Hardware

Palo Alto High School attendance kiosks met with mixed reviews

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September 24, 2024

Faculty and administrators at Palo Alto High School in Palo Alto, California, have replaced the traditional roll-call with a self-service check-in/check-out kiosk to track student attendance, according to a report by The Campanile.

The system, comprised of a scanner attached to a Chromebook, allows students to either type in their ID number or scan their IDs to check into class. The administration hopes it will streamline operations as well as improve safety on campus; however, both faculty and students have noted concerns.

One faculty member, for example, said the system has made it more difficult for her to learn her students names. "I was forced to look at the student's picture, look at their name, acknowledge that they were here," AP computer science teacher Roxanne Lanzot told the news outlet. "My brain's not doing that work anymore."

Students and teachers have also expressed concerns about privacy as well as the quality of the tech itself. Meanwhile, the administration maintains the system continues to help reduce tardiness.