peter f scott school of law & social science glasgow caledonian university

Peter F Scott

School of Law & Social Science

Glasgow Caledonian University

Teaching & Learning

• Promote Deep Learning

• Innovate

• Enthuse

• Involve students

• Develop new assessment strategies

• Contextualise

• Demonstrate Workplace Relevance

Challenge or Opportunity?

• “Short Fat Modules”• Under resourced• Exponential Growth in

Administration• Stringent Quality

Regime• Underpaid• Overworked• Tired and Weary

Learning Mechanisms

• Lectures • Seminars• Field trips• Directed Study• C.A.L.• “Private Study”• Exam revision• Social Activity

• Must inspire?• Students must prepare!• Where to?• Needs self discipline• Expensive to develop• Must be interested!• Cramming?????• Needs motivation

Assessment Options

• End testing• Essays• Reports• Presentations• Poster Presentations• Multiple choice• Electronic marking• Peer Group

Assessments

• Tests learning to date• Workplace relevant?• Tied to case studies• Time consuming?• Innovative but…?• Tests learning to date• Tests learning to date• Innovative but…..?

Case in Point

• Environmental Issues• Non lawyers• Complex law• No depth of

underpinning• Problem Based

Learning?• CONTEXTUALISE!

“Graduateness”

• Knowledge of subject• Ability to apply

knowledge• Communication Skills• Research Skills• Analytical• WORKPLACE

RELEVANT

Project must be integral to Learning

Initially students were given individual projects but students now

self select a topic

Self Selection?

• Topic must encompass specific criteria

• i.e. Examine Impact on Land Air & Water

• AND examine the issue from the perspectives of UK, EU & International Law

Assessment

• NO end testing• Original and

independent research• Ability to raise

awareness• Report Writing Skills• Academic Research

Skills• DEEP LEARNING

METHODOLOGY

• Presentation to demonstrate ability to raise awareness

• Report to demonstrate ability to write succinct but accurate overview

• Micro analysis of one aspect to demonstrate research capability

Raise Awareness

• Select one of three jurisdictions

• Ensure that holistic view is taken of environmental impact

• Deliver a well sourced & informative presentation

“Awareness Mechanism”

• Poster Presentation• Exhibition format• Expert Judging Panel• Each presenter must

speak to his/her poster• HIGHLY SPECIFIC

MARKING CRITERIA

“Reportage” Mechanism

• Structured Report on second of the three Jurisdictions

• Clear Guidelines on format

• Must be holistic overview

• Concise and clear• NO WORD COUNT

Micro-Analysis

• Deals with one aspect of remaining Jurisdiction

• Exhaustive and detailed treatment

• Benchmark to be “publishable standard”

Bottom Line?

• Students are in control of their learning

• Students are motivated• Lectures underpin

basic principles but..• PROMOTES DEEP

LEARNING

TIPS?

• Build in workshops to discuss progress

• Build in workshops on personal transferable skills

• Require “diagnostic” abstracts

• Give constructive feedback

Alternative Assessment Mechanisms

• “Live Environment”• Power point • Live presentations• Peer Group

Assessment• Others?

• Single topic project• Resource dependent• Class Time consuming• Posters lend

themselves to this• Yes but beware that

large classes create their own logistical problems

LIVE PROJECTS

• What are they?• What do they achieve?• What value have they?• Who wants them?• Why adopt them?• Where do you find

them?

Projects?

• Ideally self selected at Honours Level

• Shopping Malls• Breweries• Factories• Theatres • Building Sites• National Trust

Properties

Relevance?

• Planning Law• Construction Law• Health & Safety Law• Employment Law• Environmental Law• Commercial Law• Clinical Legal Skills• “People Skills”

The Lecturer

• Informed by student input• Education burden is

shared• Projects encourage

dialogue• An involved student is a

good student• Projects Generate Interest• Innovation is an

imperative • Quality Benchmark!

The Student

• Responsible for own learning

• Encourages research• Hands on skills• Promotes Deep Learning• Promotes sense of

achievement• Can even be enjoyable• Links with potential

employers

SO?

• Explore new fields• Demonstrate relevance• Link up with Practice• Network• Make your own job

and that of the students more interesting