Can a Chatbot Help Students Meet Deadlines?

Contents:

• What is the essence of the experiment?
• Did the bot help meet deadlines?
• How else are chatbots used in education?

Teachers are well aware that no matter how much time they give students to complete projects, essays, term papers, and theses, many of them still put off assignments until the last minute. Some even ask for additional time. How can this problem be solved? Perhaps it would be worth implementing a system of regular reminders and monitoring. Would this contribute to a more even distribution of work on tasks?

At the XIII International Russian Conference of Higher Education Researchers, held by the National Research University Higher School of Economics, lecturer Alexander Varnavsky shared the results of his experiment. The conference has become an important platform for discussing current trends and research in higher education. Varnavsky's presentation attracted the attention of the participants due to the relevance of the topic and the significance of the research conducted.

What is the essence of the experiment

One hundred and twenty fourth-year students studying the "Research Project" course took part in the experiment. For five weeks, they worked on analytical reviews of scientific literature on assigned topics. To improve the efficiency of assignment completion and facilitate self-assessment, the lecturer developed a chatbot in Telegram. The choice of this platform was based on survey results, which showed that all students use this social network to some extent.

Alexander Varnavsky organized students into groups based on their rating and grade point average (GPA). Each group received assignment reminders via the bot at varying frequencies. The first group received one reminder per week, the second - two, and the third - three. This approach promotes more efficient assignment completion and helps students better manage their time.

The bot asked participants to answer a series of questions regarding their projects. For example, they were asked to indicate how many sources of information they had studied, how many pages of text they had written, and to estimate the amount of work already completed. Participants could answer the questions immediately, postpone them for a few hours, or reschedule them for the next day.

The bot analyzed the success rate of the assignment, determining how well the student adhered to the intended plan and how successfully they implemented it. Each participant had the opportunity to find out their position in the overall ranking by answering the questions.

After the experiment, students completed a questionnaire to evaluate the effectiveness of the chatbot. This allowed us to collect valuable data on its performance and identify areas for improvement. Surveys helped us understand how the chatbot met user needs and facilitated learning. Analysis of the results will serve as the basis for further optimization of the chatbot's functionality and improved user interactions.

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Student satisfaction with their learning largely depends on their effort and motivation. Active participation in the learning process, completing assignments, and striving for self-improvement play a key role in achieving success. The more a student invests in their education, the higher the likelihood that they will be satisfied with the results. Thus, personal initiative and persistence are important factors determining student satisfaction.

Did the bot help meet deadlines?

Alexander Varnavsky notes that using the bot motivated approximately 30% of students to complete assignments. This highlights the effectiveness of using technology in the educational process and its impact on student engagement.

The group that received single reminders showed greater interest in interacting with the bot, but the percentage of participants who met the deadline was lower than in the other groups. Meanwhile, the group that received constant notifications did not show the same enthusiasm for the bot, but they did submit a record number of assignments on time. Thus, it can be concluded that persistent reminders, despite their negative perception, had a positive impact on assignment completion.

Varnavsky suggests implementing more nuanced settings for the bot so that it is not intrusive to students while still regularly reminding them of their assignments. This approach will help strike a balance between effective reminders and user comfort, which will ultimately increase student productivity. Customizing the frequency and content of notifications can significantly improve student engagement with the bot, making it a useful tool in the educational process.

The experiment did not take into account various external factors, such as students' overall workload and the honesty of their responses, which were used to evaluate the bot's effectiveness. This may indicate that repeating a similar experiment could yield significantly different results. Taking these aspects into account is essential for obtaining more accurate and reliable data on bot performance.

Alexander Varnavsky is once again experimenting with Telegram, continuing his innovative approaches to teaching. In 2019, he developed a bot that significantly simplified the use of the "flipped classroom" methodology. This bot reminded students of upcoming seminars, provided links to educational materials, and tests to reinforce their knowledge. Teachers, in turn, were able to track student preparation statistics and test results. This experience demonstrates how modern technologies can improve the educational process and increase its effectiveness.

How else are chatbots used in teaching?

In higher education, bots are increasingly being used to assist with organizational tasks. They help students access up-to-date information, such as class schedules, reading lists, and other important data. Some universities are developing specialized bots for applicants that help them navigate the admissions process and provide essential information about requirements and deadlines. The use of bots in education helps streamline communication and improve interaction between educational institutions and their students.

Bots find much more interesting applications in corporate and continuing education. Chatbots are used to organize training courses and create educational systems. Examples of such implementations can be seen at Gazprom Neft and M.Video - Eldorado. Also worth noting is the unique project "Across and Sideways," where chatbot technology is used to develop courses in the form of performances. This highlights the growing role of chatbots in education and their potential for creating an interactive and engaging learning process.

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• What happens if you free students from strict deadlines?
• Chatbots: what are they for and how to create them. A guide for those who haven't figured it out yet. Chatbots on VKontakte: why they're needed and how to make your own. It doesn't matter what you teach: English, CrossFit, yoga, vocals, or culinary arts. Everything you previously taught in schools, studios, and offices can now be taught online. Promote your knowledge and skills and earn money from anywhere in the world.