Attendance data shows students logging on and learning

Data from school technology platform Compass has shown a significant uptick in both user numbers and the amount of data processed as Australian students moved to an online world.

The Compass web-based management program forms the technology backbone in many schools across Australia. Examining data from educational facilities across the country showed that absentee levels hit a new low when the move to a remote learning model came into effect. 

National attendance data showed that government recommendations were being followed with just over 2.5% of students physically attending school, with others attending through online channels. The online absentee rate dropped to 4.8%, half of the previous averages for the start of term and well below the average physical absentee rate, which is usually around 10% for the nation on a regular school day.

On day one of term after the Easter Break, 243,000 users signed into the platform at 9 am, as Victoria and the NT shifted to flexible and remote learning — 450% higher than previous state records. Compass said the platform achieved an all-time user record, servicing 761,000 users in one day.

Compass CEO and co-founder John de la Motte said this is a favourable result, under the circumstances.

“While it’s still early days, this is a pleasing outcome for online learning in Australian schools. Students are showing up, logging on and learning at higher levels than we’ve ever seen,” he said.

Login data showed schools were operational and, in fact, classes started 12 minutes earlier than normal, with the majority of logins occurring by 8.55 am instead of the average student/staff engagement of 9.07 am.

“Students aren’t just logging on, they’re logging on early, engaging, sending work back and forth with their teachers — while we’re all still navigating this new world of online learning, it’s fair to say schools have done a fantastic job adapting in such a fast manner so students don’t miss out on their education,” de la Motte said.

Image credit: © stock.adobe.com/au/jamdesign