Using Mentimeter to Enhance Students’ Engagement in Large University Classes - A Survey of Students’ Perceptions

Student response systems have been applied in lecture rooms to gauge students’ feedback live and get students to participate more in the classroom. While such systems have shown to be effective in various contexts, such as in developed countries or fully online courses, empirical evidence on the effectiveness of such systems in technologically resource-constrained environments is still missing. This study reports on the perception of 164 students using Mentimeter, a student response system, with second-year computer science and computer engineering students from the University of Dar es Salaam in Tanzania. The study shows that even with the existing constraints of internet connectivity and limited access to smart devices, Mentimeter was still useful in promoting student engagement, making the lectures more enjoyable and even improving class attendance. The study also reports insights on the mindset of students towards Mentimeter and challenges faced when using the tool and provides recommendations.