5 Use Cases for Artificial Intelligence in Higher Education
Cut through the noise and learn where AI can have a real impact on colleges and universities.
he concept of artificial intelligence is hardly new, but the full range of opportunities that exist are just being discovered. In the higher education world, colleges and universities are starting to dabble with AI projects, such as chatbots or aids for incoming students.
The age of AI is burgeoning, ushering advancements in many fields, so it’s important that any institutions interested in incorporating this technology consider the rules and regulations around it.
Five Ways Higher Education Institutions Use Artificial Intelligence
1. Chatbots
Considering the prevalence of online shopping and the popularity of industry leaders such as Amazon, people are familiar with the concept of online chat features that help customers quickly solve issues. These chatbots are equipped with the latest AI, allowing for faster response time and quicker solutions. And the expectation of communicating with a chatbot to find information easily has started to enter higher education.
LEARN MORE: Innovators such as NetApp are guiding higher ed institutions on their AI journeys.
Some colleges and universities are now incorporating these features into their own websites and chatbots, so current and prospective students, curious parents and alumni can easily find the information they’re looking for. Stanford University even has a version of a chatbot that acts as digital flashcards for students, quizzing them on material for upcoming tests.
“We’re seeing a lot of benefits out of chatbots,” says Bob Burwell, CTO for state and local government and education at NetApp, which offers toolkits for customers to create these chatbots.
2. Recruitment
In 2018, researchers at Georgia State University tested a theory: Could they increase student enrollment by helping students along the final stretch between acceptance and starting classes? Even after students are accepted to the university, they still need to complete various tasks to finalize enrollment, such as sending a final transcript, completing financial aid paperwork and getting required immunizations. The university sent text message reminders about upcoming application deadlines, using existing data to tailor prompts to each student.
It worked: The university was able to decrease the number of students who accepted but didn’t officially enroll by roughly 21%.