Enhancing Online Student Attendance and Learning Participation through a Digital Attendance Tracking System

Abstract

This research, entitled “Improving Online Student Attendance Rates,” aimed to (1) examine students’ satisfaction with the GEN0207 English for Career course delivered in an online format and (2) apply the findings to improve instructional effectiveness and enhance students’ learning participation. The sample consisted of 400 undergraduate students enrolled in GEN0207. A quantitative research design was employed using an online questionnaire (Google Form), and the data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, including mean, standard deviation, and percentage. (Boonphadung, S., & Seubsang, P. 2021). The results indicated a significant improvement in students’ attendance after implementing an enhanced tracking and instructional management system. The average attendance rate increased from 68.5% to 85.7%, reflecting a 17.2% improvement. Students’ overall satisfaction with the online learning experience was at a high level (Mean = 4.28, SD = 0.63), particularly regarding the flexibility of the learning environment, technology-assisted instruction, and communication with instructors. Teaching Assistants (TAs) also reported the highest level of satisfaction (Mean = 4.51, SD = 0.52), noting a clear reduction in their monitoring workload. (Thienthongdee, S. 2023) The findings suggest that integrating systematic attendance tracking with effective use of educational technologies strengthens student engagement and supports continuous participation in large-enrollment online classes. This research demonstrates the value of the Routine to Research (R2R) approach in transforming routine instructional challenges into applicable knowledge that enhances both teaching quality and future academic development.