Introduction The College of Business and Economics (CBE) School of Management: Department of Finance and Investment Management is excited to introduce the first ever WhatsApp bot. The bot allows students ease of access to information in a fun and interactive way, by using a means they are all familiar with – their mobile phones and WhatsApp. 1. The WhatsApp bot, called Dottie, is a virtual assistant that streamlines information in the Department and University, to provide both students and staff with an efficient and central point to find information. The development of the bot is aimed at improving the teaching and learning experience for both students and staff within the Department, by assisting with the administration of queries and commonly asked questions. This helps alleviate the pressure on and distractions for both academic and non-academic staff who deal with numerous student queries on a day-to-day basis. In so doing, the learning experience for students is enhanced as they will feel less frustrated, knowing they can find information in a quick and easy way. Our lecturers’ teaching experience is enhanced, as they will be able to concentrate more on their teaching and be less encumbered by repeated or menial administrative queries. What we did and how it was executed The bot was developed in the same way as a USSD code that is used on a mobile phone to recharge, buy data, or check balances. By using the readily available WhatsApp, we created a simple and central place for students to access and quickly find information that relates to the Department, qualifications and modules, and the University. Working with an external company, we mapped out the common queries and FAQs experienced by staff, and collected other important information that would be beneficial for staff and students. Thereafter a WhatsApp bot was created with four main menu options. The menu leads to four main ‘maps’: Teaching Innovation for the 21st Century | Showcasing UJ Teaching Innovation Projects 2022 25
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