Teaching is continually evolving, and developing innovative approaches is essential to enhancing the learning experience and an integral part of the role of a lecturer.

Within the BSc (Hons) Nursing top up programme, where the majority of students are international, we are occasionally asked by immigration compliance colleagues to confirm student attendance. Unfortunately, TDS does not always register students’ attendance accurately. As the programme has large cohorts, to respond to those requests, students sign an attendance register. They are asked to sign this using different colour pens. For example, those who arrive on time, or within the first ten minutes, sign with a green pen and students arriving later with a black pen. This provides an immediate visual indication of punctuality patterns and helps identify students who may need additional support if lateness becomes reoccurring.

This innovation has been shared within the team, and further refinements have been suggested such as late arriving students to record their exact arrival time to provide even greater insight. We also recognised the need to vary pen colours to prevent students bringing their own pens to avoid accurate reporting.

This simple innovation of signing an attendance register with two colour pens, gives insight into student punctuality and provides opportunity for supporting students.