Attendance Trackers
Introduction
This page introduces three attendance tracking platforms available to instructors: iClicker, Acadly, and Canvas Attendance (Roll Call). It provides an overview of each tool, highlights their key features and differences, and offers guidance to help faculty choose the option that best supports their course structure, teaching style, and student engagement goals.
Quick View Comparison
| Feature | iClicker | Acadly | Canvas Attendance (Roll Call) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary Method | Student mobile check-in or physical remotes. | Automated Bluetooth ‘mesh’ network. | Manual instructor entry (list or seating chart). |
| Automate Level | High: Students check in via app; syncs to gradebook. | Highest: ’Zero-tap’ sensing of students in the room. | Low: Instructor must manually mark each student. |
| Instructor Action | Start the session on a laptop/app. Can set to ‘auto-run’ based on class schedule. | Start the ‘Roll Call’ on the app. It detects a real-time list of ‘detected’ students. | Open the Canvas ‘Attendance’ tab and click through the roster one by one. |
| Student Action | Students open the app and tap ‘Check In’ once the instructor starts the session. | ’Zero-tap’ Automation: Students are detected automatically once the instructor starts the session. | None: Students are passive; they do not interact with the tool. |
| How it Works | Uses the student’s phone GPS. You set a ‘radius (e.g., 150 ft) around the classroom on a map. | Proximity Mesh: Requires active Bluetooth signals to validate presence. Hard to spoof. | Depends entirely on the instructor’s ability to recognize students or verify IDs. |
| LMS Integration | Deep integration; manual or auto-sync to Canvas grades. | Native plugin for Canvas; syncs roster and attendance. | Fully native; automatically creates a Canvas assignment. |
| Best For | Large lectures and active learning (polls/quizzes) | Large lectures and hybrid classes wanting high automation. | Small seminars or labs where the instructor knows every face. |
more info
AVAILABLE TO: Faculty | Students | Staff
FUNDED BY: University
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Accessing and Signing In
How Instructors Access iClicker
- Go to the iClicker Cloud instructor website and sign in with your instructor account.
- After logging in, select your course from the dashboard.
- You can manage attendance, run polls/quizzes, and view analytics from the instructor website or the desktop software.
How Students Access iClicker
- Students download the iClicker Student App or log in via a browser.
- They join the course using a course code or LMS integration (Canvas, Blackboard, etc.).
- Once class begins, students check in for attendance and participate in polls or quizzes.
Best Ways to Use iClicker
Attendance Tracking
How to View and Manage Attendance Data in iClicker Cloud
Key features:
- Students check in from their devices when class begins.
- Instructors can set location requirements so students must be physically near the classroom to be marked present.
- Attendance can be set to auto‑run, allowing students to check in before class starts.
- Instructors can view who is present, absent, out of range, or has not attempted to check in.
- Attendance data can be exported for grading or record‑keeping.
Polling & Surveys
Uses include:
- Quick comprehension checks
- Opinion surveys
- Warm‑up questions
- Exit tickets
- Low‑stakes quizzes
Polling automatically records participation, which can double as an attendance indicator in some course setups.
For more information on iClicker and polling and surveys
Quizzing
Instructors can run short quizzes during class sessions.
- Students respond through the app or remote.
- Results appear instantly in the instructor dashboard.
- Quizzing participation can also count toward attendance in Full Course mode
Examples of How iClicker Can Be Used in Courses
In‑Person Courses
Examples:
- Attendance check‑in at the start of class: Students check in via the app; location settings ensure they are physically present.
- Live polling during lectures: Instructors pose questions to gauge understanding or spark discussion.
- Think‑pair‑share activities: Students answer individually, discuss with peers, then answer again to compare results.
- End‑of‑class exit poll: Quick way to assess what students learned or where they struggled.
Online or Hybrid Courses
Examples:
- Attendance via remote check‑in: Students join the session through the app even if not physically present.
- Polling during Zoom/Teams lectures: Instructors run polls through the desktop software; students respond in real time.
- Asynchronous participation: Instructors can run scheduled polls or quizzes that students complete within a time window.
- Engagement tracking: Participation in polls and quizzes helps instructors monitor student involvement in online settings.
