Introduction
Qwickly Attendance is one of several educational software products from Qwickly, Inc. Available for use in Canvas, it can be used to log class attendance with a variety of methods.
Set-up
- In Cavnvas, open the course for which you'd like to set up Qwickly Attendance.
- Find Qwickly Attendance in the side menu and click on it.
- The first time you launch Qwickly Attendance, you’ll see a screen prompting you to begin setup. Setup consists of confirming your attendance settings.
- Configure the settings to your preferences when prompted, and click Save settings when you're done. Note that access is controlled by the system administrator, and some settings are only available in certain plans. Your settings screen make look different than others online.
Once the tool is enabled on your Canvas site, simply click on the tool in the left navigation menu of your class site. Qwickly Attendance will open in a new tab, where you can begin to set up the tool for use with your class.
If you want students to check in with a QR code or PIN, have them download the Qwickly Attendance app on their phone before the first class.
Check-in methods available
This product offers several check-in methods to fit your class's specific needs. Toggle between methods in the Settings menu (gear icon on the left-hand side of the page).
QR Code
When you create a session, Qwickly will generate an animated QR code that you can project on a screen (projector, iPad, monitor, etc.). Have students scan with the Qwickly Attendance app to sign in.
If you set a time limit, the QR code will automatically disappear after the specified amount of time has passed.
PIN
When you create a session, Qwickly will generate a four-digit PIN that you can project on a screen (projector, iPad, monitor, etc.) or write on a whiteboard/chalkboard. Students can enter it in the Qwickly Attendance app to sign in.
If you set a time limit, the PIN will automatically disappear and cease to work after the specified amount of time has passed.
ID Card Scan
If your machine is set up with an NFC reader, students can sign in by tapping their ID card. This probably require special hardware and/or assistance from CRE IT/IS&T.
List Mode
Under Attendance on the left hand side of the screen, choose List. Manually mark each student with their appropriate status (Present, Absent, Excused, or Tardy). Apparently you can change attendance records for previous sessions this way, in addition to taking attendance for a current session.
Starting a session
Once you have configured the settings the way you want, click the arrow next to Attendance. Select Check In, and name the session if you so choose. When you are ready to open the session, click Start Check In. The session will close automatically if you have set a timer.
Scheduling sessions in advance
You can schedule sessions ahead of time by clicking the Add Sessions button in Settings. Specify the start and end dates of the sessions as well as what days of the week the sessions occur on. We are not sure how to start a session once it is scheduled and are a bit confused about that.
Course report
View attendance data under the Course Report tab on the left-hand side of the screen.
Attendance record
A table showing the attendance history of each student by class session can be found in the Records tab on the left-hand side of the screen. You can search for a specific student using the search bar above the table.
Plans
There are three difference price tiers for Qwickly Attendance: Classic, Plus, and Pro. According to Brian Ponte @ IS&T, MIT is utilizing the Pro License. A feature comparison matrix can be found here.
If a feature is missing from your version of Qwickly Attendance but appears on the linked sheet, contact IS&T and notify them of the issue.