Chatbots for schools & universities: more efficiency, better communication
August: the starting gun for university enrollment
August officially opens "enrollment season" at colleges and universities!
After the demanding final school exams between April and May and the subsequent rush of university applications, school leavers usually have all their certificates in hand by July.
Those who have already received an offer of admission can go ahead with enrollment, but … how tedious!
There are 368 websites where you have to upload documents!
Education: a new market for AI chatbots
Education is a relatively new market for many emerging technologies.
This is also the case for chatbots, especially AI-based chatbots. The reason is quickly explained: conversational AI has enormous potential to significantly improve the learner experience.
Benefits of conversational AI for educational institutions
Conversational AI makes an essential contribution to the digitalization of schools, colleges and universities.
Better communication between offices, better interaction between students and teachers, increased engagement … these are just some of the benefits schools and universities can enjoy!
Let's look at what AI and chatbots can improve in education.
6 benefits for schools and universities that choose a chatbot
Chatbots are educational media
AI as digital tutoring: the tutoring function
One of the most popular uses of AI is the tutoring function.
Here, it prepares an environment specially suited to learning. Based on the material provided, the chatbot can create a lesson in the form of a chat.
A structured learning process through AI
Learning could be organized by level. In this sense, it progresses step by step, with the difficulty of the topics and therefore of the suggested assessments increasing.
Efficient learning checks and performance monitoring
As at school or university, students receive all the necessary learning materials from the chatbot.
They then take short tests, and the results are sent to their teachers or lecturers.
This makes monitoring performance easier and simpler and helps speed up learning processes and the learning techniques used.
Chatbots boost engagement
Virtual learning: less engagement, less interaction
With the coronavirus pandemic, every learning activity went virtual. Many students report that their engagement hit rock bottom. Interaction between students and teachers, between students and lecturers and among students themselves was also affected.
Chatbots as constant learning companions
Chatbots can help in this scenario by interacting continuously with learners and answering their questions immediately. Chatbots offer help during and after class.
Learners can take advantage of this and be sure they don't have to compromise on learning via a virtual platform.
New learning spaces through chatbots on social media
We know that social media platforms play an important role in how students interact. The casual exchange of messages via social media platforms could be revolutionized by chatbots:
chatbots can host groups for alumni or projects where students can exchange information about projects, assignments, deadlines, presentations, events, activities and so on.
More engagement through smart support
This creates a better environment for studying and learning and improves engagement for the long term.
Chatbots support administration
For prospective students as well as enrolled students, chatbots in education can be their administrative companions. Instead of visiting offices and waiting in long lines, they can chat with the chatbot and find solutions and answers to their questions there.
A chatbot can, for example:
- share details about admission, degree programs and enrollment.
- "What are the basic requirements for the MA in European Studies?"
- provide information about fees and financial aid.
- "How can I apply for a scholarship?"
- offer campus tours and events.
- "Which sports events take place at the institution every year?"
Chatbots offer proactive support
Chatbots in education can be trained to help students proactively by giving answers before they're asked.
Help with paying fees, adding a new module to the curriculum or a deadline reminder – the chatbot can handle all of this.
Schools could, for example, send personalized messages such as "Bring your water bottles, there's a problem with the school's water tank" or "The school is closed today because of the storm". This builds a communication bridge between students and schools.
Chatbots provide smart feedback
Feedback as the key to success
Gathering feedback every day is extremely important – no matter where you work.
Ken Blanchard, management consultant and motivational speaker, said: "Feedback is the breakfast of champions."
Many ways to gather feedback in education
In education, there's a lot of feedback to collect. From teachers or lecturers to the curriculum, from admission to hygiene.
With chatbots, schools and universities can collect information on every aspect and become champions in the field.
Chatbots as effective feedback collectors
Digitalization through chatbots helps gather feedback from everyone involved after every conversation or after every process is completed.
This can help schools and universities collect useful information and address issues with poor results and experiences.
Chatbots in education = databases
Chatbots serve as data collection and distribution systems in education.
Students can upload data and teachers can use it to reach their goals, for example to distribute materials and give students important information.
Automating data collection and distribution reduces the likelihood of errors, and the process can run around the clock.
Problem solving and decision-making processes also become easier and faster. So you can draw insightful conclusions from this data.
Digitalization in education – conclusion
Digitalization in education
Digitalization at schools and universities, and in education in general, is a tangible reality.
Chatbots as learning media
Chatbots can serve as learning media. When used by teachers, they can hold both lectures and tests and support learners along the way.
Attention & engagement
Digitalization poses a partial risk, as it requires attention-grabbing activities so that learning isn't interrupted. Chatbots help by promoting engagement between learners and teachers and among students. Learning processes can also be accelerated.
Supporting administration
Institutions' administration can benefit from chatbots. Prospective students, students and others can get important information by chatting.
Proactive support
Chatbots offer proactive support. Curriculum changes and deadline reminders could be handled with the chatbot.
Fast feedback
With chatbots, you can gather feedback quickly and easily on all kinds of topics that might be of interest.
Databases & speed
As databases, chatbots in education can also speed things up and make a lot simpler and faster.
