IT LOOKS as though it could be a scene from a sci-fi movie but this is not a futuristic story.
St George and Sutherland Shire schools are pushing ahead with their tech-savvy ways for greater accountability and efficiency.
Georges River College Oatley is one of several high schools that use finger scanning to monitor student attendance.
The system has been a success at the school for the past 2½ years.
So how does it work?
A scan of students' fingers is taken when they enrol.
Three random triangulated measurements are stored in their file.
It is deleted when a student leaves the school.
The school's principal, Deidrei Bedwell, said scanning was introduced because students' timetables, which include extension and vocational subjects, were varied.
"We've got students coming in and out to go to TAFE, uni courses or traineeships," she said. "The technology helps us manage our very broad curriculum."
The campus has the largest number of year 12 subjects in NSW on offer — more than 80.
Ms Bedwell said scanning saved time because it replaced a daily 10-minute roll-call.
"Lessons are scheduled from 8am to 5pm on and off site," she said. "It means we have added 34 hours of teaching time, which is important for senior students."
She said scanning was also used to keep students safe and enabled school staff to know immediately when students were at school.
"It links to our parent SMS system," Ms Bedwell said.
Gymea Technology High has used scanning since 2009. School principal Peter Marsh said it made student attendance more accurate, and shifted the focus to teaching.
"It integrates nicely with our electronic roll marking that teachers do each lesson on their own devices," he said.
"With these systems we don't waste time having students sit idle in roll-call each day, but maximise their learning."
Edith McNally, the principal of Menai High School, which implemented scanning more than three years ago, said while effective, it could not be used to compromise personal data or privacy.
What do you think of scanning students' fingers to monitor attendance?
