Introduction to a new era of communication 🌟
Over the last few months, I’ve had the privilege of undertaking a comprehensive review focused on enhancing student communication at a university. The key stand out for me was the critical role of personalised, targeted and relevant communication in creating happy and engaged students.
Beyond Generic: The Call for Personalisation 📢
It’s not enough anymore to churn out generic comms to students. Obvious right? But many still do because it’s hard to set up the technology needed to do anything different. But the message from students is clear - they don’t have time to be trawling through communications from the university that aren’t relevant to them. It’s the personalised information that is now an expectation of a comms strategy to students if you want to create a supportive and enjoyable learning atmosphere.
Harnessing digital technologies for engagement 💡
So how do you do this? The OECD Digital Education Outlook 2021, amongst many others, underscores the significance of engagement in the learning process and the potential of digital technologies to enhance this engagement. The report discusses the importance of engagement for meaningful learning and the negative impact of disengagement on learning outcomes. It presents the promise of digital learning technologies in measuring and improving student engagement through innovative pedagogical strategies, and I would add, communication strategies.
Recognising the critical role of engagement and the challenges of disengagement in the learning process, the next logical step is to explore solutions that harness the potential of digital technologies. One such approach is the development of an all-encompassing student app, designed to bring the theoretical into practical, impactful application.
The power of an all-encompassing app 📱
An app that is focused on student need, has the potential to translate into a highly personalised educational experience. As such, an app could utilise data analytics to understand each student's unique learning preferences, challenges, and engagement levels. By harnessing this data, an app can deliver tailored communication and resources that cater directly to the individual needs of the student.
This approach not only creates a deeper sense of connection and relevance for the student but also actively supports their learning journey by providing them with the resources and information most pertinent to their success.
Features that drive engagement 👥
An app can incorporate features like adaptive learning paths, where the content and challenges evolve in response to the student's progress, further personalising the learning experience. Real-time feedback mechanisms could offer immediate support and encouragement, addressing disengagement or difficulties as they arise and keeping the student motivated and on track.
The integration of social features could also enhance engagement, allowing students to connect with peers for collaborative learning experiences or to share insights and achievements. This social aspect can play a crucial role in building a supportive and interactive learning community, further enhancing the educational experience.
The challenge ahead: AI and beyond 🚀
Despite the progress made by universities such as the University of Manchester and particularly Loughborough University in deploying student-focused apps, a truly comprehensive system that meets every student's need has remained elusive. One significant barrier to this achievement has been a lack of ambition and resources to explore cutting-edge app technologies, including the transformative potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
With AI, the opportunities to revolutionise student engagement and personalised communication are virtually limitless. The challenge now is not the absence of technology but the courage to envision and implement an app that goes beyond traditional boundaries. We need to be bold in defining what we want from an app, leveraging AI to create solutions that were previously thought impossible.
A bold future for educational engagement 🌈
Leveraging cutting-edge technologies, particularly Artificial Intelligence, to create student-centred apps doesn't just promise technological innovation, it demands a bold reimagining of the future of educational engagement. By utilising these advanced capabilities, we can significantly enhance the learning environment, offering a more dynamic, responsive, and student-centred landscape.
Such an app would not only improve engagement through personalised and targeted communications but also enrich the entire educational experience. This integrated approach, where technology and pedagogy converge, aims to meet the diverse needs of learners in the digital age, creating a new era of educational possibilities.
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