Record Your Attendance with Top Hat
Top Hat's attendance tool allows students to record their attendance from the Top Hat - Better Learning mobile app, or most modern web browsers. Recording your attendance with Top Hat involves students submitting a randomized 4 digit attendance code, provided by the instructor. Top Hat also offers an option for secure, location-based attendance. The decision between the two options is made by the course's instructor.
On This Page:
Record Attendance with a Computer, Smartphone, or Tablet
Record Attendance with a Computer, Smartphone, or Tablet
Note
- You cannot log your attendance until your instructor opens an attendance session in Top Hat. When an attendance session is opened, you will see it listed in the Classroom tab of the course.
- To troubleshoot attendance issues, please visit Top Hat's support article on Troubleshooting Attendance Issues (opens in new tab)
Step 1
Once an attendance session is opened, a 4-digit code is generated that will be shared by your instructor. Your instructor may share the code on the screen, or verbally communicate it.
Step 2
Once you have the code, input it in the provided field.
Note
- After inputting the correct attendance code, you will be notified that you have successfully responded.
- The 4-digit attendance code is different for every attendance session.
- You will only have 3 attempts to input the correct code.
- If you run out of attempts or fail to input the correct code before the attendance session is closed, you will be marked absent.
Secure Attendance (Geolocation)
Secure attendance utilizes geolocation and must be enabled by your professor - it is not on by default. If secure attendance is enabled, you'll still access and submit the attendance code as shown in the instructions above. Important information about Secure Attendance can be found below:
- Top Hat does not track your location at all times. Top Hat only pings your location when you are participating in a secure attendance session.
- If your instructor has enabled secure attendance, it will be indicated on the screen with the attendance code.
- When secure attendance is enabled in a course, Top Hat will attempt to verify that you are in the classroom based on your geolocation when you submit the attendance code.
- In order for Top Hat to verify your location, you need to allow permission within your device or web browser's location settings.
- If location access is not enabled, Top Hat will prompt you to enable it after submitting the attendance code.
Note
- Location access can be disabled at any time in your device and/or browser's settings.
- Secure attendance does not work with Offline Mode or SMS text submissions.
- For further information on configuring your device or browser's settings, please see Top Hat's help pages below:
Record Attendance via SMS Texts
Students can participate in attendance by sending a text message to your course’s SMS response phone number, which will stay consistent throughout the course.
Step 1
Make sure that your phone number is connected to your Top Hat account. Attendance logged via text message will only be recorded if you have added your phone number to your Top Hat account. Users are prompted for their phone number when creating their account but if you declined to add your phone number when creating your account, it can be updated from your Top Hat account settings (opens in new tab).
Step 2
When your instructor activates an attendance session, a 4-digit attendance code will be generated and shared by your instructor. Text the attendance code to your school’s SMS phone number, provided by your instructor.
Support
If you have any questions or concerns about Top Hat, please reach out to the UCATT Instructional Technology team at intech@arizona.edu, or Top Hat's support team at support@tophat.com.