How to Ask Vera Effective Questions

Guidance on writing effective questions and getting the most out of Vera.

What's the best recipe for a prompt?

Include the people, measure, timeframe, and output you want.

Example: "Show the students in my 3rd-period class who have missed 10% or more of school days this semester. Include total days absent and absence rate, sorted highest to lowest."

How should I write my first question?

Begin with one clear request. Name:

1. Who: students, grade, class, school, or subgroup
2. What: attendance, score, growth, behavior, or another measure
3. When: this week, this semester, a date range, or an assessment window
4. How: list, total, trend, comparison, table, or chart

Can I use everyday language?

Yes. Write naturally, but be specific. "Who needs help?" is vague. "Which of my students scored below the 40th percentile on the most recent reading assessment?" gives Vera clearer instructions.

What makes a strong prompt?

A strong prompt has a clear population, metric, timeframe, threshold or comparison, and desired output.

Less clear: "Show attendance problems."

Stronger: "Show students in grade 8 with an attendance rate below 90% this semester. Include school, days enrolled, days absent, and attendance rate."

Should I ask a large question all at once?

Usually, start focused and build from there. Ask one main question, review the result, and then use follow-ups such as:

• "Break this down by grade."
• "Show only the last 30 days."
• "Compare this with the previous grading period."
• "List the students behind this trend."

What should I do before using an answer?

Check four things:

• Is the correct group of students included?
• Is the timeframe correct?
• Is the definition or threshold what you intended?
• Does the table or chart answer the question you meant to ask?

Use the visible query details to review how Vera interpreted your request.

What if Vera misunderstands my question?

Rephrase it with more detail. Replace pronouns such as "they" or "those students" with the exact group. Add a date range, assessment name, grade, class, threshold, or output format. If needed, start a new question with the full context.

What if Vera returns no results?

Try these steps:

1. Confirm the data model is available.
2. Widen the timeframe.
3. Remove one filter or condition.
4. Check spelling for program, assessment, course, or school names.
5. Ask a simpler version of the question.

No results may mean no records matched—not that the system failed.

Can I save or reuse a useful question?

If saved queries or query history are available to you, save questions you use regularly. Give each one a clear purpose, such as "Weekly grade 6 attendance check." Before rerunning it, confirm that any date wording still matches the period you want.

Can Vera tell me what decision to make?

Vera helps you find and understand data. It does not diagnose students, prescribe interventions, or replace professional judgment. Use the result as one input alongside context, policy, and your knowledge of students and schools.