High Technology in Legal Education at Suffolk University

1
High Technology in Legal Education at Suffolk
University

• Todd Blain
• Marc Bullio
• Dan Tromp
• Dean John Deliso
• Project liaison
• Suffolk University Law School
• Sponsor

2
Order of Events

• Objectives
• Background
• Assessing the WPI SULS Agreement
• Assessing Technology at SULS
• Recommendations Conclusion
• Questions and Comment

3
Objectives Our Goals

• Evaluate the current WPI-SULS Agreement.
• Assess the current technology at SULS by
• Studying the technology the students are
  currently using
• Studying the teaching styles and techniques used
  by the faculty in relation to the technology
  available to them
• Identifying improvements.

4
Worcester Polytechnic Institute

• Founded 1865
• Independent Technological University
• Renowned for its Project Based Curriculum

5
Suffolk University Law School

• Founded in 1906
• Opened David J. Sargent Hall in July, 1999
• Pride themselves for its High Technology
  Curriculum

6
SULS Technology Departments

• Library / Web Master
• Computer Services
• Media Services

7
Classroom Hardware

• Teachers Workstation
• Multimedia PC
• Document Camera
• Touch Panel Control
• Classroom Video Camera
• Sound System

8
WPI SULS Agreement

• WPI Joint Law Program
• Aimed at Incoming Freshmen
• At least 3.25 GPA
• Above the 75th percentile on LSAT
• Program in its 4th year

9
WPI Student knowledge of WPI SULS Agreement

• WPI student Survey (150 students)
• WPI students awareness of the existence of SULS
• 40 of the WPI students were aware
• WPI students interest in the study of law.
• Only 5 of the WPI students had an interest

10
WPI Student knowledge of WPI SULS Agreement

• WPI students awareness of the WPI-SULS
  Agreement
• 2 of the WPI students were aware
• WPI students do not have an interest in legal
  education.
• 2 WPI students per year can be expected to attend
  law school
• Increase Marketing

11
Methods of Technology Assessment

• Classroom Observations
• SULS Student Survey
• Professor Interviews
• Department Head Interviews

12
Classroom Observations

• Goal
• Understand how students and professors use
  technology in the classroom
• Procedures
• Class Selection (By required electives)
• Class Observation Form and database (link)

13
Student Laptop Use in Class

• 38 of the 564 students observed, used laptops in
  class
• Personal use included
• Checking Email
• Surfing the Web
• Computer Games
• Online Chat

14
Educational Technology Use

• 12 classes observed
• High-Tech Methods
• Use of Internet
• Use of Movie Clips
• Use of PowerPoint
• Use of the Document Camera

15
SULS Student Survey

• Goals
• Discover student uses of technology throughout
  the building
• Explore students opinions regarding technology
  in education
• Procedure
• Random Sample ( Day and Evening Control)
• Survey Form and database (link)

16
Student Improvement of Computer Skills

• 81 reported improvement
• SULS
• Class assignment
• LPS
• Non-SULS
• Self-taught
• Work
• Computer Course

17
Student Use of Computer Services
18
Student use of SULS Web Page
Priority list of departments which needs to
maintain their web pages
19
Student Teaching Preferences
20
Professor Interviews

• Goals
• How professors feel technology helps to educate
  students
• Explore motivation to use technology
• Discover if professors combine classroom
  environment and assignments with technology
• Procedures
• Professor Selection
• Professor Interview form (link)

21
Summary of Professor Interviews

• All professors felt that technology can be useful
  in legal education
• Degree of technology use is dependent on subject
  matter
• 90 of professors felt a course Web page is an
  effective educational tool

22
Summary of Professor Interviews

• Professors are reluctant to use technology
• Equipment Problems
• Computer Skills
• Training
• Time

23
Department Head Interviews

• We selected five departments which used
  technology extensively.
• Our main goal was to gather suggestions on how to
  improve technology in their depts.

24
Recommendations

• Short-term Improvements
• Immediate integration
• Mid-range Improvements
• Greater commitment by SULS necessary
• Long-term Undertakings
• Complex planning and investment

25
Short-term Improvements

• Improving Communications
• More Nodes
• Email terminals
• Getting everyone to use Email
• Getting professors to use course web pages
• Online Chat rooms/ Discussion Boards

26
Short-term Improvements

• Technology Training
• Workshops
• Email
• Web pages
• PowerPoint
• Simple Sheets for Classroom Hardware and Software
• Professor Technology Manual

27
Mid-range Improvements

• Upgrade / Updating Plan
• School-wide Policy
• Departmental Annual Report
• Analog to Digital Upgrade
• Professor controlled
• Better Quality
• Web Page Improvements
• The Law School Web Page
• Internal Department Web Pages

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Mid-range Improvements

• Network Improvements
• Student Computer Accounts
• Monitoring
• Student Internet Usage in Class
• Professors and Students are split on
  disconnecting the Internet in class.
• Student Handbook Policy

29
Long-term Undertakings

• Department of Academic Technology
• Director (www.law.suffolk.edu/press/position.html)
  
• Two staff members
• Classroom Technology Assistant
• Web Information Assistant
• Paperless Work Environment
• General Theme as technology increases
• Efficient (For every 10 printed pages, 1 is
  consulted)
• Accessibility

30
Long-term Undertakings

• Wireless Internet
• Ease of access
• No need to add more nodes
• No need to rewire
• Distance Learning
• Specialized Law courses

31
Conclusion

• New building, Sargent Hall, on the cutting edged
  of technology
• Must continue to utilize the current technology
• Must forge ahead and continue to push the
  envelope of technology in legal education

32
Acknowledgements

• A very Special THANK YOU to everyone at Suffolk
  University Law School.
• Students
• Faculty Staff
• Department Heads
• Advisors Fabio Carrera James Hanlan
• Dean Deliso

33
Question and Comment

• At this time we would be happy to entertain any
  question or comments you may have.