A new feature in the Member Tools app makes it easier for adult class teachers and secretaries to take roll and record class attendance.
Member Tools, a mobile app from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, is available in 47 languages. It is the one-stop app for tools that help you do your calling, serve in the temple, and connect with other Church members. It includes the ward and stake calendar and directory, meetinghouse locator, tools for temple and missionary service, and more.
One out of six Member Tools users are teachers, according to Justin Krebs, the Member Tools product manager. Beginning in January 2023, teachers could use the app to view a list of everyone in their class and where they live on a map and send them messages.
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Using the Reports feature, teachers now can easily record class attendance right in the Member Tools app.Now adult teachers in Sunday School, Primary, Young Women, Aaronic Priesthood Quorums, Relief Society and Elders Quorum, along with their secretaries, can easily mark their class members’ attendance right in the app, eliminating the need to keep track of cumbersome paper attendance rolls.
The Sunday School General Presidency hopes the attendance feature continues to help teachers minister to each class member.
“This new capability to record attendance will be a great blessing to all of us as teachers,” said Sunday School General President Mark L. Pace. “This helps us be more attentive to the individuals in our class. As we are mindful of them, we can minister in a more personal way. Ministering and teaching go hand in hand as we bless and support each member in our class.”
To take attendance, select Reports from the menu, then select Class and Quorum Attendance. Mark the attendance date for each class participant.
With the release of the class lists functionality last year, one youth Sunday School teacher used the Member Tools app to see who was in her new class and where they lived. She visited each class member and their parents at home to learn more about them and their preferred level of class participation and to let them know she cared. Because she had already begun ministering to her students in a natural way, they were more comfortable participating. This teacher is using this information in Member Tools to reach out to class members and invite them to attend class and class activities.
As teachers record class attendance, this information is automatically added to the Quarterly Report, making the job of the ward clerk much easier in compiling and submitting the report each quarter.
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Teachers now can record class attendance within the Member Tools app.What's Coming in Member Tools 5.0
In Member Tools 5.0, available March 2024 for Android and iOS devices, class attendance will be a tile on the home screen, making it one tap away. A new home screen with customizable tiles similar to the Gospel Library app “Home” screen will provide faster access to tools. Version 5.0 also has better help options for learning how to use features and improved leader and clerk access for viewing reports and managing records.
Developers are always seeking feedback and ideas from users to keep improving features. To comment, select the Help option from the menu in the app, then select Send Feedback.