Technology guru endorses College of Law’s e.learning
02 Dec 2009
by: Margaret Snell
A legal technology expert has given his endorsement of The College of Law’s e-learning techniques after carrying out a review of its teaching methods. In his report, ‘E-learning at The College of Law: 5-year Review’, Professor Richard Susskind OBE describes the College’s use of e-learning combined with one-to-one tutor supervision as “an innovative, exciting, and important technique for the world of legal education.”
The College’s ‘supervised mode’ (S-Mode) online learning methodology and its use of i-Tutorials as an alternative to lectures was described in the report as “a bold and largely successful initiative that delivers legal learning on a highly personalised basis.”
In his review Prof Susskind said: “My investigations suggest that the drive behind the S-Mode is not commercial but educational. The College is determined to explore and exploit new methods of educating, training, and helping aspiring lawyers; and, through the S-Mode, is pursuing the plausible premise that students generally perform better when they are accountable to, and working closely with, tutors on a one-to-one basis.”
Nigel Savage, Chief Executive of The College of Law said: “Prof Susskind’s review, alongside the positive reactions of our students and law firm clients, illustrate that the College’s huge investment over the past few years in e-learning technologies has been justified.
The evidence proving the effectiveness of electronic learning is growing and, with the help of Prof Susskind’s recommendations for future development, The College of Law will continue to lead the way on e-learning within the UK’s legal education sector.”
Professor Susskind has specialised in legal technology for 25 years and is an independent advisor to major professional firms and the Government. Since 1998 he has been IT advisor to the Lord Chief Justice of England.
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