Session Details
Presenters:
- Christina Pirzada, Sr. Director, Product Management
- Jody Sailor, Sr. Director, Academic Strategy & Innovation
- Dana Okerlund, Director, Product Management
Date @ Time: Thursday, July 24th, 2:30 PM
Room: TBD
What I’m looking forward to sharing with you.
School can be stressful—especially for students in middle and high school facing rigorous coursework, extracurriculars, and big “what’s next” decisions. With so much happening in and out of the classroom, it doesn’t take much for a student to start slipping. Maybe it’s a lower-than-usual quiz score. A few missing assignments. A subtle pattern of disengagement that’s easy to overlook–until it's not.
But what if we could catch those early signs before they snowball?
That’s what this session is all about.
At InstructureCon, we’ll explore how the Instructure Ed-cosystem can help schools and districts respond proactively to absenteeism in more meaningful ways. Beyond simply tracking attendance and or making a phone call home, the right edtech tools can uncover deeper patterns that empower educators to do what they do best: connect with and support students. Platforms like Canvas and Mastery Connect reveal small but powerful signals—insight into things like drops in performance or missed interactions—that can make all the difference. It’s often the tiniest data point that leads to the most impactful action. I’ve seen this firsthand, both as a student and as an educator. Spotting a dip in participation or a sudden shift in engagement–and being able to respond in real time–is where these tools shine.
We'll walk through how early indicators in reports can lead to targeted support, how Mastery Paths can provide flexibility for students with planned or unplanned absences, and how communication tools—including the Canvas Parent App—can help schools engage families and caregivers in the process.
Who I’m most excited to see in the audience.
Educators who are trying to do right by their students every single day. The counselors and family liaisons who are juggling so much behind the scenes. The classroom teachers who notice when something’s off—and want better ways to respond. This session is for anyone who sees a student slipping and thinks, “What can I do to help?”
If that’s you, I hope you’ll join us.
Clues & Artifacts for you.
No need to wander the woods alone—we’ve got your trail markers ready.
Whether you’re chasing Bigfoot or chasing your next great idea, this session will help you make sense of the strange and wonderful world of edtech.
Got questions or something you’re especially excited to learn? Share your thoughts in the comments below, I’d love to hear from you and, if possible, address your thoughts during the session.
