Artificial Intelligence in Management Information Systems

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is quickly becoming a transformative force in today’s education sector, especially in Management Information Systems (MIS). These advanced systems, with AI integration, are revolutionising the way educational institutions operate and manage data. This blog will introduce AI in MIS, the possible impact on the education sector and how Cantium are supporting schools.   

A Management Information System (MIS) is important in streamlining administrative tasks and enhancing educational delivery. It efficiently collates all data into a singular place. The data ranges from teachers taking the register, to a senior leadership team reviewing academic results across year groups. 

MIS providers are beginning to utilise AI to assist school staff by machine learning tasks that usually require human intelligence. This includes problem-solving, understanding natural language and recognising patterns to complete tasks like reporting and providing insights.  

Due to the recent AI developments being launched into MIS, schools aren’t always aware of its full capability. As a trusted support partner, we work with hundreds of schools that require guidance and support utilising their MIS. As students begin to discover AI, we’re working hard to ensure their school staff are keeping ahead of the curve. At Cantium, we offer in-depth training in this area so that school staff can familiarise themselves with the functionality. 

AI functionality integrated within a Management Information System can differ among different providers. So far, we’ve seen AI create written content for parents, students, and staff, allowing school staff to fine-tune the tone of voice and select the specific communication method (email, letter, or SMS). Additionally, the AI function can be programmed to adjust the subject, length, and language of the content. Teachers can also use the AI feature to create lesson plans specific to their subject and year group. It can also generate quiz questions based on the curriculum.  

AI is built for efficiency. It will allow staff to streamline their activities and increase their output. Reporting that would typically take many hours to collate from different data sources, AI can complete in a fraction of the time. By taking the strain out of administrative tasks, it frees up more time for teachers and educators to do what they do best – teach.  

In June 2023, Arbor integrated AI into its platform, calling it ‘Ask Arbor.’ This use of AI provides answers in plain English and presents data in a customisable report for editing, downloading and sharing. Want to write a report on attendance across year groups? You can Ask Arbor. Looking for a quick way to create a student report? You can Ask Arbor. 

Unveiled at the British Educational Training and Technology (BETT) exhibition, Bromcom AI was officially launched on 15th May 2023, marking the beginning of a new chapter in educational management technology. Providing real-time data analytics and insights that help school leaders make informed decisions and improve student performance. Bromcom’s AI functionality is designed to handle various tasks to support educators. It can write letters, develop lesson plans and even set homework.

Despite adding new features every term, SIMS is yet to announce the use of AI in their MIS. 

With the capabilities of AI expanding, Cantium’s commitment to supporting schools in harnessing the power of AI through training and resources ensures that schools are at the forefront of technological advancement. As we look ahead, the role of AI in education is set to become even more significant, promising exciting developments for schools, teachers and students. If you’d like to learn more about Artificial Intelligence in MIS, episode three of The Cantium Podcast explores this in depth with host Sarah Brett, Senior Education Consultant at Cantium, and guest Debbie Rose, Education Systems Lead at Cantium.