Case Study: McMaster University achieves 90% attendance in a 3,000-student psychology course with Top Hat

McMaster University reaches 90% attendance in a 3,000-student course with Top Hat

McMaster University, a leading Canadian research institution, faced the challenge of engaging 3,000 students in its introductory psychology course and cutting through constant digital distraction. Course coordinator Michelle Cadieux needed a way to maintain student attention, foster a sense of belonging, and identify struggling students in a massive class where traditional discussion was impossible to scale.

The university implemented Top Hat to build engagement through a bonus point system for in-class questions and live demonstrations that replicated psychological studies using real-time student data. This solution, which also included a custom dynamic Top Hat eText, transformed the lecture into an interactive environment. The results were a sustained 90% attendance rate, with students choosing to attend live lectures over watching recordings, and significantly improved textbook approval ratings.

McMaster University