Maybe It’s Just Tech Issues
While teaching online, I preferred cameras on for the younger classes so I could see if they were paying attention, but mics were on only when it was someone’s turn to talk. Cameras were optional for teenagers. I had a good student who was not responding to questions when usually she would be full of ideas. I figured she was just having tech issues. I wasn’t prepared for the real reason why. It turned out her grandmother was having a meltdown caused by dementia.
The student was home alone with her trying to reach her parents and avoid calling the authorities to respond. One of her parents was a teacher and was in the room with me, team-teaching on campus. They were pulled aside to go deal with the crisis, which was how I found out. It goes to show you never know what’s happening in the background and why a student isn’t responding.
Story credit: Reddit / NeonHairbrush