School Registration Systems

School Registration Systems

1. Paper based

   • AM/PM marks are logged on a peice of paper by the form tutor and are returned to the attendance office.
   • Disadvantages
     • If lefted unattended, students can change their marks.
     • Mistakes are often difficult/untidy to change.
   • Advantages
     • Paper based methods are not reliant on computer networks if computer networks are unavalible.

2. Keyboard entry

   • Marks are type dinto the computer by the form tutor. Marks are stored on a centreal server.
   • Advantages
     • It is much easier to produce attendence statistics.
     • There is no need to return paper registers to an attendence office.
   • Disadvantages
     • Teachers are still required to register each pupil rather than the pupils registering themselves.

3. Optical Mark Recognition (OMR)

   • Form teachers log whether pupils are present by shading a box on a sheet of paper for their form. Sheets for the different forms are then batched and scanned into the computer.
   • Advantages
     • A lot of multiple-choice tests are marked using OMR, so the intial cost of purchasing an OMR reader may provide more value for money.
   • Disadvantages
     • Registers are batch- processed so they are not 'live' or 'real-time': some latecomers would not be registered if they arrived late.

4. Smart Cards

   • These cards contain computer chips and can hold more information than magenetic strips. They are placed into card readers as pupils arrive.
   • Advantages
     • Smart cards hold more data than swipe cards so they can provide multiple functions: they can act as payment cards in canteens or record library loans.
   • Disadvantages
     • There is a reliance on the ICT systems. If the system goes down, registration would be a problem.

5. Magnetic strip cards

   • Magnetic strip cards are used to enable pupils to 'swipe' into school.
   • Advantages
     • Magnetic strip cards are affordable to purchase and manufacture.
   • Disadvantages
     • Pupils can 'swipe in' others not present. Cards can be forgotten.

6. Biometric

   • Pupils scan their fingerprints or eyes to log their attendance each day.
   • Advantages
     • students do not have to remember things like cards. It is impossible for other students to mark in someone who is not there.
   • Disadvantages
     • Biometric is an expensive option and some parents worry about the privacy of a fingerprint database.