Project: Find Missing Students! 

The Problem 

During the initial months of the COVID-19 pandemic and the shift to emergency remote learning, I noticed that a significant number of my students were not participating in the Canvas course that I had created for my classes. What was even more concerning was that I hadn't heard from them at all, despite reaching out to each missing student and their parents individually. These students used to attend class regularly before the pandemic, so I grew worried about their welfare. I soon learned that many of my colleagues were experiencing a similar decrease in attendance and participation, which they shared with me via Teams.

The Solution

I was trying to find a way to grab the attention of my missing students and let them know that I was concerned about their wellbeing. Although I could see from the reports on Remind.com, a communication software that I use to communicate with students and parents via text message without exchanging personal information, that my messages were being received, I wasn't getting any response from my students. While doing some research online, I stumbled upon Biteable.com, a program that I had never used before. I stayed up late at night after finishing grading to create a message that would hopefully grab their attention and convey my empathy and understanding towards them during these unprecedented times.

The Result

My Biteable video was highly successful because I shared it with all my students, not just those missing from class. Even the students attending regularly improved their performance after watching the video. The most impressive part was that it helped over 40% of my missing students get back in touch with me, and we worked together to catch up on their missed work without overwhelming them. I created personalized learning projects for each student based on the data I had collected throughout the year about their writing, reading, and critical thinking skills, which needed improvement. Students, parents, and administration shared the video widely within my school district.

Although my Biteable video did not have a specific academic objective, it was created based on assessing my learners' needs. I used data-driven decisions and intuition gained from the relationships I had established with them throughout the year to inform its creation.

Tools Used

• Biteable

• Music credits: The Temper Trap - "Sweet Disposition"