UNC CHECK-IN

About

ITS Teaching and Learning has partnered with Dr. Viji Sathy, Teaching Professor in the Department of Psychology and Program Evaluator for the Chancellor's Science Scholars, to create the UNC Check-In app to facilitate taking attendance during classes and other events. The app allows instructors to specify brief time intervals during which students can register attendance when in proximity to Bluetooth beacons.

Resources

Check-in App Screen

Service FAQs

The UNC Check-In app only uses Location Services to detect your nearness to the Bluetooth beacon in your classroom. At no time is your location stored anywhere or shared with anyone.

NO, the UNC Check-In app does not track your location.

UNC Chapel Hill has a class attendance policy and it is up to each instructor if they want to use the UNC Check-In app to take attendance.

If your class is using the UNC Check-In app for attendance, then the student (users) and the facilitator for the course (faculty member, approved TA or course administrator) can see attendance history.

First, let your instructor or TA know, so they can correct your attendance; the UNC Check-In team will not change attendance on behalf of a student. Next follow the "Quick Tips" recommendations in the app. If your issue persists, submit a support ticket. For in-person support of phone app issues, the ITS ServiceDesk has a Walk-In located at the Student Union.

Student FAQs

Download the UNC Check-In app from the Apple App store: UNC Check-In on the App Store
 

After you open the app, log in with your Onyen and password.
 

Next, allow the app to use Location Services to detect when you are near one of the classroom beacons, while you are using the app.
 

Now you are ready to use the app.

 

 

The UNC Check-In app needs access to the Location Services to detect your nearness to the
Classroom Bluetooth beacons. To Enable Location Services select the Settings button.
 

On the Settings page select Privacy.

screenshot of privacy settings
 

On the Privacy page select Location Services.

 screenshot of location services

 

On the Locations Services page select UNC Check-In.

screenshot of selecting UNC Check-In app
 

In the UNC Check-In window select While Using the App.

screenshot of UNC Check-In window
 

Now the UNC Check-In app should detect the beacon.

When you see this screen, it means you have manually turned off the Bluetooth on your phone.

To turn on the Bluetooth, click "Settings"

 

Change your Bluetooth setting from off, to ON.

 

 

 

Download the UNC Check-In app from the Google Play store:

UNC Check-In App for Android on Google Play

 

Screenshot of the UNC Check-In app as displayed in the Google Play Store
 

After you install the App, open it.
Next, log in with your ONYEN and Password.

screenshot of UNC login screen
 

Allow the app to use your location to detect when you are in a classroom with a Bluetooth beacon.

Screenshot of the UNC Check-In App displaying the Location screen in Android devices with a checkmark next to the text "Always Allow Location Access"
 

Now you are ready to use the app.

Q: How do I enable Android Location Services for the UNC Check-In App?

Open SETTINGS for your Android phone.
Select "Apps & notifications".

Screenshot highlighting Apps & Notifications option
 
In "Apps & notifications" select the UNC Check-In app.

Screenshot of the UNC Check-In app highlighted
 

Now select the Permissions option.

screenshot with permissions option highlighted
 

Turn on the Location service for the app.

screenshot with location highlighted

When you see this screen, it means you have manually turned off the Bluetooth on your phone.

To turn on the Bluetooth, click "YES"or "ALLOW"

Before:

 After:

When the UNC Check-In app is ready to use in the classroom, there are several indicators that the app is ready to use.

  1. When the UNC Check-In app is working, a list of your courses utilizing the Check-In app will appear on the main screen.
  2. After choosing a course, a “Beacon detected!” notification will pop-up on screen briefly (Android App) and the text “Beacon detected for” will appear along the top of the screen below the Beacon symbol.
Note: You will not be able to check into class until the Instructor opens the Check-In Window.

screen

Please check the following:

  1.  You have Location Services enabled for the UNC Check-In app.
    Here are instructions for Android and iOS
  2. You also need to be within range of the classroom Bluetooth beacon.
    If you are NOT within range a message will display on the app.

    Android

    Android can't check in

    		 iOS

    iOS can't check in
  3. Check-In windows are started by the class instructor and students cannot check-in until the instructor opens a window.
    You should see a message similar to the one below if your instructor has not opened a window.

    Android

    Android - no check in window

    		 iOS

    iOS - no check in window

 

Students can only check in once during each check-in window.

If you try to check in more than once, the app will display a message that you have already checked-in.

Android

<Android - already checked in

 iOS

iOS - already checked in

Yes, the “View Past Attendance” button will display your previous check-ins.
There is a separate tab for each course, which lists all your check-ins..

Past Attendance

 

 

Instructor FAQs

All General Purpose Classrooms (GPCs) are equipped with beacons. An interactive list of GPCs can be found at Classroom Hotline. Additional departmental rooms may be available.

