1. What will the law school of 2025 look like?
Michael Bromby: Discipline Lead
2. My vision 13 years hence…
Learning & Teaching
The use of technology
Students
They are currently entering primary school (aged 5)
Scotland: Curriculum for Excellence (CfE)
Staff
Likely to include those we are currently teaching!
Likely to include me!
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3. What will you do after this event?
Start doing something new?
Do something differently?
Change nothing at all?
Tell someone else?
Do something for someone else?
Give up?!
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4. Learning & Teaching
What was 1999 (13yrs ago) like?
Looking from ‘Then’ to ‘Now’ and the ‘Future’
The ‘Wayback Machine’ http://web.archive.org
August 2012
October 2008
August 2002
January 1999
A change in form, but not in substance?
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5. 2012 (August) present day
What was 1999 (13yrs ago) like?
Looking from ‘Then’ to ‘Now’ and the ‘Future’
The ‘Wayback Machine’ http://web.archive.org
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6. 2008 (October) back 5yrs
What was 1999 (13yrs ago) like?
Looking from ‘Then’ to ‘Now’ and the ‘Future’
The ‘Wayback Machine’ http://web.archive.org
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7. 2002 (August) back 10yrs
What was 1999 (13yrs ago) like?
Looking from ‘Then’ to ‘Now’ and the ‘Future’
The ‘Wayback Machine’ http://web.archive.org
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8. 1999 (January) back 13yrs
What was 1999 (13yrs ago) like?
Looking from ‘Then’ to ‘Now’ and the ‘Future’
The ‘Wayback Machine’ http://web.archive.org
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9. What’s Changed?
“When I was a student, we didn’t have…”
• Blackboard / Moodle / VLE
Interactive / collaborative
• Comprehensive online databases
Extent of research
• Mainstream clinical legal education
Enhanced legal skills
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10. Future Horizons
New Media Consortium (NMC) Report 2012
•Time-to-Adoption Horizon: One Year or Less
Mobile Apps
Tablet Computing
•Time-to-Adoption Horizon: Two to Three Years
Game-Based Learning
Learning Analytics
•Time-to-Adoption Horizon: Four to Five Years
Gesture-Based Computing
Internet of Things
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11. Future Horizons
Beyond NMC 2012 for Legal Education?
•Time-to-Adoption Horizon: 13 Years or more
Learning Analytics
Computer assisted grading
Assessment predictions
Tailor education activity according to student needs
Internet of Things
Smart objects
Open-ended game-based learning
Interaction with the world (clinic/placement)
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12. Summary
Future of Legal Education
Substantive law
Inquiry-based learning
Intellectual rigour
Liberal minded
Vocationally oriented
Same old, same old!
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In reverse order: Staff who have not yet retired are unlikely to change in any dramatic way. Incoming staff are likely to have been inculcated (to some extent) in the current ways of thinking regarding legal education as they will have been through the current system of legal education and have been taught by us, most likely. Students will be somewhat different – I hope. In Scotland, students will come through the relatively new Curriculum for Excellence – designed to promote 4 overarching themes (see next slide). Finally give consideration to the use of technology and how that might shape legal education in the future
Perhaps the two most striking/relevant for legal education: Responsible Citizens: Using technology for learning (successful learners) Successful Learners: Participate in political, economic, social and cultural life (responsible citizens) Example of what the law student of the future looks like today – here’s my six-year-old.
Perhaps the best way to look to the future is to quickly look over our shoulders at where we have come from.
The current view – small amounts of text – very visual – mention of both teaching and research
5 years ago – less visual, more text based Balance between teaching and research still present
10 years back – little visual – same old text!
13 years back – no visual – same old text still! Law schools have revolved around undergrad and postgrad teaching, and research activities Little has changed in terms of what happens, only in how it is presented
1999 is fitting to look back, as I was a student graduating in 1999. Websites only give a snapshot of what is presented externally. My view, internally, was that the law school differs then and now in these ways
These reports identify and describe emerging technologies likely to have a large impact over the coming five years in education around the globe . No mention of law or legal education in the report other than mention of tablet computing used to deliver lecture-capture in one US law school.
Looking beyond NMC, I suggest that legal education will be slower to take-up some of these technologies, not least because they won’t necessarily fit with the subject, but also whether law sits as a science or social science, or even an art?
Peter Birks (Regius Professor of Civil Law at the University of Oxford) commented that “ Ulpian could sit in the House of Lords tomorrow, without a moment’s preparation”. My hope is that Blackstone (with a quick introductory IT course) could get on and deliver a lecture series through i-Tunes U without much a-do!