Realtime supply of Information UVT Mark Daams, Tom van Eijk & Bas Pronk April 20, 2009

Issue Improving the supply of information to students to increase the awareness and participation of students. E.g. grades are sent to students the instant they are published.

Proposition Improving the supply of information Advantages Disadvantages • Increased participation and awareness • Improved decision making position • Improving the level of service • Quick and reliable • Information overload • Security and privacy issues • Extra costs

Progress report Brainstorming (all) Questionnaires Students (Tom) Teachers (Mark) IT department (Bas) Overall design (Mark) Solution / Implementation (all) Decision making process / outcome (all) Case study Information request (Tom) Processing information (all) Various things Video (Mark / Tom) Presentation (all) Final report (Bas thus far)

Brainstorming (all)

Questionnaires

Students (Tom)

Teachers (Mark)

IT department (Bas)

Overall design (Mark)

Solution / Implementation (all)

Decision making process / outcome (all)

Case study

Information request (Tom)

Processing information (all)

Various things

Video (Mark / Tom)

Presentation (all)

Final report (Bas thus far)

Stakeholders Students • Quantitative research

Stakeholders Teachers • Quantitative research

Stakeholders IT departement • Quantitative research

Solution (1) Text message notification How it works (un)Subscribe option Automatically be informed of grade information Choice between notifications and/or information Excerpt Coen Esser, student Erasmus School of Management: “ Met name als een college uitvalt of de zaal wijzigt, is het sms-systeem enorm handig. Je kijkt niet altijd voordat je naar de uni gaat op internet, en het is dan wel zo makkelijk als je weet dat iets niet doorgaat of de lokatie is gewijzigd.”

(un)Subscribe option

Automatically be informed of grade information

Choice between notifications and/or information

Solution (2) Text message notification Excerpt Peter van der Landen (IT architect) Erasmus Universiteit Rotterdam: Studenten krijgen met SMS niet alleen snel, maar ook alleen de gewenste informatie. Privacy bij cijfers is een voordeel.” Key advantages Effective High level of attention Speed Higher service level Less time and cost consuming

Effective

High level of attention

Speed

Higher service level

Less time and cost consuming

Implementation plan (1) Text message notification Option 1 • Control • Use of own hardware/software • Be able to provide better service • Better intregation of applications • Possiblities for expansion Internal implementation (internal IT department) Advantages • Variable costs • Increased workload • Start-up issues • Lack of “know-how” Disadvantages Excerpts from our IT department “ should be able to implement this within half a year … positive attitude towards this solution … would like to keep this under own control … vague notion of costs and technology…”

Implementation plan (2) Text message notification Option 2 External implementation (third-party solution) Advantages Disadvantages • No SMS infrastructure required • Fixed costs per text message • Faster to implement • Privacy • Level of service • Dependency

Case study (1) Text message notification Erasmus University Rotterdam Implemented in 2000 Blackboard API Study Information Network (aka our Study-guide) API Custom application (within SIN); collects grade data handles students preferences publishes data to third party Excerpt Peter van der Landen, (IT architect) Erasmus Universiteit Rotterdam: “ Omdat de EUR er vroeg bij was, waren er bijvoorbeeld nog geen building blocks voor Blackboard beschikbaar. Met eigen applicaties zijn goede resultaten te bereiken. Een externe aanbieder heeft toch andere belangen” Wireless Services B.V. Third party which texts students

Implemented in 2000

Blackboard API

Study Information Network (aka our Study-guide) API

Custom application (within SIN);

collects grade data

handles students preferences

publishes data to third party

Third party which texts students

Case study (2) Text message notification Excerpt Peter van der Landen, (IT architect) Erasmus Universiteit Rotterdam: “ Het gehele systeem werkt goed en levert voor zowel het personeel als voor de studenten meerwaarde op. Voor alle onderwijsinstellingen is het aan te raden, mits technisch en financieel haalbaar.” Characteristics Implementation duration was a week Automated Teacher hands in Excel file with grade data SIN and Blackboard process the data Third party sends SMS Only students have access to their number Communication barriers have disappeared 23.000 students use this service 102.000 text messages in one year Costing €6.600 (€ 0,0647 per message)

Implementation duration was a week

Automated

Teacher hands in Excel file with grade data

SIN and Blackboard process the data

Third party sends SMS

Only students have access to their number

Communication barriers have disappeared

23.000 students use this service

102.000 text messages in one year

Costing €6.600 (€ 0,0647 per message)

Decision Making Decision Making Process Costs Time Service Technology Privacy Variable costs Implementation Up-time Hardware Security Fixed costs Service desk Software Long-term Questions from students Knowledge Short-Term Staff required Outcome Fusion between option 1 & 2 Grade data (IT department) SMS operator (Mollie, RedBoxSMS, or Wireless Services) Students API SMS

Questions? Feel free to ask them …