Improving Student Experience Using Automated Toolset of Academic Services

Abstract

Automation in education has become a major factor shaping a direct relationship between the offered automated services and the academic performance of students in universities. In this paper, we discuss a toolset that features several services aimed at improving the overall experience of students during their stay at the Computer Science and Engineering Department in the American University of Sharjah. The toolset is an attempt to replace many processes that were still, until recently, dependent on paper and pencil. The proposed transformation includes services that affect, on daily basis, the performance of students in their classes. In particular, the toolset automates services related to academic advising, course registration (planning for course sections, availability of courses and handling of waiting lists), exam scheduling (detecting conflicts), tracking attendance in courses, helping students find the proper internship program, and monitoring student progress in their study plans (admission for the second year). The toolset is made accessible through a mobile friendly web portal. Our initial evaluation, based on conducted surveys, shows appreciation from the part of students of the provided services.