The proposed system in improvising the ability to record attendance involves application of a Personal Response System (PRS). This system is a management tool using basic elements of technology where attendance and participation are easily recorded in a specific system. The methodology is such that a lecturer would set a number of questions and students can answer to them through which the answers are instantly recorded. In an analogical instance, this system is similar to how a polling system would work. This system has actually been implemented in universities in the United States and Canada for a significant period of time and various studies have shown its effectiveness. The personal response system can be implemented using specific physical tools such as clicker devices or through other existing devices such as phones and laptops.
In addressing the issue of location, students are restricted to location specificity as the system is limited to a certain bandwidth or frequency through the system where they are only able to answer within the bounded, set-up area of the classroom. In addition to the ability to record attendance, classroom participation is recorded through quizzes or discussions that can be easily set-up by this system. Results of the quiz can instantly indicate to instructors the topics or areas that students have weaknesses in. Thus, promoting more efforts to improve academic performance.
In addition to usage by students, this system is also applicable to any areas pertaining to attendance and participation inclusive of UTM Staff. For instance, in major events such as the Vice-Chancellors monthly engagement talks with UTM staff, attendance and participation can be easily recorded.
As of current, there are already market-ready systems from companies such as Turning Technologies, TopHat and MacMillan (IClicker). Nonetheless, as an additional idea for UTM’s commercialization, it would be a great idea to create our own customized personal response system catered for the needs of UTM. This would in many ways save cost and alternately create a long-term profitable and commercialized product of great significance in the field of classroom technology and audience response system. This product can be widely used in any academic institution throughout Malaysia, be it schools or higher education institutions such as colleges and universities.