Why Instructors Use iClicker
- Reduces manual attendance tracking
- Encourages active learning
- Increases equity in that it gives every student a voice, including those who are hesitant to speak up.
- Works across devices (phones, laptops, remotes)
- Integrates with LMS gradebooks
- Provides clear analytics on participation and attendance
Acadly
Accessing and Signing In
How Instructors Access Acadly
- Go to the Acadly Instructor website or open the Acadly app.
- Sign in using your instructor account (institutional SSO is supported at many campuses).
- Select your course from the dashboard to manage attendance, polls, quizzes, and analytics.
- Instructors can run sessions live or schedule activities in advance.
How Students Access Acadly
- Students download the Acadly app (iOS/Android) or use the web version.
- They join the course using an invite link or course code.
- During class, students check in for attendance and participate in activities directly from the app.
Best Ways to Use Acadly
Attendance Tracking
Key features:
- Automatic Bluetooth‑based attendance: Acadly uses proximity detection to verify students are physically in the room.
- Instructors start attendance with one tap; students are marked present automatically if their device is detected.
- Manual overrides allow instructors to mark students present/absent as needed.
- Attendance reports can be exported or synced to the LMS. (The tool exports a transactional log with one row per recorded entry. Use the LTS Attendance Macro Tool to automatically reformat the raw export into a single row per student.)
Polling & Interactive Activities
- Multiple‑choice polls
- Word clouds
- Numerical response questions
- Open‑ended questions
- Live chat and Q&A
- Instructors can run these activities during class or schedule them for asynchronous participation.
For more information on Acadly and polling and surveys
Quizzing
- Instructors can create quizzes with multiple question types.
- Quizzes can be timed or untimed.
- Results appear instantly in the instructor dashboard.
- Quiz participation can be used as an engagement metric in place of or alongside attendance.
Examples of How Acadly Can Be Used in Courses
In‑Person Courses
Examples:
- Automatic attendance at the start of class: Bluetooth detection verifies students are physically present.
- Live polls during lectures: Quick checks for understanding or discussion starters.
- Interactive activities: Word clouds, open responses, and Q&A to encourage participation.
- Exit tickets: End‑of‑class polls or questions to assess learning.
Online or Hybrid Courses
Examples:
- Online attendance: Students check in through the app during synchronous sessions.
- Polling during Zoom/Teams: Instructors run activities in Acadly while students respond in real time.
- Asynchronous quizzes or polls: Students complete activities within a set time window.
- Engagement analytics: Participation across activities helps instructors track involvement.
Why Instructors Use Acadly
- Fully automated attendance using Bluetooth
- Strong suite of interactive tools in one platform
- Encourages active learning and student engagement
- Works across devices
- Integrates with LMS gradebooks
- Provides detailed analytics on attendance and participation
Roll Call
Attendance Tracking
Key features:
- Instructors mark students Present, Absent, or Late with one click.
- A seating chart can be created to speed up attendance in large classes.
- Roll Call automatically creates an Attendance assignment in the gradebook.
- Attendance scores update automatically as instructors take attendance.
- Instructors can adjust the weighting of attendance in the assignment settings.
Badges & Participation
- Instructors can award badges to students for participation or achievements.
- Badges appear in the Attendance tool and can contribute to the Attendance assignment score.
- Useful for tracking engagement beyond simple presence.
Reporting
- Roll Call provides a daily and cumulative view of attendance.
- Instructors can export attendance data for record‑keeping or departmental reporting.
- Attendance trends help identify students who may need support.
Examples of How Canvas Roll Call Can Be Used in Courses
In‑Person Courses
Examples:
- Daily attendance: Mark students present/absent/late at the start of class.
- Seating chart check‑in: Instructors tap seats on the chart to record attendance quickly.
- Participation badges: Award badges for contributions, group work, or preparedness.
Online or Hybrid Courses
Examples:
- Attendance during synchronous Zoom/Teams sessions: Instructors manually mark attendance based on meeting participation.
- Participation tracking: Use badges to recognize online engagement (discussion posts, chat participation).
- Hybrid flexibility: Mark students present whether they attend in person or remotely.
