Education Interrupted: Drop in # of Students per Dept at UMW
Information Shared in the Infographic
I wanted the imagery in the infographic to share the story but the words also stating the facts to really bring it all together. I started at the top with a picture of a group of happy students walking on a college campus to represent the Fall 2019 semester. I then made the background of the rest of the infographic a picture of college students with masks on to represent Fall 2020 semester. There are various covid-19 graphics on the image as well as sections with facts and numbers. In the middle there are 3 sections, each picture representing the 3 highest student declining departments (Historic Preservation, Music, and Modern Language and Literature). Below the pictures are the number of students that decreased in each of the departments (385, 280, and 277). There is a total decline in the number of students section towards the bottom of the graphic where it states the number (2,835). Beside that are charts showing the specific data for the number of students in each department in the Fall of 2019 and Fall of 2020. Finally, at the bottom of the infographic there is information on how the school systems coped with adapting to the change that covid-19 brought. In summary, the college did surprisingly well at adapting to different teaching styles and making sure students could continue their education with just a slight decrease in students.
Topic Selection
I picked this data set because I wanted to focus on the number of students in each department before and after COVID-19 drastically changed the school system. COVID-19 was in its prime in early 2020 and I believe it led to a decline in the number of students enrolling in college classes. To my surprise it was not as drastic of a change as I thought it would be. I found the data for number of students per dept on the Grade Distribution Report – Institutional Analysis and Effectiveness from the 19-20 and 20-21 reports.
Media Reflection
I chose to create an infographic so that I could portray pictures of college life before and after COVID-19. I feel like this really tells the story of the decline in students and also throws the numbers out there to really hit home.
Process
Canva made the process of creating the infographic pretty simple. Luckily, I have used Canva before, so I just had to do some playing around with it to create a template that looked decent. All of the little touches to the infographic and some of the background pictures came from searching through the provided images tab on Canva.
Credits
At first, I wanted to give video production another shot, and I used Copilot to give me some ideas, but I was not feeling creative enough for it. Here is the conversation:
Me: can you give me ideas on creating a short video incorporation visual imagery relevant to telling the story of how Covid-19 affected the number of college students continuing their education
Copilot: Creating a short video to tell the story of how COVID-19 affected college students' education can be powerful and impactful. Here are some ideas to help you get started:
### 1. **Introduction**
- **Opening Scene**: Start with a montage of bustling college campuses pre-pandemic, showing students attending classes, socializing, and participating in campus activities.
- **Title Screen**: Display the title of your video with a somber background music to set the tone.
### 2. **Impact of COVID-19**
- **Visuals**: Use news clips and headlines about the pandemic's onset and its impact on education.
- **Statistics**: Incorporate graphs and charts showing the decline in college enrollment and the shift to online learning.
### 3. **Student Experiences**
- **Interviews**: Feature short interviews with students discussing their personal experiences, challenges, and how the pandemic affected their education plans.
- **B-Roll Footage**: Show students attending virtual classes, studying at home, and dealing with the isolation.
### 4. **Challenges Faced**
- **Visuals**: Highlight key challenges such as financial difficulties, mental health issues, and lack of access to technology.
- **Quotes**: Use impactful quotes from students, educators, and experts to emphasize these challenges.
### 5. **Adaptation and Resilience**
- **Success Stories**: Share stories of students who overcame obstacles, adapted to new learning environments, and found innovative ways to continue their education.
- **Visuals**: Show students participating in virtual graduations, online study groups, and other creative solutions.
### 6. **Future Outlook**
- **Expert Opinions**: Include insights from educators and experts on the long-term effects of the pandemic on higher education.
- **Hopeful Imagery**: End with hopeful visuals of students returning to campus, engaging in hybrid learning, and looking forward to the future.
### 7. **Conclusion**
- **Call to Action**: Encourage viewers to support initiatives that help students continue their education.
- **Credits**: Roll credits with acknowledgments and any additional information.
### Additional Tips
- **Music**: Choose a soundtrack that matches the emotional tone of your video.
- **Transitions**: Use smooth transitions between scenes to maintain a cohesive flow.
- **Subtitles**: Add subtitles for accessibility and to ensure your message reaches a wider audience.
Would you like more detailed suggestions on any specific part of the video?
Me: could you make me an infographic on that topic
Copilot:
Me: what should the title of the project be
Copilot: Sure! Here are some more title options for your project:
1. **"Education Interrupted: The COVID-19 Impact on College Students"**
2. **"Pandemic and Progress: Navigating College During COVID-19"**
3. **"From Campus to Screen: How COVID-19 Changed College Education"**
4. **"Resilience in Education: College Students Amidst the Pandemic"**
5. **"Learning in Lockdown: The College Experience During COVID-19"**
6. **"Adapting to Change: College Life in the Age of COVID-19"**
7. **"The New Normal: College Education Post-COVID-19"**
8. **"Challenges and Triumphs: College Students' Journey Through the Pandemic"**
9. **"Virtual Classrooms: The Shift in College Education Due to COVID-19"**
10. **"Surviving and Thriving: College Students' Stories During the Pandemic"**
Do any of these titles resonate with you, or would you like more options?
Instead, copilot gave me some inspiration for an infographic and a title, and I took it and ran with it.
For the logo next to the title on the infographic I found an article about UMWs updated branding with links to download their monogram, so I did just that!
UMW Brand Assets – UMW Protected Documents
All of the other pictures and graphics were from searching through the provided images on Canva.
Happy Learning!