Top Hat allows instructors to take attendance at any time during class. Attendance sessions generate a random 4-digit code that instructors share in class. Students submit their attendance by entering this code while logged into Top Hat using a web browser, the Top Hat mobile app, or SMS text messaging.
Each attendance session is recorded individually in the Top Hat Gradebook, where it can be reviewed, edited, or exported. The Attendance category is tracked separately from other graded course activities.
Begin an Attendance Session
There are several ways to begin an attendance session in Top Hat:
Option 1: Take attendance from the Present button
You can start an attendance session directly from the Present option in your course. To do so,
- Enter your Top Hat course using the Top Hat Website or the link in your Canvas course.
- Select the Content tab in your Top Hat course.
- Click the Present button on the right side of the page.
- Select Take Attendance. A pop-up window will appear displaying a 4-digit attendance code along with the join course code and SMS phone number. This window will show the number of students who have submitted the attendance code compared to the total number students enrolled in the course.
- When you’re ready to close the attendance session, select the Finish button in the lower-right corner of the window.
Option 2: Take attendance during a presentation
You can also launch an attendance session while presenting slides.
- Enter your Top Hat course using the Top Hat Website or the link in your Canvas course.
- Start a Top Hat Presentation:
- Select Content in your Top Hat course.
- Choose the specific content (e.g. a slide deck, a question/poll) you want to present.
- Select Present on the right side of the page.
- Select Start Presentation to launch the presentation.
- At any point during the presentation, select the arrow in the lower-left corner of the screen to open the slide drawer.
- Select the Attendance button. A Pop-up window will appear with a 4-digit attendance code. Display this page for your students.
- When you’re ready to close the attendance session, select the Finish button in the lower-right corner of the window.
Option 3: Take attendance from the course content page
You can also initiate an attendance session directly from the course content area without launching a presentation.
- Enter your Top Hat course using the Top Hat Website or the link in your Canvas course.
- Select Content in your Top Hat course.
- Select the Add to course button at the top of the content area. The drop down options will appear.
- Select Attendance. A Pop-up window will appear with a 4-digit attendance code. Share this code with your students.
- When you’re ready to close the attendance session, select the Finish button in the lower-right corner of the window.
Once an attendance session is launched, you can leave attendance open throughout your class by selecting Minimize and keep open located at the bottom of the attendance code window. Students will still be able to submit the attendance code until the session is finished.
Attendance sessions will automatically close after four hours if they are not manually closed.
Modify Attendance Records
Attendance records can be edited directly in the Top Hat Gradebook.
To edit a student’s attendance record:
- In the Top Hat Gradebook, select the cell for the student and attendance session you want to edit.
- Click the pencil icon to open the edit window.
- Select one of the following options:
- Attended - records the session as 1 point
- Absent - records the session as 0 point
- Excused - drop the session from the student’s overall attendance grade.
- You can also add notes in the Attendance Comments field.
Top Hat Support
The Top Hat Support team is available from 9am-9pm ET, Monday through Friday:
Still have questions? Instructors can contact instruct@umass.edu for assistance.