Education management systems (EMS) are also known as student information systems or campus management software.
In a world where remote and blended learning has become the new normal, it has become the go-to solution for the effective administration of every aspect of an educational institution.
Since the pandemic, EMS has evolved at lightning speed, incorporating mobile technology, cloud services, and virtual reality to create new possibilities for accessible, immersive learning.
As of April 2020, 98% of educational institutions moved the majority of their classes online, yet, during the pandemic, 79% of students said it was difficult to stay motivated in this online educational world.
We take a look at the latest trends in education management solutions and how you can integrate them to improve your institution and keep your students and staff motivated and engaged.
What is an Education Management System?
An EMS or student information system is a comprehensive toolkit used to manage educational institutions. It includes different kinds of software, such as student information systems, admission solutions, and financial aid software. It can manage almost every aspect of staff’s daily tasks as well as manage student data.
It has been reported that 89% of higher education faculties already used some of the features of the EMS before the COVID-19 pandemic. For instance, posting course material or a syllabus, collecting assignments, and tracking grades.
Fast forward to today, and 77% of higher education faculties agree that an EMS is critical to their teaching.
What Functions Can Education Management Systems Manage?
- Finances, salaries, bursaries, budgets
- Faculties, departments, and curriculums
- Communication between students, educators, and parents
- Student data and virtual enrollment
- Grades, transcripts, and academic histories
- Disciplinary procedures
- Programs, classes, timetables, and schedules
- Career services
- Regulatory compliance and accreditation bodies
Benefits Of an Education Management System
Overseen by school administrators and accrediting bodies, EMS allows staff and students better access to their institution’s offerings.
The end result is a better educational experience and a healthier academic environment that meets everyone’s needs.
- Educators can focus on teaching and not waste time on tedious mundane tasks
- It fosters a safe learning environment
- It eliminates communication gaps
- It can automate class schedules, test and exams dates, and timetables
What are the biggest trends in education management systems?
- Complete Financial Management
Self-serve payment portals allow students and parents to pay tuition and other fees electronically and are a crucial offering of education management systems in 2022.
On the one hand, this makes financial administration so much easier for the institution. From the student/parent side, it is convenient as they can time payments to coincide with payday or non-business hours. They can also access their statements online at any time.
When it comes to payment processing and payment posting automation, Diamond SIS is a leader in the industry.
- Career Services
The career services section serves to manage externships, internships, and employment post-graduation.
Educational institutions can work with companies and employers to create jobs boards and within this track the student’s ongoing journey as an alumnus.
It will make it easy to know where the student is in terms of becoming employed, or whether they are continuing their education, or have enlisted in the military.
Other career services include mentoring, networking, labor market info, resume building, and study abroad opportunities.
- Extended Reality Experiences
Augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR) and mixed reality (MR) have collectively become Extended reality (XR) – an immersive and engaging way to teach.
Through risk-free, simulated environments students can learn hands-on skills. XR is already used successfully in the medical, astronomy, architecture, educational, and public speaking industries.
In education, XR programs can reduce costs related to laboratory maintenance or buying new equipment, which can be substantially more expensive than creating extended reality experiences.
- Ai And Automation
Artificial intelligence (AI) will become a major force in education. Software that is powered by self-learning algorithms will become better at tasks assigned to it, streamlining processes along the way.
It will enable the automating of repetitive tasks, such as grading papers while providing more personalized learning pathways for students.
This will also in time lead to adaptive learning where the course adapts to the student’s pace and progress.
- Remote Learning
Remote learning enables school-age students to learn skills and subjects that may not be taught locally. For those in higher education, it enables students to schedule their modules and exams around other commitments such as work and family.
Recreational and learning driven by interests have exploded globally. To this end, education management systems have to be flexible enough to manage short-term and continuous learners in an organic and uninterrupted way.
It will have to accommodate a global audience that brings with it different time zones, languages, and expectations.
- Learning In Bite-Size Chunks
It’s no secret that attention spans are shrinking, and so, educational technology has had to keep up with this. Enter ‘nano-learning’, where students get lessons delivered in bite-sized chunks.
It’s important that the course material is highly visual and engaging to capture their attention and increase retention.
Short lessons can be provided via text message (i.e. WhatsApp) or communication platforms such as Slack or Teams.
- Big Data Collection
Big Data collection and analysis lets EMS administrators discover insights into learner behavior and make informed decisions.
Diamond SIS software gives administrators access to tons of data that they can use to pinpoint the school’s strengths, weaknesses, and needs before making decisions.
It also enables educational staff to identify students who need further coaching, and the creative strategies to improve learner outcomes.
Conclusion
A cloud-based education management system – coupled with enhanced functionality and 3rd party integrations – will enable educational institutions to engage in a holistic approach that benefits students, lecturers, and the institution as a whole.
Students can enjoy the flexibility of learning, the support provided through the EMS, and being able to communicate with each other and faculty staff anytime, from anywhere.
Education providers, in turn, have a more efficient tracking system that will allow them to focus on coaching and adapting course lectures on an individual basis.
About Diamond Student Information System
DiamondSIS is a cloud-based student information system that incorporates all the critical data and functions of an institution into one compliant platform, managing all the administration online.
The system is easily accessible for users across various platforms and devices, such as mobile phones, tablets, laptops, and PCs, and is simple to navigate for everyone.
For more information, go to diamondsis.com or call us at 213.545.2718.