Digital Directions has been rather quiet over the winter vacation - but then so has news on legal education!
A colleague brought my attention to an article in The Times Online yesterday, by Richard Susskind. He describes the 's-mode' of learning where 's' stands for supervised (yet another to be added to the list of e- and m- learning) that is used in a some law schools. On balance, he concludes:
Sceptics protest. They say that a law lecture should be a communal event at
which students are professionally socialised. It would be regrettable, of
course, if law students were never to experience the thrill of assembling with
peers in a fine hall and listening to an outstanding live performance. But we
should not preserve the old ways in the delusion that such performances are
commonplace. Unless the lecture is genuinely outstanding (a rarity, students
say), the convenience and flexibility of e-learning will trump the benefits of
the communal learning experience.
Conventional lectures can be, and indeed are, replaced by electronic materials, but the hardware, software skills, effort and expense required often prevents some law schools from taking full advantage of the technologies available.
The article also links to Susskind's 5 year review of e-learning in The College of Law, which further elaborates on s-learning. Here, technology is used to move away from the typical one-to-many style of teaching that the traditional classroom offers, and is more akin to the one-to-one style tutoring that is commonly associated with Oxbridge.
It is interesting to note that the student feedback tended to be less positive from students who have no previous direct experience of studying under the s-mode. This may suggest then, that Susskind's examples of BPP, College of Law and GGSL may benefit from increased use of s-learning blended into the undergraduate curriculum of other law schools. Indeed, law firms may adopt s-mode for trainee and in-house CPD purposes, increasing further the need for undergraduate providers to adopt, adapt or even pioneer s-mode so that students are both capable and comfortable in this mode of study, yet not disadvantaged by graduates from other institutions who may have a head-start in this style of learning.
Susskind concludes his review with recommended enhancements, which include the use of synchronous communication modes such as skype, other messenger services, or even, dare I add, face to face!
Our education system has grown and developed in a reflection of the changes in our society in a symbiotic relationship in which one influences the other. Considering such issues as gender, culture, curriculum, testing, and philosophy, how has formal education been influenced by national development? How have changes in society influenced changes in the way in which students are educated, as well as philosophies about education?
Posted by: north pacific costa rica beach | 18 April 2010 at 21:41
Education is the key to have a better society in this 21th century
Posted by: soft cialis | 09 April 2010 at 22:55