Engaging students during live class sessions is crucial for their learning and academic success. However, it's common for attendance to fluctuate at certain points in the semester. To reinvigorate engagement and encourage consistent attendance, consider implementing the following research-based strategies that focus on communication, flexibility, active learning, and community building.
Design class sessions that engage students in meaningful activities they cannot experience elsewhere. Incorporate discussions, collaborative projects, problem-solving exercises, and other interactive elements that require active participation. When students feel they’re gaining something valuable from being in the room, they’re more likely to prioritize showing up.
"This is What I Know": At the start of class, ask students to submit a one-sentence summary of their understanding of the day's topic. Use their responses to tailor your lecture and connect new content to their existing knowledge.
"Stump the Expert": Invite students to submit questions as they enter the class. Randomly select questions to answer during the session, fostering engagement and addressing their curiosities.
Think-Pair-Share: Pose a question, allow students to think individually, discuss with a partner, and then share with the larger group.
Case Studies: Present real-world scenarios for students to analyze and discuss, applying course concepts.
For additional active learning strategies, explore our Active Learning resource.
Help students understand how attending class supports their learning. Learning occurs within a social context through interaction with others and live classes provide this essential environment. Clearly articulate that class sessions offer interactive experiences that cannot be replicated through readings or recorded lectures.
Discuss how in-class activities are designed to help students achieve specific learning objectives. Emphasize that participation enables them to:
Interact with you and their peers.
Engage in discussions and problem-solving.
Receive immediate feedback and clarification.
Build relationships that foster deeper learning.
Research has shown that class attendance is positively correlated with academic performance. However, the method of encouraging attendance can impact both the effectiveness and the overall student experience. While attendance improves with incentives, the quality of engagement may not. Students might attend physically but not engage mentally if their primary motivation is to earn points. Also, students may become accustomed to receiving rewards for attendance, expecting similar incentives in future courses or settings, which is not always practical or desirable.
Acknowledge life circumstances. Recognize that students may face challenges that prevent them from attending class. Showing empathy and understanding can reduce anxiety and help students feel supported. Craft attendance policies that encourage students to attend while providing flexibility for unforeseen circumstances. Consider offering a certain number of "free skips" or absences without penalty. This approach provides a safety net, making students more likely to attend regularly.
Stanford has developed a course syllabus template that includes sample language regarding flexible attendance policies and it’s worth checking out.
Include your attendance policies in the syllabus and discuss them with your students. Be transparent about your expectations and the rationale behind them.
Providing online materials can enhance learning, but it's important to use them in ways that encourage, rather than replace, class attendance. Use online resources to supplement and reinforce what is taught in class. This might include:
Posting lecture outlines or summaries: Provide outlines or key takeaways to guide note-taking and review.
Sharing supplementary materials: Offer articles, videos, or resources that deepen understanding of class topics.
Pre-class assignments: Assign readings or activities that students complete before class to participate fully.
Post-class resources: Share materials that help students reflect on and consolidate their learning.
If you do provide recorded lectures, consider making them available for a limited time or only to students who were absent for legitimate reasons. Be transparent with students about why not all materials are available online, explaining that in-class activities and discussions are integral to the learning experience.
If you provide access to recorded lectures, consider the following tips to encourage students to use them as supplements to class rather than substitutes:
Provide students with specific guidance on how they can use lecture capture effectively. For example, remind them that watching a recording can give them an opportunity to catch up on key terms and concepts at their own pace. If they struggled to understand a particular concept in class, for example, they could refer to their in-class notes to see where they might have missed an idea. Then, they could go back to the recording to fill in the gaps from their in-class notes.
Use a context-specific approach to lecture capture. Didactic content is more effective in lecture capture than Socratic content. Therefore, let students know that if you’re choosing to record, you’re selectively recording content that can be reviewed and reconsidered. Explain to students that you likely will not record discussion-oriented content since discussions will not be as effective for students to re-watch or review.
Ask students for their feedback on when, how, and why they are using lecture capture recordings. That will give you a clearer sense of what they’re finding valuable (or what might need to be managed differently).
Consistently taking attendance communicates that you value students' presence and consider it important for their success. It also allows you to notice patterns and reach out to students who may be struggling.
In large classes, technology can make attendance tracking manageable. Tools like Student Response Systems can record who is present while simultaneously engaging students in active learning. By integrating attendance with interactive questions, these systems not only track who is in the room but also invite students to participate actively, check their understanding, and demonstrate their engagement in real time. Review tips from Research, Teaching, & Learning (RTL) on attendance tracking and engagement.
Following up with absent students can make a significant difference. A simple, supportive email expressing concern and offering assistance shows students that you care about their well-being and are invested in their success.
Create an environment where students feel connected to you and their peers. A strong sense of community motivates students to attend and participate. From the first day, engage students through icebreakers and collaborative activities.
Provide multiple channels for students to communicate with you and each other. This can include:
Office hours: Offer both in-person and virtual office hours to accommodate different needs.
Discussion boards: Use online platforms where students can ask questions and engage in discussions outside of class.
It's common to notice a dip in attendance around the middle of the semester. Students often face a perfect storm of assignments, exams, and personal commitments that can leave them feeling overwhelmed. Students may skip class when they feel overwhelmed by workload and stress. Proactively addressing these issues can help maintain attendance.
Open Communication: Begin classes with a brief check-in. A simple question like, "How is everyone managing this week?" can show students that you care about their well-being. If you are using a student response system, you might include a “temperature check” question where students rate their week with a “thumbs up” or “thumbs down.”
Share Your Experience: Let students know that you understand the pressures they face. Sharing your own strategies for handling busy periods can make you more relatable and approachable.
Be Flexible When Appropriate: Consider offering brief extensions on assignments or alternative ways to participate when possible.
Highlight Campus Resources: Promote well-being by encouraging a balanced approach to academics and self-care. Share resources on stress management and time management, and remind students of campus services that support mental health.
To maintain student engagement:
Segment Lectures: Break up lectures into shorter segments interspersed with activities or discussions.
Interactive Elements: Incorporate polls, quizzes, or think-pair-share exercises to keep students involved.
While we all want full classrooms, it’s important to recognize that the nature of higher education has changed. Even with our best efforts, some students will continue to struggle with attendance for reasons that are out of our control. The truth is, we can’t solve every attendance issue. And that’s okay. Masland reminds us that our goal should be to do “good enough.” She advises instructors to focus on the aspects of engagement we can control: providing meaningful class activities, taking attendance, and offering flexibility where possible. “We’re not superheroes here,” she says. “We’re normal people working in a tough system that lacks the information and support to do much better than good enough at the moment.”
We care deeply about student success, and it can be hard not to internalize students’ struggles. Offering hybrid options, flipping the classroom, or making class time more interactive are all ways we can try to re-engage students. But at the end of the day, what matters is that we’re making a good-faith effort. So, as we move through the semester, take a deep breath. The path to perfect attendance may be bumpy, but as long as we’re doing our best to make the classroom a place students want to be, we’re on the right track!
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