Developing a Java based RFID application to automate student attendance monitoring

Research has proved that there is a high correlation between high class attendance and academic performance. Learning is a progressive activity which builds upon those of the previous day(s). Reading material and working independently do not compensate for the loss of insight gained by being physically present in classroom environment. As a result attendance monitoring should be an integral part of any institution especially a tertiary institution. The major challenge that a facilitator has in monitoring attendance is the sheer paper work and subsequent administrative work that follows the process if it is done manually. Many techniques have been developed to automate attendance monitoring including the use of biometrics. These techniques have their own strengths and weaknesses. This paper describes a pilot experiment that was rolled out at the Central University Of Technology, Free State, South Africa where a Java based Radio Frequency Identification Technology (RFID) application was used to automate attendance monitoring. The paper first compares the challenges facing manual attendance monitoring. Secondly it looks at some of the possible solutions for automating attendance monitoring including RFID technology. Thirdly it shows how the hardware part is setup and finally it describes how Java programming is used to create a meaningful link between the data collected by the RFID hardware so as to automate the attendance register.