Simple but Effective

I like the way the Uni communicates with us. Each time there is a message, an announcement, or a piece of news, they would physically enter our class and announce the message verbally.

The news bearer, usually a Uni admin staff, would knock on the door, excuse herself for interrupting class, and tell us the news, or pass on the message. She does this for all the 6 or more classes that we have for this course.

The first few times, it was to inform us about the activities that we could participate, eg, the free movie screening on certain afternoons, the free concerts that we could attend, and the excursion to Pienza and Montepulciano that we could join.

Other times it was to remind us to sign up for the excursion, or to tell us about a poetry contest that we could participate. Sometimes it was some other admin stuff for holders of various scholarships.

I suppose you can view it from different angles. You could say they are ‘’inefficient’’ or too lazy to create a mailing list to send us emails. Or to print out the message and stick them on notice boards.

For me, I think it’s the simplest, fastest, most direct, and face to face way that the modern world has forgotten. Email? Not every one is so equipped with laptops. Not everywhere is so well connected. Not everyone is a slave to emails. Notice boards? Yes, possible. But what can beat a face to face encounter, where students can ask the news bearer questions when clarifications are needed?

I am all for going back to basics. Kudos to the admin people, for remembering that we are humans first, that it is verbal exchange that makes us human!