Abstract

During three semesters, students were given the incentive of having a full 2 percentage points added to their final grades for perfect attendance in class (e.g. final grade of 89% would be raised to 91%). For the next three semesters, the same course was taught without the added incentives with most variables held constant such as same professor, textbook, syllabus, and assessment tools. Perfect attendance was defined as physically present in every class period with one “miss” allowed. The lectures and classroom information were not available in any other way except by attending class. The impact on attendance and student outcomes is presented. The audience will use “Clickers” to compile their attitudes toward class attendance and will briefly work in small groups to develop a list of student excuses for not attending class (prizes for funniest etc.).

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Room 1908

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Mar 12th, 10:00 AM Mar 12th, 10:45 AM

Effectiveness of Incentives on Fostering Perfect Student Attendance in Class

Room 1908

During three semesters, students were given the incentive of having a full 2 percentage points added to their final grades for perfect attendance in class (e.g. final grade of 89% would be raised to 91%). For the next three semesters, the same course was taught without the added incentives with most variables held constant such as same professor, textbook, syllabus, and assessment tools. Perfect attendance was defined as physically present in every class period with one “miss” allowed. The lectures and classroom information were not available in any other way except by attending class. The impact on attendance and student outcomes is presented. The audience will use “Clickers” to compile their attitudes toward class attendance and will briefly work in small groups to develop a list of student excuses for not attending class (prizes for funniest etc.).