School Scheduling Software For Scheduling Parent-teacher Conferences
Parent-teacher conferences are an anticipated and beneficial event at school districts
across the country, as it gives both teachers and parents an opportunity to discuss a student's academic performance. What many instructors do not look forward to, however, is scheduling these sessions, as they can be tedious and time-consuming. This is especially true if the teacher and his or her support staff still rely on a traditional scheduling method, such as taking appointments by phone and scheduling times in a paper appointment book or electronic calendar. This manner of booking conferences is also inconvenient for parents, who often must schedule them during teacher or school office hours.
Given the advancements in school software technology, a better way of managing parent-teacher conferences is possible. It can be found in online appointment scheduling software, which can automate, streamline and improve the entire appointment-scheduling procedure.
THE BASICS OF ONLINE PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCE SCHEDULING SOFTWARE
Most online student software applications differ from the more traditional, "boxed" programs in ways that are beneficial to users. Commonly known as Software as a Service (SaaS), these applications are accessible in the same manner as other Web services such as online banking, e-mail and social networking sites. All that's required is an Internet connection, eliminating the need for expensive hardware, custom programming on a school or district's existing network, or software downloads and installations.
Functionality in appointment-scheduling applications varies among student software providers. In general, it offers such beneficial features as:
Online self-scheduling. This is one of the most popular features found in most online schedules, as it allows parents to schedule their sessions at their own convenience, 24 hours a days. Most parents lead very busy lives, and the ability to book these appointments at any time of day-not just during teacher and school office hours-is much appreciated. This features also benefits instructors and administrative staff, as it reduces the number of phone calls and e-mails from parents seeking to schedule their conference sessions. This can free up an enormous amount of time that these individuals can spend on more important tasks, such as managing student lesson plans and grading assignments.
Automated e-mail and text message reminders. Surveys show that appointment reminders can reduce the "no-show" rate by over 50 percent. But given the busy day-to-day schedules of today's teachers and administrative staff, who has the time to make reminder phone calls or send individual e-mails to parents? Some online appointment-scheduling software applications completely automate this important task by scheduling a reminder e-mail or text message when a parent or the teacher books a conference time. The student software then automatically sends the reminder on a specified date before the scheduled appointment, such as two days prior. Typically, no additional action is required from the teacher or administrator.
Reporting and record-keeping. A major inconvenience of the more traditional manner of appointment-taking-for example, using a paper appointment book or electronic calendar-is the need for separate spreadsheets, files and folder to properly record conference notes, student updates and other information. Online appointment software can do more than just schedule parent-teacher conferences. It also securely stores and maintains information, notes and other details in one easy-to-access location. Instructors and staff can quickly navigate between their appointment calendar and students notes without ever having to leave the application or open another program. Student software is also an easy way to quickly retrieve parents' e-mails for conference follow-up and continued correspondence.
E-marketing capabilities. Another benefit from a scheduling application's record-keeping capability is the ease by which a teacher or administrative can create and send e-marketing materials and messages for upcoming conferences, events, school programs and other relative information. Since the student software maintains parent e-mail addresses, a user can quickly pull a mailing list for their e-mail campaigns. Some online schedulers even allow users to send messages directly from the application. Online appointment-scheduling applications eliminate the need to maintain a separate spreadsheet or database of parent e-mail addresses.
WHY WEB-BASED STUDENT SOFTWARE MAKES SENSE
Web-based scheduling software applications typically offer functionality not found in most traditional programs that can have a dramatic, positive impact in the way a school or school districts schedules and manages its parent-teacher conferences. These include:
Accessibility. Most teachers take their work home with them, as extra hours are necessary to grade papers, developing lesson plans and planning their week. They also spend time scheduling their parent-teacher conferences. Because they're Web-based, teachers can access their scheduler and parent/student information from any Internet connection. This feature is also beneficial for administrators working from different offices or locations that need access to parent-teacher calendars.
Cost. School administrators and teachers familiar with computer software and networks know how pricey installation and regular maintenance can be. SaaS applications such as online student software can be relatively inexpensive to set up and use. Some even offer month-to-month payment options with no long-term contracts.
Ease of set-up. In addition to the cost savings, setting up an online appointment-scheduling application is a relatively simple process. In some instances, a teacher or school could have its online scheduler up and running within a few hours. A scheduling software provider may also offer live coaching to help users get familiar with system and assist them with their specific settings.
A fine-tuned appointment-scheduling process is a necessity for teachers, schools and school districts as they plan their student-teacher conferences. The traditional paper appointment book, phoned-in appointment requests, and time-consuming reminder phone calls, however, typically doesn't make the grade. A proven, Web-based student software application can give teachers, administrators and school districts the necessary functionality to improve conference scheduling for parents and teachers alike with minimal effort and low costs.
by: Appointment-Plus
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