Inclusive team assessment of off-campus and on-campus first year law students using instantaneous communication technology

Abstract

Motivation for academics teaching law in today’s globalised technological world is provided from research on team assessment and the use of technology in higher-education learning, as supported by student evaluations from this first year law course. The experience of offering a competitive team assessment item utilising 'state-of the-art' web conferencing tools to enable both on-campus and off-campus students to present, as a team, live debates, is discussed. This assessment treats students in an inclusive way furthering both motivation and student engagement. The course, (Law in Context), models a team approach designed to engage students in the study of legal theory and jurisprudence. Students are required to work together to produce an assessment item that requires critical thinking, oral communication and the art of argument, all vital to the practice of law. The findings reveal an overall positive response.