Post #2304935
2026-05-06 19:45 UTC
@liamoc@types.pl
My class of over 100 students gets lecture attendance of around 10.I am struggling with low attendance, too. As a teaching assistant, I moved to a different academic system recently, where I was told turnouts have been in the toilet for the past few years.
I know that mandatory attendance is more of a thing in soft sciences and humanities, so I have never heard CS/Maths professors express an opinion on the matter. How do we feel about it? I would like to form an opinion.
Out of curiosity, does your system also pressure you to pass almost everybody taking the course? As in, learning is not really a necessary condition to get a passing grade?
Replies (2)
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@liamoc@types.pl 2026-05-07 03:09
@foxy@blahaj.zone I always used to hold the opinion that students are (young, often immature) adults and I should treat them like adults who can make their own mistakes. So I didn't believe in compulsory attendance. This semester I weakened my stance somewhat and included compulsory participation in tutorials/labs (not attendance but participation) with a quite minor marks penalty if they didn't attend. The result was higher attendance at the tutes/labs compared to the lectures but still not great.
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@liamoc@types.pl 2026-05-07 03:10
@foxy@blahaj.zone We're not locally pressured to pass students because our school is trying to uphold a high standard but I think more globally the university doesn't want us failing everyone.