A few weeks ago I came across this article from Times Higher Education, which focuses on the De Montfort University’s idea around how to monitor students’ attendance in class and, well, everywhere else. According to John Morgan, “the institution is considering using its network to monitor attendance via electronic chips in students’ ID cards.” Morgan outlines that the idea itself isn’t totally novel, as other schools have introduced electronic monitoring, but doing so with an automated wi-fi system “a bit unusual.”

For me, the most interesting – and entertaining – part of the article came from the comment thread:

• Mike Simpson 26 May, 2011″Dude, last night was hardcore and I’m still suffering. Can you take my ID card with you so they think I’m in lectures?”
• Don Quixote 26 May, 2011I understand that the rail companies are considering a similar system to cut down abuse of the system; a number of passengers have been buying return tickets then not using the return journey!
• David 26 May, 2011I suppose it’s one way of getting students to attend lectures even though beds are more comfortable to sleep in.
  Of course, if the sessions were interesting there would be no problem but we all know that universities are the least likely place to review out of date teaching practices.

Aaron Porter, President of the National Union of Students, said that students would baulk at the prospect of being kept under surveillance like inmates. An ironic observation, especially since a recent Massachusetts study revealed that the average cost of an inmate in a US prison is $50,000.

Well, this was an awkward parallel to draw. But let’s do our best as a community to keep an eye on how it develops.

– JCH