Sydney Beckman, Lincoln Memorial University, Duncan School of Law: “Using Technology for Engagement and Assessment”
Sydney Beckman is a Professor of Law at the Lincoln Memorial University Duncan School of Law. He presented his talk, “Using Technology for Engagement and Assessment,” with the Simulations, Feedback, and Assessment Pod at the 2014 Igniting Law Teaching conference. In his talk, Professor Beckman explains that in the classroom, professors do not have the ability to read the minds of students. In traditional law schools, there are typically two forms of assessment, a midterm and a final exam. In the time between these two exams, professors do not know whether every student understands what they are being taught. Professor Beckman explains the role of clickers in the classroom, and how they empower students to defend their positions and let the professor know if students are getting the right answer for the right reason.
This video is part of a video collection from the Igniting Law Teaching, hosted by LegalED at American University Washington College of Law. Responding to the calls for legal education reform, the conference -- the first of its kind -- created a forum for professors experimenting with cutting edge technologies and techniques in law teaching with the goal of spreading their ideas to the broader community. The talks were modeled on TEDx Talks, with each speaker on stage alone, giving a well scripted and performed talk about an aspect of law school pedagogy. The goal of LegalED is to curate a growing collection of short, 10-minute videos on law school-related pedagogy that will inspire innovation and experimentation by law professors to bring more active learning and practical skills training into the law school curriculum. This videos, and others like it, are available on LegalED, a website developed by a community of law professors interested in using online technologies to facilitate more active, problem-based learning in the classroom, in addition to more assessment and feedback.
Professor Beckman is an experienced trial lawyer with a passion for teaching. Before joining the staff at Duncan School of Law, he previously taught at the Charleston School of Law and was an adjunct professor at Texas Wesleyan University School of Law. He regularly gives presentations on using interactive technology in the classroom. He has authored dozens of articles and numerous books. His interests include Evidence, Technology and the Law, and Domestic Relations.
LegalED aims to harness the power of the internet for legal educations. It facilitates blended or flipped learning – by migrating lectures to the web, LegalED frees up classtime for active learning that challenges students to learn the essential lawyering competencies while they are in law school. Professors may assign the videos in any combination for students to view outside of the classroom for active learning that challenges students to learn the essential lawyering competencies while they are in law school. LegalED seeks to develop and maintain a vibrant online community of teachers and students of the law, creating a central hub for the community. Through the video collection, teachers can be inspired to borrow, adapt, and bring great teaching moments into their own courses. With an internet platform, LegalED opens up formerly isolated classrooms by sharing showcasing, celebrating and inspiring innovative teaching. Simply put, the vision of LegalED is to inspire innovation in legal education. Join the movement!
The LegalED 2015 Igniting Law Teaching conference will take place on Friday, March 20th, from 9am to 6pm. Register to attend in person or live stream the event.