The efficiency of an organisation relies on a few vital factors, including teamwork, communication, and timely problem resolution. All these aspects are interrelated and contribute to the optimal functionality of schools and colleges.
However, administrative activities are the most tedious, taking the most time, as they entail collecting, compiling, and maintaining student-related documents. That is where advanced tools like the student information system prove to be immensely beneficial.
What is a student information system?
Student Information System (SIS) is a versatile educational software that allows educators and administrative staff to organise students' information and activities. The system provides a platform that helps teachers monitor crucial student data.
Furthermore, the system helps to facilitate online classes and create assignments conveniently; teachers can assign and calculate marks in reduced time.
Role of SIS in Educational Institutes
1. Streamlined Student Data Management
Paperwork and documents are central to all activities of institutes; for instance, whether it is during enrollment or examinations, the staff handles a lot of paperwork. Besides, it is essential because it indicates a physical record of a particular activity.
For instance, after the fee payment, if the student does not have a receipt, he or she won’t be able to back their claim for the previously paid amount. However, it is challenging to store and manage paper-based documents periodically.
The chances of misplacing such documents are typically high. Therefore, SIS is an appropriate solution because it automates data collection and maintenance through the following mechanism:
- A centralized student database system allows teachers to upload the necessary reports and updates.
- Teachers can access the system from any connected device.
- Educators and authorised stakeholders can access specific information with just a few clicks, without having to go through files or folders.
- They can collect performance-based data and gain an overall understanding of a particular class.
2. Easy Day-to-Day Activities
"It takes a village to raise a child" is a very popular quote that highlights the underlying fact that the collective effort of a community is vital for children’s growth and development. Hence, in the context of educational institutes, the responsibility is far more complex.
One of the primary reasons is that school or college contributes to their personal and psychosocial development. However, given the multifarious tasks that institutes handle on a daily basis, it can be challenging to maintain precision and effectiveness.
Fortunately, they don’t need to stress about those issues any longer, thanks to tools like the student management system. Institutes can integrate the system with SIS and simplify many procedures, such as:
- Automating attendance recording and maintenance processes.
- Scheduling meetings with the stakeholders or staff meetings.
- Admin staff can arrange the student enrollment and examination data on the platform, helping to streamline the operations.
- The institute team members can gain quick access to relevant data with authorised login credentials.
3. Reduces teacher workload
Teachers are facilitators of education who ensure that each student gets equal representation and proper care. At the same time, they need to complete a multitude of tasks as part of regular classroom sessions and the academic system.
For instance, they need to maintain the attendance registers, prepare lesson plans, keep track of student progress in terms of learning objectives, etc. Carrying out such elaborate duties through a traditional system is exhausting and time-consuming.
This is where the student information system can play a critical role in reducing the teacher workload. The system helps to streamline administrative tasks such as creating online tests, evaluating and grading the tests, and lesson planning.
In fact, the system is a perfect assistive technology that allows teachers to focus their attention on more important activities to guide students effectively.
How Student Information Systems Benefit Teachers and Educators
4. Student Retention
Which class is facing a low attendance rate? Which students have been frequent absentees? Is there a way to improve the attendance? Institutes must address these questions to tackle the issue of frequent absenteeism.
Furthermore, institutes have been directing their focus on retention strategies, especially because student retention reflects an overall institutional performance. Nevertheless, outdated and conventional methods are inept and ineffective.
On the other hand, opting for a well-planned approach with the help of student ERP aids in identifying major issues. For instance, teachers get a bird's-eye view of the current status of individual students in the following ways:
- Teachers can monitor students’ academic progress through assessment reports and attendance reports.
- They can retrieve weekly and monthly attendance reports and check the frequency of their absences and present days.
- They can develop a retention strategy by collaborating with the administrative staff and parents of the students and taking appropriate action.
- They can send timely updates to the parents of concerned students regarding attendance when there are prolonged absences.
5. Incorporating Parental Involvement
Parents will always be an integral part of an individual’s life, especially during their formative years. However, sometimes students prefer to hide or refrain from disclosing crucial information to their parents out of fear or hesitation.
As a result, it prevents parents from knowing the academic ongoings of their children; institutes can intervene and help to keep themselves updated. Integrating the student management system will allow parents to get regular updates about their children’s performance.
Moreover, parents can track the progress continuously and check the areas that require improvement. Also, teachers can connect with parents and vice versa to deliberate on specific issues that the student has been facing.
6. Student Portal
School or college administrators, teachers, and the official notice board have been the conventional ways through which students receive vital news. A more modern and automated approach is the need of the hour for a sense of autonomy.
Therefore, the student information system is a perfect piece of software that comes with an integrated student portal, allowing students to gain access to relevant information. All they need to do is log in to the SIS account and view their online profiles.
Consequently, they will be able to check changes in timetables, examination schedules, result declarations, parent-teacher meetings, and important announcements. Also, they can reach out to teachers and classmates and discuss matters related to classes and examinations.