At times, it feels as if project implementation is the easiest part of working in Higher Ed IT. The communication and people issues, however, tend to be the challenging part, especially when trying to reach the student body. Students are often more difficult to reach, as they have so much information thrown at them on a daily basis. Everyone is looking for student feedback, so it’s easy for your message to get lost in their inbox. That’s why you have to be clever in how you communicate to them — using what they’re familiar with to peak their interest.
Utilizing New Technology
“Your information is much more accessible when your audience doesn’t have to go out of their way to find it.”
Social media is becoming more and more prevalent, and students are especially eager to utilize the internet for the majority of their communication. Since they’re constantly using social media, that’s where to find, reach out to, and inform them. Your information is much more accessible when your audience doesn’t have to go out of their way to find it. By adapting to what your users are familiar with, you’ll be better able to keep in contact with them.
Their Surroundings
Utilizing the campus setting is a more traditional way of going about communicating with and engaging students. Flyers can definitely be an effective way to reach them, despite the fact that they’re posted everywhere. Another great way to get word out on campus is to communicate with faculty regarding your upcoming implementations to get student feedback. Students should be most attentive in the classroom, so the information is most likely to reach them. Once you’ve gotten your information across, you’ll be able to use their feedback to better your project.
Feedback is Essential
“Your final decision on how to engage students may vary depending on your project and campus community.”
Email may be the best way to reach faculty and staff, but students tend to respond better to other methods of communication. They are the majority of your user base, and it is essential to include their perspectives when working on your IT implementations. Although there are many ways to get your message across, your final decision on how to engage students may vary depending on your project and campus community. By using a mix of the most effective traditional methods with newer technologies, you’ll be able to get the feedback you need to ensure a well-received project implementation.
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