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Attendance has always been a tricky thing – how do we keep students accountable while at the same time being empathetic to their situation? The aftereffects of a global pandemic and the rising needs around mental health concerns have only exacerbated things.
In the Chronicle piece, When Students Miss Out, Beckie Supiano reports ways to get ahead of attendance issues. In particular, experts point out how important the first day of class can be. If you want to set a tone for a successful, engaging semester, design an inviting first day that gives students a sense of “what the deal is ” with your course. This ethos can be extended through the first two weeks. Speaking of the first day, I always skim over this article by James Lang to help me prep.
Secondly, as the semester progresses, create in-class activities that build a sense of community and identity within the class. This way, they feel a sense of letting their peers down if they skip class.
Something to remember that our illustrious alum points out – if the first day of class is handing out the syllabus, it could have been an email!