JADE Issue 13 - November 2021 | Page 49

Using Mentimeter to Engage First Year Law Students in Wellbeing Awareness
Abstract
This paper assesses Keele Law School ’ s use of Mentimeter during an in-person live session to engage first year Law students in wellbeing awareness , through the innovative design and delivery of an interactive , whole-cohort session called It ’ s OK to not be OK . The session represented a new approach to using Student Response Systems ( SRS ) to help support student wellbeing in the transition to Higher Education . It involved the innovative blending of technology – Mentimeter , PowerPoint , and video – with panel-style , tutor-led discussion , to support the integration of wellbeing into the teaching and learning of Law . Design was grounded in education research and in evidence highlighting Law students ’ particular difficulties with wellbeing . Students were invited to participate in the session on a voluntary basis and with prior information as to the session ’ s aims and content . Mentimeter was used to capture students ’ anonymous , real-time responses and to facilitate discussion . The session sought to raise first years ’ awareness that studying Law can present challenges to their wellbeing ; to remove the stigma attached to experiencing these challenges ; and to show students how they can look after themselves and each other . Importantly , the blend of Mentimeter and other media with panel-style discussion helped students to see the Law School as a supportive , collaborative community . The session was delivered outside of the Level 4 Law modules in November 2018 ( week 6 ) and again in October 2019 ( week 3 ). It has since informed practice in the Law School through its new Legal Essentials introductory module , which takes a holistic approach to legal education , involving the “ whole student ”. Introduction and Background

Article # 5

Using Mentimeter to Engage First Year Law Students in Wellbeing Awareness

Title :
Using Mentimeter to Engage First Year Law Students in Wellbeing Awareness
Authors :
Dr Stella Coyle Schol of Law , Keele University
Keywords :
Law students , wellbeing , Mentimeter
DOI :
http :// doi . org / 10.21252 / 28z6-7966

Abstract

This paper assesses Keele Law School ’ s use of Mentimeter during an in-person live session to engage first year Law students in wellbeing awareness , through the innovative design and delivery of an interactive , whole-cohort session called It ’ s OK to not be OK . The session represented a new approach to using Student Response Systems ( SRS ) to help support student wellbeing in the transition to Higher Education . It involved the innovative blending of technology – Mentimeter , PowerPoint , and video – with panel-style , tutor-led discussion , to support the integration of wellbeing into the teaching and learning of Law . Design was grounded in education research and in evidence highlighting Law students ’ particular difficulties with wellbeing . Students were invited to participate in the session on a voluntary basis and with prior information as to the session ’ s aims and content . Mentimeter was used to capture students ’ anonymous , real-time responses and to facilitate discussion . The session sought to raise first years ’ awareness that studying Law can present challenges to their wellbeing ; to remove the stigma attached to experiencing these challenges ; and to show students how they can look after themselves and each other . Importantly , the blend of Mentimeter and other media with panel-style discussion helped students to see the Law School as a supportive , collaborative community . The session was delivered outside of the Level 4 Law modules in November 2018 ( week 6 ) and again in October 2019 ( week 3 ). It has since informed practice in the Law School through its new Legal Essentials introductory module , which takes a holistic approach to legal education , involving the “ whole student ”. Introduction and Background

This paper assesses Keele Law School ’ s use of Mentimeter to engage first year Law students in wellbeing awareness , through the innovative design and delivery of an interactive , whole-cohort session called It ’ s OK to not be OK . The session was innovative in two respects . Firstly , it represented a new approach to using Student Response Systems ( SRS ); not only in a Social Science subject ( Law ), but also in a topic such as wellbeing . Secondly , it involved the blending of technology and panel-style discussion to support the integration of wellbeing into the teaching and learning of Law . Educational innovation involves ‘ the successful introduction of a new thing or method ’ ( Brewer and Tierney , 2012 ). Serdyukov ( 2017 ) characterised the innovation process as the journey from idea , to implementation , Article # 5 49