DEVELOPMENT OF MODULES FOR TEACHING

Oslo, 20th May 2006

Elena Sánchez Jordán

University of La Laguna

Canary Islands, Spain

Summary

Reasons for a change The development of a new model Conclusions

Reasons for a change (I)

In La Laguna we still teach Law under a Plan that was enacted in 1953 (it also happens in the Complutense University in Madrid, with over 20.000 Law students).

Last year we were evaluated by an external committee. The Study Plan was one of the worst aspects they pointed out.

Reasons for a change (II)

We had also noticed that: There was a very high number of students. But they attended neither lectures, nor exams. The average time to finish the degree was 8 years,

although the “planned” time is 5 years. And then… the ULL opened the possibility to its

different Schools and Faculties to start applying the ECTS system under certain conditions (pilot project).

4 of the teachers involved in the fourth year of the degree decided to start preparing the new model. Finally, all of us (6) are applying it.

The development of a new model (I)

We have tried to keep what we considered positive aspects of the old model (eg: lectures, but less). At the same time, we have started helping students to learn autonomously

We have emphasized case solving We have planned other activities (films, visits

to the Courts, different kind of lawyers as guests…)

We have organised small working-tutorial groups. They meet each teacher every two weeks (1/2 hour)

The development of a new model (II)

We are using different types of assessment (portfolio [40 %] plus two written exams –cases– per year and subject [40 %] plus class participation [20%] )

Blogs have been very useful for planning and developing this new model (http://derecho.ull.es/ects/). To make easier the planning of students´ activities To explain cases To give students previously selected information

The development of a new model (III). Some figures

The model is being applied in the 4th year of the Law degree, which has 6 subjects (or course units, in Tuning´s wording)

Administrative Law Civil Law Commercial Law Labour Law Procedure Law Tax Law

Each subject (course unit) has 10 ECTS (27´15 hours each ECTS), adding A + B + C

We have developed it in the following way

TEACHER ACTIVITY

STUDENT WORKLOAD

A Types of teaching

Content

Class hours

per week

CompetencesAttendance

time per week (AT)

Students´ worktime per

week (WT)

Total hours per year (T=

AT + WT) x nº weeks

Lectures Theoretical explanation 2Developing knowledge

concerning theory. Ability to pose problems

2 3 150

Case solvingStudy and solving of

cases1

Capacity for applying knowledge in practice

1 0,75 52,5

MeetingsFilms

Lectures by different kind of lawyers.

Films Class discussion

0,25Understanding of real

problems0,25 1 37,5

BTutorial(groups)

Compulsory

Team work. Practical questions´ solving

2

Capacity towork in team, ability to pose

problems, to achieve solutions

0,25 0,25 15

Tutorial(individual)

Individual assistance to the student

-Ability to pose problems, to

achieve solutions- - -

C Assessment(written exam

–case-, portfolio and

class participation)

Assessment of the learning outcomes

achieved by the student

16,5

TOTAL5,25 3,50 5 271,5

Conclusions

Problems: How to decide admission of students. What to do with those who

were not admitted Still high number of students Coordination amongst teachers Planning difficulties

But We have all learned new methods (students/teachers) Attendance to lectures has increased Better results of “exams” Students feel quite happy, even when they consider that they

work much more Students are learning to work in team, as well as autonomously Much better relationships amongst us

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR ATTENTION