Communicating effectively to parents
The days when a class full of students were presented with exactly the same lessons, content and guidance are far behind us. Nowadays, individual learning paths are used and the coach helps the student in the learning process. Whether or not in a traditional grade system or a mix of students of age and education types. But how exactly does the school in my neighborhood do that? And what does that mean for my child? As an educational institution, how can you communicate this effectively to parents?
From mission & vision to action
Many schools have extensive documents on the website regarding their mission & vision in education. But how does that translate to my child? What kind of support can I expect with dyslexia, for example? Each student is an individual. But how is learning pathway support implemented for my child? Ultimately, as a parent, I would like to know how things are arranged in practice and what to expect in the process. How much attention is paid to social education? In what way does the school prepare students for the world of tomorrow, in which technology and robotization play an increasingly important role?
Answer questions
In the consumer market, it is normal to get targeted answers to specific questions you have as a customer. As a supplier or store, you want the customer to be well informed so that he or she can make an informed choice. This maximizes the chances of a positive experience. Unfortunately, secondary schools still provide this only sparsely. Parents themselves have to struggle through a (cluttered) structure and a variety of documents to get an idea of how the school deals with the individual student in practice.
Valuable contact
As a school, how do you ensure that value is still delivered in the contact with parents? Even when a physical visit to the school is not possible. By unlocking knowledge and information with RPA , Robotic Process Automation, or robotization, whether or not in combination with Artificial Intelligence (AI). As an educational institution, you provide better customer contact with robotization. You create more valuable contact moments with the parent.
A chat robot with Conversational AI can provide targeted answers to individual questions from parents and students on the website, as well as via WhatsApp and Facebook. Its strength is that the robot takes the search work out of web pages, policy documents and manuals. In addition, it provides an appropriate answer based on the situation at hand for the questioner. In doing so, it ensures the quality of the answer and provides a representative picture of the school as it is. Pleasant for parents, but also certainly for the school. Parents and students get involved and will be eager to get further acquainted!
What else can robotization do?
Value can also be added and time saved from employees in the communications department in the contact via e-mail, which is increasing significantly. This can be done by (partially) automating this communication and linking it with a knowledge base and AI. In the knowledge base, answers to frequently asked questions can be recorded. For example, as in the demo KnowledgeWise. With RPA, a qualitative answer can be prepared and/or sent automatically. The communications department can then deal with more personal questions and initiatives to make the school more visible.
So no more open house?
Just so! Open Days are very important in determining a choice of school. By visiting the school, grade 8 students and their parents can taste atmosphere and get to know the school and the teaching team. Choosing a school is largely determined by how the student feels about the school. But make sure that visiting the school also provides value and quality.
Make it possible for parents to choose their own time for a visit where the school determines how many people can be informed at what time. This will immediately ensure that there are not too many people in the school at the same time to ensure compliance with the measures regarding COVID19. Watch the video on what you can do.
Want to know more?
It is uncertain whether traditional open days can still take place. It is certain, however, that new students will return to the school next school year. Every school wants to present the best possible picture of the possibilities for the individual student. You can do this by communicating effectively to parents and potential students. Create valuable contact moments through better customer contact with robotization. Pegamento has extensive knowledge and experience in adding value in customer contact and automating underlying, administrative processes through robotization and AI.
Looking for a way to open your school online and physically to (new) parents and students and add value in contact? Make an appointment with one of our specialists. Then together we will see what we can do in this regard.
Age Dijkstra, Business Consultant.


