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