Hi, I’m Mike
My role within the team is divided into two distinct halves academic mentoring and the feasibility of utilising the latest technology.
Utilising the Latest Technology
Academic Mentoring
The feasibility of utilising new technology to support student’s well-being project is situated within Staffordshire University. This project considers the technical, economic and operational feasibility for adopting and scaling the development of an innovative coaching approach utilising the emerging areas of Neurofeedback, Virtual Reality and EEG technologies as an early intervention in support of student well-being.
A scoping exercise has been completed and equipment sourced and purchased ready for testing between March and September of 2021.
Below links that give insight into the potential use of technology to support student wellbing:Psychic VR: Increasing Mindfulness by using Virtual Reality and Brain Computer Interfaces - https://vimeo.com/152912577Virtual Reality Therapy - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y08YDthMwsMHow Technology Can Turn VR into Powerful Therapy - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-YMV_70KrUMind Control VR by AR works at MWC, Barcelona 2017 -https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gO5E3WY5-d0
This strand of my work relates to the early intervention aspect of the project which focuses on improving the well-being of students through their interactions with academic mentors. I am contributing to the strategic development and implementation of the move from personal tutoring to academic mentoring across Keele and Staffordshire Universities.
At Keele University, it means to support the development of a “Hub and Spoke” approach embedding student services across all schools.At Staffordshire University it means the development of foundational training for academics as they transition from personal tutoring into their new roles as academic mentors.
Academic Mentors Handbook
To date, an academic mentors handbook has been developed and produced which is being used to support training development across both Universities.
What’s Next
Moving forward I will be involved in the recruitment and training for the new staff team at Keele University and at Staffordshire, delivering initial training to academic mentors and working to research and complete the feasibility document for the tech project.