Flipping learning refers to a growing educational practice (increasingly being adopted in higher education) of using videos to teach doctrinal subjects -- which students watch outside of the classroom -- and then using face-to-face classtime for active, problem-based learning that reinforces what students have learned through online video instruction.
I think flipped learning could be applied in legal education too. If students watch doctrinal videos as homework, then classtime can be devoted to activities that reinforce the learning and provide more feedback and assessment.
This website will assemble a growing
collection of short videos (each 15 minutes or less) on law and law-related
topics (substantive, procedural, practical skills and professional values) so
that we can begin to “flip” the law school classroom and devote more
face-to-face class time for active, problem-based learning. A series of
videos on contracts is already up and being used by students around the
country. The videos on substantive law
could be assigned to students for viewing outside the classroom, thereby
freeing up class time for activities that bring in more training on the other
competencies proven necessary for successful lawyering, practical lawyering skills
and professional values. This is a blended model of teaching, where we
leverage the web for passive learning (listening to lectures) and open up class
time for more activities that call on students to use their knowledge in active
ways that reinforce and support learning.
We realize that many professors are not trained to teach in this new way.
Our website is designed to support them as they make this transition. The
website also hosts a collection of tools directed at professors interested
in bringing teaching innovations into their classrooms. We are assembling
a series of teaching materials (videos, assessment tools, problems and in-class
exercises) created, contributed to and curated by world-class teachers in their
fields. The series on pedagogy will be directed at law professors.
These videos will explain how to incorporate more active learning and teaching
of lawyering competencies into doctrinal courses with the hope of inspiring
others.
Join our growing community! If you have materials that you would like to share, please let us know.