Development and Evaluation of a Smart Attendance and Engagement Dashboard for Undergraduate Learning in University of Ilorin

ABSTRACT The increasing demand for technology-driven academic accountability in Nigerian universities highlights the need for effective tools that monitor student engagement and attendance. This study, titled Development and Evaluation of a Smart Attendance and Engagement Dashboard for Undergraduate Learning in University of Ilorin, sought to bridge the gap in traditional attendance management by developing a smart, user-friendly digital dashboard. The ongoing challenges of manual attendance, proxy signing, low student engagement, and lack of real-time monitoring in academic settings spurred the research. The specific objectives of this study were: (i) to examine students’ perception of the usability of the developed dashboard; (ii) to assess students’ satisfaction with the application; (iii) to evaluate the influence of the application on students’ academic performance; and (iv) to analyze expert evaluations of the dashboard’s design, functionality, and educational impact. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design. The primary instrument was a structured questionnaire for students, supported by an expert review checklist. The population consisted of undergraduate students from selected faculties in the University of Ilorin, with a sample size of 120 respondents selected through stratified sampling. Additionally, 10 experts in educational technology and software development evaluated the dashboard. The study was carried out within the University of Ilorin campus. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics such as mean and standard deviation, while inferential statistics (independent sample t-test) was used to test the hypothesis at a 0.05 level of significance. The findings revealed the following: (i) Students agreed that the smart dashboard was highly usable, with an overall mean usability score of 3.95, indicating strong agreement on ease of navigation, accessibility, and reliability. (ii) Students were satisfied with the application, with an overall mean satisfaction score of 3.99. Key areas of satisfaction included simplicity, visual feedback, and preference over manual methods. (iii) The smart attendance dashboard had a positive influence on students’ academic behavior, reflected in an overall mean of 3.96. Students reported increased punctuality, class participation, and awareness of academic progress. (iv) Expert evaluation showed a very good rating (mean = 4.10 to 4.25) on system development, functionality, accessibility, and educational value. (v) Hypothesis testing showed no significant gender-based difference in students’ satisfaction with the dashboard (t = 1.24, p = 0.217), indicating that both male and female students perceived the tool similarly. Based on the findings, the study concluded that the smart attendance and engagement dashboard significantly enhanced student engagement, academic accountability, and participation across diverse demographics. The system was also found to be scalable and effective for broader institutional use. It is recommended that university administrators adopt such digital tools in regular academic practices, while lecturers integrate them into classroom management routines. Further studies should assess the long-term academic impact of the dashboard across other universities and student populations. The major limitation of the study was its restriction to a single institution, which may affect the generalizability of results. Word count: 479