I have an instructor who is currently teaching Intro to International Business with about 200 students in one live lecture per week. He is currently creating a mini quiz that he opens at some point during or at the end of class, for the students to take, indicating their attendance and to some extent their understanding of the presentation. Is there an easier way?
Are you asking if there is an easier way to take attendance?
At this point, not really. Taking attendance in large classes has been a challenge since the beginning of education, which is why a fair amount of larger classes in lecture halls have scrapped the idea of attendance.
The issue of attendance in general has been a hot-button topic in previous Canvas idea postings:
Attendance Overhaul