How Can Education Institutes Leverage the AI-Based Chatbot?
“Chatbots are the new transformative technologies that have the potential to disrupt how educational institutes and universities interact with students.”
Content
- Why do Educational Institutes need Chatbot?
- What is the Step-by-Step Process to Implement Chatbot?
- Top Usage of Chatbot for Educational Institutes
- Admissions Assistance
- Course Information and Registration
- Campus Navigation
- Student Services
- FAQ And Support
- Virtual Campus Tours
- Event Registration and Information
- Academic Support
- Feedback And Surveys
- Alumni Engagement
Why do Educational Institutes Need Chatbot?
Implementing a chatbot for universities can greatly enhance the user experience, streamline processes, and provide instant support to students, prospective students, and other stakeholders.
According to a survey conducted by Oracle, 80% of higher education institutions plan to use chatbots by 2025 or already have them in place. This indicates a significant adoption of chatbot technology in the education sector.
What is the Step-by-Step Process to Implement Chatbot?
What it takes to successfully implementation of chatbot is a simplified step by step process.
- First, you need to start with the question, what are the objective behind usage of chatbot. What you need is to determine the specific goals and purposes for implementing a chatbot. Identify the key areas where the chatbot can provide value, such as admissions, student services, course information, campus facilities, or FAQs. A study found that 70% of surveyed students expressed a preference for interacting with chatbots for quick inquiries, such as admissions, financial aid, or course registration.
- Second, you need to choose the right chatbot platform that suits your needs and budget. There are various options available, ranging from AI-powered platforms like ORAI, Dialogflow, IBM Watson, or Microsoft Bot Framework, to no-code/low-code platforms like Chatfuel or ManyChat. Consider factors like integration capabilities, customization options, and ease of use.
- Third, design conversation flows that the chatbot will follow based on user inputs. Consider different scenarios and questions users might have. Ensure that the conversation flows are intuitive, easy to navigate, and provide accurate information.
- Fourth, give your chatbot a distinct personality that aligns with your university’s brand and values. This can help create a more engaging and relatable experience for users.
- Fifth, integrate the chatbot with your university’s existing systems and databases to provide accurate and up-to-date information. This may include integrating with student information systems, course catalogs, admissions databases, or event management systems.
- Sixth, enable the chatbot to answer frequently asked questions about admissions, academic programs, financial aid, campus facilities, events, and more. Make sure it has access to comprehensive information and can direct users to relevant resources on your website.
- Seventh, offer interactive features into the chatbot’s functionalities. For example, allow users to schedule campus tours, book appointments with advisors, submit applications, or register for events directly through the chatbot.
- Eight, regularly monitor the chatbot’s performance and collect user feedback to identify areas for improvement. Analyze user interactions, identify common issues, and update the chatbot’s conversation flows and knowledge base accordingly.
- Last, make users aware of the chatbot’s availability and encourage its use. Promote it on your university website, social media platforms, and other communication channels.
Read More: Edtech Outlook 2023: Priority Transition From Valuation To Profitability
Top usage of Chatbot for Educational Institutes
Chatbots in universities can serve various use cases and provide valuable support to students, prospective students, and staff. Here are some common use cases of chatbots in universities:
Admissions Assistance
Chatbots can answer frequently asked questions about admissions requirements, application deadlines, and required documents. They can guide prospective students through the application process, provide information on available programs, and even help with pre-screening eligibility.
Course Information and Registration
Students can interact with chatbots to access information about available courses, course schedules, prerequisites, and credit requirements. Chatbots can also assist with course registration, checking seat availability, and providing guidance on course selection based on a student’s program or degree requirements.
Campus Navigation
Chatbots can help students and visitors navigate the campus effectively. They can provide directions to specific buildings, classrooms, libraries, or other facilities. Chatbots can also provide information about campus maps, parking options, and public transportation routes.
Read More: How The Growth Of AI Based Chatbot Will Impact Education Industry
Student Services
Chatbots can offer support and information on various student services, such as library resources, career services, counseling services, financial aid, and student clubs/organizations. They can assist with queries related to student IDs, housing, dining services, and campus events.
FAQ And Support
Chatbots can address frequently asked questions from students, parents, and staff. They can provide quick answers to inquiries about academic policies, tuition fees, academic calendars, important dates, campus policies, and more. Chatbots can also offer guidance on administrative processes, such as submitting forms or accessing official documents.
Virtual Campus Tours
Prospective students who cannot physically visit the campus can take virtual tours through a chatbot. The chatbot can guide them through different areas of the campus, showcase facilities, highlight notable features, and answer questions about campus life.
Event Registration and Information
Chatbots can facilitate event registration, whether it’s for campus tours, open houses, information sessions, or academic workshops. They can provide event details, schedules, and answer questions related to upcoming events. Chatbots can also send event reminders and updates to registered participants.
Academic Support
Chatbots can assist students with academic-related inquiries, such as finding resources for research, accessing online libraries, locating study materials, or providing general study tips. They can also offer reminders for assignment due dates, exam schedules, and help students set up study schedules.
Feedback And Surveys
Chatbots can collect feedback from students about their experiences, courses, and campus services. They can conduct surveys on specific topics, collect suggestions for improvements, or gather data for research purposes. Chatbots can make the feedback process more interactive and convenient for students.
Alumni Engagement
Chatbots can engage with alumni by providing updates on university news, events, and opportunities for involvement. They can assist with alumni registration, membership inquiries, and support requests. Chatbots can also serve as a channel for alumni to connect with each other and share their experiences.
These are just a few examples of how chatbots can be used in universities. The versatility of chatbots allows them to be customized to meet the specific needs of each institution, providing valuable assistance, information, and support to the university community.
