TC Logo Teachers College, Columbia University

A Safe Space for Verified Information.

MIS S ED replaces rumors with verified updates for international students in the TML program. We rebuild trust and reduce anxiety through community verification.

How It Works Try Demo
VERIFIED
OISS Update

Official sources confirm that OPT processing times remain normal. Please refer to OISS guidelines rather than unofficial chats.

The Problem

"Is this true, or just a rumor?"

For international students, unverified information can be a source of deep anxiety.
Visa status, housing safety, and academic integrity are too important to risk.

😰

Anxiety

Rumors spread faster than facts, creating unnecessary panic.

🧩

Confusion

Official emails are dense; peer chats are unreliable.

🤝

Isolation

Without a trusted network, students feel alone in their struggle.

Rebuilding Trust

Three core features designed to fight misinformation and grow belonging.
Click cards to preview

KEY METRIC

Community Trust Score

A dynamic metric that assesses the health of the information environment. It fluctuates based on the ratio of verified vs. unverified posts.

Preview UI

Trust Score UI

Verified Updates

The green checkmark isn't just a badge; it's peace of mind.
Posts are cross-referenced with OISS & moderators to distinguish facts from rumors.

Preview UI

Verified Feed UI

Academic Handshake

Privacy-first Academic Networking.

Preview UI

Handshake UI

Actions Taken

Applying Computational Thinking

We refined MIS S ED by breaking down user feedback,
using core computational concepts.

Read Full Project Document
Initial Sketch
1
Decomposition & Abstraction

Ideation & Simplification

We applied Decomposition to break down the complex "VIPs" concept into manageable parts.

Through Abstraction, we were able to filter out relatively irrelevant features like the "Second-hand Shop" to focus purely on the core variable: TRUST. This allowed us to design a system exclusively for misinformation prevention.

Onboarding Flow

Watch Field Testing Video

Click to view
2
Pattern Recognition & Algorithm

Addressing User Feedback

Field testing revealed a Pattern: users hesitated because the source of verification was unclear ("Who is verifying this?").

We used Algorithm Design to create a step-by-step Onboarding Tutorial. This defines the rules of the system (OISS cross-referencing) immediately upon login, establishing a clear logic for trust.

INTERACTIVE PROTOTYPE

Experience
MIS S ED

Check the live build to see how the Trust Score changes based on community activity.

1

Hover over the phone preview

2

Click "Launch Live App"

Important:

On the login screen, click the Use Trial Account button.
Sign-up is disabled temporarily.

MISSED App Preview
Launch Live App

Reminder

Click "Use Trial Account"
Launch Live App

Use "Trial Account" to login