Step 1: Log In

• Visit the LectureLogger instructor dashboard and enter your SMU email address. Follow the SMU single sign on prompts.

• Once logged in, you’ll be prompted to start your free trial. Confirm these details. If your department or school has purchased a group license to LectureLogger, our team will connect your account to this license once you start your free trial.

Step 2: Adjust Your Settings

• There’s a few settings to decide on before creating your courses. Click the “Settings” tab to get started.

• If you’d like to allow students to request excusals for their absences in the LectureLogger app, check the “Allow Students to Upload Absence Documentation” box. If not, uncheck this box and proceed to Step 3.

• If you’ve decided to allow students to request excusals for their absences in the app, set the number of days after an absence students have to request excusals and add any relevant absence reasons you’d like for students to be able to select from. 

Step 3: Create Your Courses

• Navigate to the "Courses" tab and click on the "Create" button.

• Enter the course name and attendance policy, and select “Yes” under “Allow students to register.”

• TIP: Students will see the information you enter in the LectureLogger app. Write a short summary version of your attendance policy, so that students can quickly access this information in the app.

• Save the course details.

Step 4: Start a Class Session

• After creating the course, click on the “Go to Check In” button on the main courses page for the course you’d like to start a class session for.

• The dynamic QR code will appear. Display the generated QR code during class for students to scan using the LectureLogger app.

• Instruct students to download the app on the App Store or Google Play and follow the check-in process. When students scan into your course for the first time, they’ll be automatically registered for your course as well.

• TIP: Students must scan the dynamic QR code using the LectureLogger app. Scanning the QR code with the phone’s camera app will cause an error.

Step 5: Review Attendance as Students Check-In

• Once students start checking in, you’ll see their names appear on the bottom of the screen.

• To mark a student tardy, click the clock icon next to their name.

• If a student isn’t in class, but manages to check-in or leaves after checking in, click the “X” next to their name.

• Click “Stop” when you’re ready to end check-in for the day. If you just want to take a break from allowing check-in for a bit, click “Pause.”

Step 5.1 (Advanced): Verify Student Check-Ins

LectureLogger’s verify feature ensures student participation in your course. Students will be prompted to check-in both at the beginning of class and again either during or at the end of class. You can enable this feature on a class session by class session basis. Here’s how to do it:

• After students have checked in at the beginning of class by scanning the LectureLogger QR code, click the blue “Verify” button on your LectureLogger dashboard.

• Choose the status to apply to students who do not check in a second time, either “Tardy” or “Absent - Unexcused.” This preference can be updated for each session.

• Prompt students to scan the QR code a second time, either during class or at the end of the session, depending on your preference.

• Students who complete the second check-in will see their names highlighted in blue on the attendance page. LectureLogger will automatically update attendance records based on these verifications.

Step 6: Manage Absences and Excusals

This step only applies if you’ve enabled the “Allow Students to Upload Absence Documentation” setting during Step 2.

• Click the "Absences" tab within the course dashboard to view a list of absences that students have requested excusals for. 

• Review individual student excusal requests.

• Mark each request as either “Excused” or “Unexcused” and add any relevant comments.

Step 7: Review Reports

• Navigate to the “Courses” tab, then click the “View” button on the course you wish to work with.

• Here, you’ll see a list of your students alongside their attendance statistics.

• Click the “Generate Report” button on the top right of the Course View screen to generate a CSV file with student statistics that you can analyze in Microsoft Excel, Google Sheets, or a similar program.

Step 8: Get Support

• If you encounter any issues or need assistance, refer to our Support Center.

Woo hoo! You're now ready to efficiently manage attendance using LectureLogger. Let us know if you need help — we're here to support you every step of the way.