Live Episode from ASU+GSV - Fostering Digital Student Connections: The Inscribe Approach

About the Episode: 

In this captivating discussion recorded live at the ASU+GSV AIR Show, Katy Kappler, co-founder and CEO of InScribe, shares her journey founding InScribe which is a platform dedicated to creating vibrant digital communities that support diverse student populations. She gives her insights on the critical role of human connection in online education and explores the potential and challenges of integrating AI to enhance student engagement and success.

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Key Takeaways

• Virtual Communities Are Essential for Student Success
  • Online and commuting students crave connection just as much as traditional residential students. Institutions need to create intentional, inclusive digital spaces that foster belonging and peer connection.
  • Virtual communities like Inscribe bridge the gap by providing students with a space to connect with peers, faculty, and staff outside the classroom.
• AI Should Facilitate, Not Replace, Human Connection
  • While generative AI is driving innovation in higher education, its role should be to enhance human interactions rather than replace them. AI can help by:
    • Analyzing Student Needs: Categorizing and summarizing community activity to identify trends.
    • Building Connections: Recommending personalized connections between students based on shared experiences or needs.
    • Improving Access: Using AI to answer practical questions quickly while reserving human interaction for emotional and complex support.
• Broaden Access Through Proactive Engagement
  • Institutions must make digital communities dynamic and engaging. Use AI to identify trends, surface key discussions, and push relevant content to students who might not know about or actively participate in the community.
  • Proactive outreach—nudges, notifications, or personalized recommendations—can help students overcome hesitancy or lack of awareness.
• Listen to Students and Embrace Discovery
  • Designing effective digital spaces requires active student input. Start with discovery rather than validation—listen to student needs, collaborate on ideas, and build tools that reflect their experiences.
• Don’t Fear AI—Experiment With It
  • Higher ed leaders should get hands-on with AI tools to understand their capabilities and limitations. This first-hand experience will empower leaders to better integrate AI into their strategy and decision-making.

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Episode Summary: FAQs Answered

Why are virtual communities so important for students today?

With the rise of online, hybrid, and commuter education, many students no longer experience the traditional four-year residential campus model. Virtual communities provide students with the sense of belonging, peer connection, and social capital they might otherwise miss. Research shows that when students feel connected, they’re more likely to persist and succeed.

How can AI improve virtual communities?

AI can:

1. Foster connections: Recommend peers, mentors, or communities based on shared experiences or interests.
2. Answer questions quickly: Provide immediate, accurate responses to frequently asked questions, freeing up human staff for complex, emotional support.
3. Increase engagement: Use insights from student activity to nudge inactive users or push trending conversations directly to students.

What are some challenges institutions face when creating virtual communities?

• Student hesitation: Many students worry they won’t find peers with shared experiences.
• Fragmented tools: Institutions often rely on tools like LMS discussion boards or external platforms like Slack, which aren’t designed for building community.
• Scaling engagement: Ensuring meaningful participation among all students, including those who don’t log in frequently, can be difficult.

What’s the best way to start building a digital community?

1. Listen to students: Conduct focus groups, surveys, or one-on-one interviews to understand their needs and preferences.
2. Create dynamic spaces: Build a platform that supports interaction beyond static chat or forums—integrate features like recommendation engines, activity feeds, and event notifications.
3. Start small and iterate: Pilot your community with a select group, gather feedback, and refine before scaling.

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Advice for Higher Ed Leaders

1. Embrace Discovery, Not Assumptions
   • Start by asking questions: What do your students need? What problems are they trying to solve? Instead of trying to validate a pre-built solution, engage in discovery to co-create something meaningful with students.
2. Focus on Human Connection
   • Digital tools are meant to empower humans—not replace them. Whether you’re exploring AI or community platforms, prioritize designs that strengthen peer-to-peer and student-to-staff relationships.
3. Experiment With AI
   • Don’t be afraid of AI’s potential. Start small by using it to automate repetitive tasks or enhance user experiences. The more familiar you become with AI, the better equipped you’ll be to lead its integration.
4. Break the LMS Mold
   • While LMS platforms are critical for classroom learning, they aren’t designed to foster meaningful community. Look for solutions that focus on connection and engagement beyond the classroom walls.

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Guest Name: Katy Kappler, CEO and Co-Founder at InScribe

Guest Email: katy@inscribeapp.com

Guest Bio: Katy Kappler has 20 years of successes and lessons learned designing, building, and launching enterprise technology solutions. She is passionate about experiences that connect individuals more deeply with the world around them, and is dedicated to finding solutions that extend access to high quality education for everyone. Katy’s experience working with both startups and established corporations has provided her valuable perspectives on building and leading teams, motivating and engaging employees, and navigating the fields of education and technology.

Guest Social Handles: LinkedIn

About the Show: The Higher Ed Geek Podcast explores the impact of edtech on the student experience by speaking with diverse leaders from institutions, companies, and nonprofit organizations. Each week we aim to provide an engaging, fun, and relevant dose of professional development that honors the wide range of work happening all across the higher ed ecosystem. Come geek out with us! The Higher Ed Geek Podcast is hosted by Dustin Ramsdell and is a proud member of the Enrollify Podcast Network.

Connect With Our Host:
Dustin Ramsdell

https://www.linkedin.com/in/dustinramsdell/
https://twitter.com/HigherEd_Geek

About The Enrollify Podcast Network:
The Higher Ed Geek is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too!  

Some of our favorites include Generation AI and  I Wanna Work There. 

Enrollify is made possible by Element451 —  the next-generation AI student engagement platform helping institutions create meaningful and personalized interactions with students. Learn more at element451.com. 

Connect with Us at the Engage Summit:
Exciting news — Dustin will be at the 2024 Engage Summit in Raleigh, NC, on June 25 and 26, and we’d love to meet you there! Sessions will focus on cutting-edge AI applications that are reshaping student outreach, enhancing staff productivity, and offering deep insights into ROI. 

Use the discount code Enrollify50 at checkout, and you can register for just $200. 

Learn more and register at engage.element451.com — we can’t wait to see you there!