure that the message is practical so that her email provides useful information that will make it easy to understand the policy. Kamsi email uses simple, easy language to express that while she understands the use of corporal punishment is tempting, it is off-limits. 

ELEMENT 2: Factual

Kamsi is very upset with the complaints from parents on teachers’ use of corporal punishment on pupils. The report states that over 50 parents are threatening to withdraw their children from the school.

ELEMENT 2: Factual Information: The second element of effective communication is the need for factual information. Emails, letters, and conversations should all have specific details and information that is accurate and ethical. Since Kay added her opinion to the email, she then needed to support her accusations with facts. She backed up her statements that teachers are administering corporal punishment through photos from a surveillance camera.

 ELEMENT 3: Clear and Concise

Another element of effective communication is the need for the message to be clear and concise. This means that any communication message should be easy to understand. The originator of the message should not try to impress the receivers. Instead, the sender should make sure the message is not full of complicated terms or easily misunderstood language. Kay made sure to edit her email by simplifying the message and making it easily understandable.

ELEMENT 4: Persuasion

Persuasion basically means trying to influence the way someone thinks or behaves. There are all kinds of different ways to persuade someone to do something. The ad is using an appeal to emotion. It’s associating the soda with being happy, so it’s trying to persuade you to buy the soda so you’ll be happy like the people in the ad. The students at the debate club are doing something different. Instead of appealing to emotion, they’re trying to persuade each other with logical arguments that use facts and evidence.

Being persuasive isn’t the same thing as being right. The implied claim in the soda ad is that drinking the soda will give you a lot of friends and make you happy. That’s objectively not true. But that kind of advertising can be very persuasive, and a lot of people are influenced by it.

Ways to Communicate Professionally in a School

1. Open Meeting

2. Emails

3. One on One

4. Use Presentations

5. Communication via Training

6. Display Confidence and Seriousness

7. Use Simple Words

8. Use Visuals

9. Listen to Your Team Members

10. Use Body Language

11. Act Out Your Message

12. Use The Appropriate Tone of Voice

13. Avoid Unnecessary Repetition

14. Create a Receptive Atmosphere

15. Be Humorous

16. Be Articulate

17. Avoid Mumbling

18. Encourage Feedback

19. Gesticulate

20. Be Appreciative