Do you really know what your students are thinking in class?

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Do you really know what your students are thinking in class? Can you know all your students' answers when you ask a question? I guess the answer is no or not completely. So, what if I tell you that you can actually do that using an online platform that is available on various devices, such as computers, mobile phones, and iPads, will you give it a try? If yes, let me introduce you to Mentimeter. 

What is Mentimeter and how to use it?

It's an online interactive presentation and polling platform that allows teachers to create dynamic and engaging lessons. It offers a wide range of features that can be used in various educational settings, from K-12 classrooms to higher education institutions. 

Here are some tips on how teachers can effectively use Mentimeter to enhance their teaching:

    1. Brainstorm and generate ideas:

• Students can do this individually or collaboratively. 
• Use open-ended questions or word cloud functions to bring up the topic or as a tool for activity presentation. 
• For example, you can include questions like "Use three words to describe your ideal life." or "What do your group think feminism is?".

    2. Provide feedback

• Students can answer based on their thoughts during and after the classes, so that you can have some ideas on how to help students who experience some problems or improve your class in the future. 
• Use open-ended questions, scales, ranking or multiple-choice functions. 
• For example, you can write "What do you think of the teaching speed so far?" or "How do you rate this class?".

    3. Quizzes

• You can have a clearer view of students' understanding of the teaching contents.
• The quiz function is similar to Kahoot. 

    Here is a video that shows five functions of Mentimeter and how you can use it in more detail. 

The advantages of Mentimeter

• The answers are anonymous. If you have students who are shy to talk or scared to make mistakes and face threats, you can inform them before using Mentimeter.
• The answers are real-time interaction. Students can see immediate responses from their classmates. 
• Increase Students' engagement in class.
• The data are visualised. 

The disadvantages of Mentimeter

• Students are required to have access to the Internet, which means students who do not have devices, such as younger learners, can not participate in Mentimeter activities. 
• The free version has limited functions, such as exporting data.

I believe after using Mentimeter, you can know what your students are thinking during your classes in time. Let's make your classes more engaging and improve your classes further.