Add your course to the UNC Check-In app system by clicking the plus sign (+) in the top right corner of the app’s main screen, or by visiting the course request site: https://unccheckindash.unc.edu/secure/course_request/

Your courses that are located in classrooms with beacons installed will be listed. Then you can select the course and submit the selection so the course will be added and the ConnectCarolina rosters will be added also.

By checking a box for the courses listed you will activate the UNC Check-In App for your course. You will have access to the UNC Check-In app for that course, within 30 minutes.

Add a course one
Add a course two

Log into the UNC Check-In dashboard site with your Onyen.
There is a tab for each course using the Check-In app:

 

You can:

For TA access to the Check In App, the TA needs to be added to the course in Connect Carolina and take the FERPA training. Once they have been added in Connect Carolina, our database will sync that information and the courses will show for them as instructor within the Check In App dashboard.

As an instructor, you can open a check-in window from your computer, if necessary.

Log into the Check-In app attendance site.

  1. Select the course site you want to manage.
  2. In the Manual Check-In window, type your Onyen (course instructor's)
  3. In the Role window, select Instructor
  4. Click Submit

Now your students have 15 minutes to check-in to class.

A course instructor can manually check-in a student or group of students who are late to class or who are having difficulties with the app.

 

  1. Log into the attendance site.
  2. Select the course you want to manage.
  3. In the Manage Students section, select a time slot to open a list of students who did not check-in during that time.

 

  1. In the pop-up window, select the students you want to check-in, and click Submit.

 

Course roster information is pulled from ConnectCarolina several times a day.

Instructors can log into the UNC Check-In dashboard site to view student attendance information.
  • Log into the UNC Check-In dashboard site.
  • Select the course you want to manage
  • Choose 'Detailed View Overall' from the 'Overall Attendance for this class' area.

 

Check-In Dashboard total attendance

 

Choosing the Onyen column heading will sort the table according to the Onyen value

Choosing the Status column heading will sort the table according to the student's attendance status values.


You will first need to export attendance results from your UNC Check-In Dashboard:

  1. Select course from your dashboard
  2. In the bottom right corner, locate the Export Grades for Canvas section
  3. Enter a name for the Grades item
  4. A new field for total points possible should appear. Enter the total points this Gradebook item will be worth.
  5. Click on the Export Grades for Canvas button that will appear to download the spreadsheet

In Canvas, import the Check-In spreadsheet into the Gradebook:

  1. Select Grades from your course menu
  2. Click the Import button in the top right
  3. Click the Browse button
  4. Locate and choose the Check-in spreadsheet file you previously exported
  5. Click Upload Data
  6. Choose an assignment from the drop-down menu or create a new assignment. Update points possible if needed.
  7. Click Continue
  8. Confirm the data is correct and select Save Changes

Troubleshooting

If you are having issues detecting the Beacon this is usually caused by a problem with your Internet connection, your phone's BlueTooth or Location settings. Most issues can be resolved by doing the following:

iPhone

Update The UNC Check-In app to the latest version available from the Apple App Store

iphone1
Open Control Center:

  1. Close the Check-In app and turn Wi-Fi OFF. Turn Wi-Fi back ON, connecting to Eduroam. (How to Connect to Eduroam) . Restart the app.
  2. Turn Bluetooth on ( icon will be BLUE).
  3. Turn Airplane Mode off (icon will be grey).

iphone2
Open iPhone Settings:

  1. Close the Check-In app and turn Wi-Fi OFF. Turn Wi-Fi back ON, connecting to Eduroam. (How to Connect to Eduroam) . Restart the app.
  2. Turn Bluetooth on.
  3. Turn Airplane Mode off.

Restart your Phone

iOS 13+ added a new privacy setting for Bluetooth. To enable Bluetooth for the UNC Check-In App on iOS 13+:
For iOS 13+, click Settings -> Privacy -> Bluetooth, enable UNC Check-In if toggled off.

iOS13+


Android

Update UNC Check-In app to the latest version available on the Google Play Store .

android1
Open Settings Menu

  1. Tap Network & internet
  2. Close the Check-In app and turn Wi-Fi OFF. Turn Wi-Fi back ON, connecting to Eduroam. (How to Connect to Eduroam). Restart the app.
  3. Turn off Airplane Mode.
  4. If you see Bluetooth options here, turn Bluetooth on.

android2
From Settings Menu, tap Connected devices
  1. Look for Bluetooth menu here: verify it is on.
    (newer phones may not have this option)

android3
Open Quick Settings (swipe down from top of phone).

  1. Verify that Bluetooth is on.
    (Bluetooth options may be on the 2nd screen)
  2. Close the Check-In app and turn Wi-Fi OFF. Turn Wi-Fi back ON, connecting to Eduroam. (How to Connect to Eduroam) . Restart the app.
  3. Confirm Airplane Mode is off.

Restart your phone