Why Instructors Use Canvas Roll Call
- Built directly into Canvas — no extra apps needed
- Simple, fast attendance tracking
- Seating chart improves efficiency in large classes
- Participation badges add flexibility beyond presence
- Attendance automatically syncs to the Canvas gradebook
- Easy export for reporting or accreditation needs
FAQ
iClicker
Q: Can I run attendance without asking poll questions?
A: Yes. You can set iClicker to run automated or manual location-based attendance checks independently of any class polling or quizzing activities.
Q: How does iClicker handle attendance scoring and adjustments?
A: You can set performance and participation rules in the iClicker Cloud settings. If a student needs an excused absence, you can manually toggle their status to Excused in the iClicker Cloud Gradebook so it does not penalize their score.
Q: How do I sync iClicker attendance scores with Canvas?
A: Connect your course using the iClicker Canvas integration. Pushing grades from iClicker Cloud will create and update a dedicated iClicker column directly in your Canvas Gradebook. To do this, click the ‘Sync Grades’ button and check the box for Attendance and click ‘Sync.’
Q: How do students link their iClicker and Canvas accounts?
A: Students simply log in to iClicker using their Canvas email address. If your course uses the LTI method, create a zero-point External Tool assignment in Canvas using your iClicker setup link; students click it once to automatically bind their Canvas ID to iClicker.
Acadly
Q: Do students need an active internet connection to mark attendance?
A: Yes, students must have both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi or cellular data turned on on their mobile device or laptop during the check-in window.
Q: What should I do if a student’s phone fails to check in automatically?
A: Instructors can manually override and update any student’s status directly from the instructor dashboard or mobile app during or after class.
Q: Can I sync Acadly attendance data directly to the Canvas Gradebook?
A: Yes. Once your Acadly course is integrated with Canvas via LTI, you can sync attendance records to automatically generate or update an attendance grade column. To do this go to the Gradebook or Attendance tab inside Acadly and click ‘Sync to LMS’ (or Export Grades). This will push attendance data directly into your Canvas Gradebook.
Canvas Attendance (Roll Call)
Q: How does Canvas calculate Roll Call Attendance grades?
A: Canvas calculates attendance as a percentage based on the ratio of present days to total recorded days, applied to the assignment’s point value.
Q: Can I change the Attendance assignment point value?
A: Yes, edit the assignment points after taking attendance for the first time. To fix any temporary Gradebook display glitches, open the Attendance tool, change one student’s status, and change it back to trigger a re-sync. Never delete or unpublish the Roll Call assignment.
Q: Why does the CSV export list each student multiple times?
A: The tool exports a transactional log with one row per recorded entry. Use the LTS Attendance Macro Tool to automatically reformat the raw export into a single row per student.
Q: How do I excuse a student’s absence?
A: Leave the student unmarked on that date. Click through the status icon until it cycles back to the unmarked state. Canvas ignores unmarked days when calculating grades.
Q: How do I adjust the credit given for late arrivals?
A: Open the Attendance tool, select the gear icon, and adjust the Lateness Value slider. The default value is 80%.
Q: How do I stop students from receiving attendance grade notifications every class?
A: Set the Grade Posting Policy for the Roll Call Attendance column in your Gradebook to Manually.
Q: How do I fix accidental entries from using Mark All Present?
A: Click through the status icon for any incorrect student entries until they return to unmarked. Always review your roster for dropped students before selecting Mark All Present.
Q: Do I have to use the Seating Chart tab?
A: No. If you do not want to drag student cards to match your room layout, use the List View instead for an alphabetical, searchable roster.
info
Left
iClicker
Instructors
Students
Middle
Acadly
Getting Started with Acadly in Canvas
- Creating a course
- Exporting data to Gradebook
- Handling multiple section
Account Settings
- How to create a student account on Acadly
- Managing your email and app notifications (push notifications)
- Deleting your Acadly account
Online Management, Data Management, and Best Practices
- Acadly with Zoom integration
- Troubleshooting attendance
- Automatic attendance export
Other
Right
Canvas Attendance (Roll Call)
Canvas Instructure Tutorials
- How do I use the Roll Call Attendance tool in the course?
- How do I edit the Roll Call Attendance assignment?
- How do I create a roll call seating chart using the Attendance tool?
- How do I take roll call using the Attendance tool?
- How do I use Roll Call Attendance badges in a course?
- How do I run Roll Call Attendance reports in a course?