Dr. Augustine Arimoro is a lecturer at the Roehampton Law School, Faculty of Business and Law, University of Roehampton London. He is the convenor of the Criminal Law module. Before joining the University of Roehampton London, Augustine was a lecturer at the Nottingham Law School, Nottingham Trent University. An active researcher, he has contributed several articles to leading peer-reviewed journals and is the author of Public-Private Public Partnership in Emerging Economies, a monograph published by Routledge in 2020.
Enhancing Students’ Engagement during Seminar Sessions: Experience at a UK Law School
Abstract:
This paper seeks to examine the role of the seminar tutor in leading seminars in a modern law school and the need to enhance students’ engagement. The seminar approach at the Nottingham Law School adopts the tutorial method in complementing weekly lectures which are usually pre-recorded. Before seminars, students are provided with a reading list and the learning outcomes for the seminar. In addition, the seminar materials usually contain a problem scenario that is designed to provide a curiosity-driven learning approach. Students are expected to attend the seminars prepared to discuss the problem using various techniques like group work, tutor led discussions, role playing, among others. Given the challenges encountered with the introduction of blended learning because of the COVID-19 pandemic, achieving a high level of student engagement requires innovative practice. To that end, this paper explores some of the challenges experienced and the innovative practices designed by the authors to ensure that high level of student engagement is sustained and that teaching methods continue to meet with the requirements of the United Kingdom Professional Standards Framework (UKPSF).