How Universities can use ChatGPT to Improve the Student Experience

As a university, it can be important as well as challenging to always keep up with the latest technologies. ChatGPT can come in handy in this regard. It is an emerging technology that can make a valuable contribution to improving the student experience. Can ChatGPT also be a valuable tool to improve the general student experience at a university?

What exactly is ChatGPT?

ChatGPT stands for "Chat Generative Pre-trained Transformer Model". It is an advanced chatbot technology that uses artificial intelligence to mimic human conversations. It is designed to answer questions, solve problems and even perform tasks without human intervention.

How can ChatGPT be used at universities?

There are several ways ChatGPT can be deployed at universities to improve the student experience. Here are some examples:

1. Service

Students can contact student services or help desk via ChatGPT. This saves students time and effort. Not only can they share their concerns with ChatGPT. It also offers 24/7 availability, so they do not have to consider opening hours or queues. For instance, students might not be willing to scroll through endless pages on your FAQ, but they are willing to type their question which ChatGPT then answers based on all available information in the data set. Examples include:

• Admission information: provide quick answers to questions about admission criteria, deadlines and required documents, helping students feel prepared and less stressed during the application process.
• Study guide: offer information on courses, subjects, timetables, schedules, blocks, minimum requirements and exemption schemes. This serves as a reliable source for students to find information quickly, easily and accurately, leading to increased course satisfaction.
• Campus information: useful for answering questions about open days, campus visits, housing, finance and other related topics important to students looking for their future university.

Examples of Service ChatGPT prompts:

• "What are the requirements for admission to the MSc Management course?"
• "How do I cancel my course?"
• "Can I register for more than one minor?"
• "How do I visit the campus during an open day?"
• "What should I do if I don't feel well?"

2. Interactive Learning

ChatGPT offers opportunities for interactive learning. For example, it can be used to ask quiz questions, such as multiple choice questions. This allows students to be actively engaged and thus better understand the material. Universities should promote ChatGPT as an ultimate study buddy, where an endless conversation can be created to determine whether a student understands all the material well enough. By offering students support in utilizing ChatGPT, they can develop an even deeper understanding of their courses.

Examples of Interactive Learning ChatGPT prompts:

• "Pretend you are a physics professor and we are having a discussion about Newton's laws of motion to test my knowledge.”
• "Create 20 multiple choice questions on different pricing schemes to enter a new market."
• "I’ve recently been reading this study book. What are the key concepts from chapter 16? "
• "I got this question on my exam wrong but I am unsure why. Please indicate where my misunderstanding has occurred.”

3. Personalisation

ChatGPT can be used to provide personalised study tips based on each student's needs and preferences. This gives students better guidance and allows them to focus on what matters most. As many students struggle to find a rhythm that allows them to thrive, it can be very beneficial for universities to help students develop a stronger approach through tools such as ChatGPT.

Examples of Personalisation ChatGPT prompts:

• "These are the books and articles I need to read, these are my lecture times, these are my exam dates, this is the course manual. Based on this information, please create a 12 week study plan for me.”
• Follow-up prompt: “please recreate this study plan so that I only study X days per week and no more than Y hours per day.” 
• Follow-up prompt: “please alter this study plan so that I have this day off as it is my birthday.” 
• Follow-up prompt: “please alter this study plan so that I can also work out X times per week.” 

4. Data Analysis

Have you collected lots of data from students through a survey? You can aggregate all open ended responses, compile them into one document and then ask ChatGPT to create a summary with key insights. 

Examples of Data Analytics ChatGPT prompts:

• "Here are the open-ended responses from 500 students about their experiences of studying at our university. Please create a 200 word summary.”
• “Identify the most important trends in this data set.”
• “What are the two biggest differences between the responses from the student satisfaction survey this year and last year?”

Examples of ChatGPT prompts:

• "What are the requirements for admission to the MSc Management course?"
• "How do I cancel my course?"
• "Can I register for more than one minor?"
• "How do I visit the campus during an open day?"
• "What should I do if I don't feel well?"

Benefits of ChatGPT at universities

By using ChatGPT at universities, there are many benefits to be gained. Here are some of the most important ones:

1. ChatGPT offers 24/7 availability
2. Students can ask their questions faster without queuing or waiting for an appointment.
3. ChatGPT increases the productivity of support staff by making them work more efficiently and effectively.
4. ChatGPT's interactivity provides students with the motivation to really contribute to their learning.

Conclusion

Innovative technologies like ChatGPT offer numerous opportunities to improve the way students learn. It creates more opportunities and thus improves the student experience for all students interacting with university services. By using ChatGPT, universities have an opportunity to improve this student experience while working smarter and more efficiently. Also don’t forget to say “thanks ChatGPT” once every while to let it know you’re grateful😉

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