How can a mobile app help improve the student experience?
There is an expectation among students that their university will provide them with information using technology with which they are comfortable. Combine this with estimates of 62 million smartphones in the UK by 2015, and it’s clear that the mobile app is a technology that most students will be comfortable with and have access to. It is important to note that a mobile app is often an add-on service rather than a replacement, as the available information can also be accessed through different methods if needed, i.e. via the web or on campus.
Access to information is a great incentive when considering a mobile app. The Open University recently won The Guardian University Award for its app which allows students to access course information, materials and even textbooks using its mobile app wherever they are. Other universities, such as Manchester Metropolitan University, allow their professors to provide their students with access to teaching material and support resources, such as reading lists, online articles, audio and video clips, etc., using the Manchester mobile application. their university wherever they are.
All university mobile apps provide slightly different core information, but the basics are usually a mix of schedules, campus maps, staff contact details, library search option, and event notifications. Each one helps the student discover what she wants to know without having to search for a PC/laptop or come to campus, helping to ensure that the student can participate whenever and wherever he wants.
A mobile app also opens up additional possibilities for student engagement with universities such as Manchester Metropolitan University, allowing students to access chat rooms and discussion forums. Therefore, students can continue discussions outside of the classroom, without having to be on campus. Staff are also usually active in these chat rooms/discussion forums, providing advice and answers to questions. Queens University’s NPulse mobile app allows students to ask questions live, have class discussions, record lectures and even rate their classroom experience in real time. Having this type of live online environment, which includes both staff and students, helps improve student engagement inside and outside of the classroom and enhances the student experience.
Some universities have added something different by providing information that is not necessarily focused on your studies, but still benefits the student experience. The University of Oxford’s Mobile Oxford provides information on travel and events within the city, while others, such as the University of Westminster’s iWestminster, allow students to find each other using GPS.
Something that has already been touched on (but bears repeating) is how information is presented. A mobile app allows a university to choose what information is displayed, as well as tailor the layout to suit the student. These two aspects are very useful to help improve the university-student engagement, as only student-centric information is made available.
This article has focused on current students, but the mobile app can also be useful for attracting future students, as it provides an opportunity to get acquainted with student events and the community before becoming a student at the university. In addition to future students, you can also target alumni to keep them informed about news and events, as well as a way to keep in touch with each other. A good example of this is AberWorld in Aberystwyth.
more comments
Clearly there are potential advantages to having a university mobile app, particularly the positive impact it can have on student engagement. One of the first thoughts is most likely the cost, either time or money (or both!). However, as highlighted in the Guardian article, the cost and time involved are not necessarily as great as you may think and the potential benefits are surely worth the time and investment.
