IJARCCE - Computer and Communication Engineering

Abstract

3 Abstract: This article focuses on attendance, performance and retention of first year of Math and Computer Department at the Foundation Program, Qatar University. A strategy has been developed to monitor attendance, performance and retention the students. To capture and analyse the data, a Monitoring system has developed and reported in this paper. Whenever student shows signs of absence with the poor performance then the Monitoring System start showing consequences with the aim of providing support for student at risk of failure or withdrawal at the early stage. Therefore, an intervention strategy assists to improve in attendance and performance with the dialogue among faculty, admin staff and who are experiencing difficulties. The physical attendance are most important factor to understand the learning material, to improve critical thinking and to elucidate problem solving based questions which leads to academic achievements in the research, learning system and to develop a knowledge base society. Data of each student is entered by the teacher in the Monitoring System from the day one of their classes. This Monitoring system is developed using Oracle and Java to cater both presence of and their achievements. Many faculties from Math and Computer department of Qatar University provided feedback to develop the system and still reinforce the on-going improvement. The developed Monitoring system is highly user friendly and easy to access within the university intranet. There are several reports that can be generating from the academic coordinator, HOD and system manager which give invaluable information about the students and teachers commitments. The attendance data can only be entered in the campus through intranet during the class hours which reduces the chance of errors, manipulations and biasness. If the teacher is unable to enter data then he/she has to explain the reasons for delay in entering data. Student can also monitor their earlier attendance percentage and outcome of the each result and can discuss if any discrepancy. This paper is very interesting to other tutors who want to use electronic attendance, control performance in each step and follow up at risk. The research found that attendance are highly correlated with the student overall academic performance and retention of the student.