RTL is piloting the aPlus+ Attendance Tool during Summer 2025 to support UC Berkeley instructors with a more flexible and automated approach to tracking student attendance. Integrated with bCourses, aPlus+ Attendance allows instructors to record attendance directly within their course site, reducing manual effort and improving accuracy.
Leveraging multiple techniques like QR codes, alphanumeric session codes, and student self-check-ins, aPlus+ Attendance accommodates both in-person and remote learning scenarios. Sessions can be timeboxed, and attendance statuses such as “Late,” “Absent-excused,” and other custom states can be manually adjusted through bCourses integration.
Why this is a step beyond bCourses Roll Call, or polling tools like Poll Everywhere and iClicker:
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More flexible sign-in methods: In addition to manual check-boxes like bCourses Roll Call’s, APlus+ Attendance also supports automated QR or code-based check-ins, eliminating lecture interruption and reducing administrative burden.
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Built-in student self-check-in: Poll Everywhere or iClicker require instructor-driven polling or device remotes and don’t support session codes natively. aPlus+ Attendance merges convenience of self-check with instructor oversight and control.
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Granular reporting and analysis: Beyond basic “Present/Absent,” instructors can track nuanced attendance data and bulk update records directly within bCourses. aPlus+ Attendance can also be used to track student attendance at LEC, DIS, and LAB sections across one course.
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Seamless bCourses LTI integration: aPlus+ Attendance operates natively in bCourses, avoiding the need for external apps or hardware.
Participation: We have already identified instructors who will participate in the Summer 2025 pilot. Please stay tuned for updates on whether a Fall 2025 pilot will be available for additional participants.