Empowering Philippine Education with Student Information Systems

What is the most tiresome and repetitive task that teachers and administrators need to do? Many might agree that collecting and maintaining documents is tedious, yet they must adhere to it. However, manually executing such activities can get overwhelming, especially due to ineffective measures. Technological solutions like the student information system are appropriate software that enables institutes to organize their institutional data. It provides a platform to streamline all student-related data, which saves teachers’ time and effort. But that’s not all; the system positively impacts an institute’s core operations, leading to administrative efficiency. Hence, it is only fitting to take an in-depth look into it.

What is a student information system?

A student information system is a modern software solution that has been designed to manage all student-related information effectively. It provides a user-friendly platform, which makes it easy for stakeholders to track faculty, admin, and student data. Consequently, they can find any information quickly without having to spend extra time sorting through paper-based documents. Besides, many higher educational institutes in the Philippines often manage administrative functions manually. Also, the lack of effective mechanisms and tools is a common issue that most institutes encounter, leading to procedural lags and inconsistencies. That is where a student information system can make a world of difference, but what’s so special about the tool? How can it impact the organizational operations? Let us find out:

1. Administrative Workflow

Despite the expertise and teamwork that goes into executing administrative activities, minor errors and delays occur from time to time. On top of that, when admin carries out several tasks simultaneously, it can lead to mismanagement or reduced efficiency. Hence, incorporating the software will help to systematize administrative functions, enabling team members to maintain a smooth workflow in the following ways:

• It provides a centralized database, helping to store and manage all student-related data, such as personal information, academic records, and financial data.
• It automates crucial administrative activities, including grading and report generation, enabling teachers to invest more time in teaching and learning.
• It reduces errors and provides a platform for institute management to keep track of overall institutional workflow.

2. Improved Teaching and Learning

Despite the government's significant initiatives, why does Philippine education still struggle? There are a lot of aspects, including inadequate resources and facilities and geographic boundaries, that demand equal attention. However, ineffective educational approaches might be one of the foremost factors that impact student learning. That is why many institutes prioritize technological integration with tools like the SIS, which help facilitate improved teaching and learning in the following ways:

• Institutes can integrate LMS with SIS, which will enable teachers to utilize accurate student information to develop personalized learning pathways.
• Teachers can assess students’ individual requirements, strengths, and weaknesses and make necessary adjustments to worksheets and assignments.
• Teachers can create differentiated instruction, wherein they can combine various methodologies, helping to meet various learning needs.

3. Streamlined Communication

Lack of a student support system and delayed responses cause students to often back out during the initial phases of the admission process. On top of that, a lack of proper communication between parents and institutes leads to discontent and confusion. However, institutes can establish an interconnected communication platform with the help of the SIS software. As a result, teachers can upload regular updates regarding students’ academic performance reports, exams, assignments, etc.

4. Enhanced Collaborations

The Philippines has one of the most hardworking, dedicated, and ambitious student populations in the world, yet they struggle after their graduation. If one explores the primary reasons, one will find a few critical ones, including knowledge and skill gaps.

On the other hand, the curriculum may not always be in alignment with 21st-century work or industry demands. What is the solution? Well, the solution lies in developing lessons and facilitating classes, according to the recent curriculum reform.

Likewise, implementing modern pedagogical methodologies with the help of SIS software is instrumental in today’s scenario. The software has interoperability features, allowing integration with learning tools, thereby helping to facilitate online classes.

That’s not all; teachers can conduct group projects, wherein students can use the platform to interact with each other. In fact, they can use video conferencing tools to communicate regularly and discuss, boosting their collaboration efforts.

5. Various Assessment Methods

‘’I hate exams’’ is a statement that many students often use to express their exasperation and dislike towards examinations. Some of them don’t like it simply for the sake of studying; however, standardized tests are ineffective due to their limited scope.

Besides, these tests succeed in assessing subject-specific knowledge and reading and writing abilities. Therefore, such tests have limited validity, are incapable of measuring students’ inherent potential, and negatively impact their overall well-being.

In contrast, teachers can employ various assessment methods, including formative tests, as part of the regular classroom sessions. In fact, that is where they can use the system to carry out the following:

• Create objective assessments with questions such as multiple-choice questions, true and false quizzes, etc.
• Include descriptive questions in various examinations, requiring students to write their own answers without copying or cheating.
• Create rubrics for subjective assessments, allowing the system to provide automated feedback based on pre-established criteria.
• The system can store and maintain various questions, which helps teachers refer to them for future purposes.
• Develop customized assessments and online assignments by adjusting the difficulty levels.

6. Attendance Tracking

The intrinsic connection between student attendance and learning is undeniable and significant, and both are interdependent. Hence, relying on an outdated or ineffective attendance system leads to an administrative workload on teachers.

Therefore, it is hardly surprising that institutes in the Philippines have been adopting tools that have attendance management modules. That is why the SIS tool is a popular choice among schools and colleges, as it has automated attendance recording features. As a result, students can scan barcodes during their entry and exit of the school and classroom premises. On the other hand, biometric scanners verify students’ identities and record their attendance effectively; besides, automated attendance has various benefits, such as:

• Teachers can check and track student attendance through the dashboards.
• The system sends alerts and notifications to parents whenever students miss classes or are absent.
• It generates attendance reports, helping to identify frequent absentees; hence, they can take appropriate action plans to address the issues.

7. Data-Driven Teaching

It is a challenging task for the faculty to focus on individual students and ensure whether they are progressing or not. Teachers can use the software’s data analytics to identify attendance and performance trends and patterns.

Furthermore, the streamlined data and its regular analysis allow teachers to determine students’ learning needs and tailor teaching methods accordingly. In fact, data analytics helps to assess the curriculum and instructional effectiveness.

Therefore, teachers can make data-driven decisions in various areas, such as teaching methodologies, curriculum, and assessment strategies.