Required by Law. . .

. . .a new column designed to share the lessons learned from the UO School of Law computer requirement and the use of technology in enhancing an academic curriculum

Law students are trained to argue, debate and question assumptions. Since its inception, the notebook computer requirement at the School of Law has generated an often very heated conversation among our students. If there were suddenly no injustice in the world against which to fight, Law students would still be able to complain about their computers.

And not without good reason. Strongly encouraging incoming students to purchase a notebook computer package with the promise that a notebook computer is vital to a legal education at the UO is one thing‹living up to that promise is another.

The UO School of Law aspires to provide students with both a technological education as well as an education enhanced through the use of technology. The former includes providing training on current tools and technologies, such as learning good word processing, database, web browsing and email skills. This requires a commitment of staff, equipment, repair services, and facilities.

Students at the Law School are already incredibly active computer users. Email is a primary means of communication, computers are used regularly in class to take notes (and, recently, to take exams), and online legal resources are used daily for academic and postgraduate research. Our students have a wealth of technological skills.

The real challenge we now face at the School of Law is how to use current and emerging technologies to enhance the legal education of our students. We also need to identify the obstacles we must overcome before we can offer a substantive technology-rich education.

Faculty and staff need access to technology and need to be trained to apply that technology to their courses. Classrooms need adequate infrastructure, including power, networking, and multimedia equipment. And computer support staff need to be available to make it all work. Ultimately, it must be the faculty and staff who drive the computer requirement for the School of Law. Encouraging students to purchase notebook computers is just one aspect of the computer requirement. An even more important aspect is encouraging faculty to enrich their teaching with technology.

What does this mean? The answer depends upon the faculty member, the material, and the students. Active discussions over email, extensive web sites filled with lecture materials, supplemental information, online exercises and assignments, the use of PowerPoint and other presentation software to deliver class materials, and collaboration with other faculty using web-based tools are just a few possibilities.

Our next task is to build on the efforts of the faculty and staff currently utilizing technology as a learning tool and develop a technologically enhanced academic curriculum for the entire school. This is the challenge of the School of Law computer requirement: to go beyond the basics of using technology as simply an alternative to notepad and pen and foster an environment where innovation in teaching and learning is a reality.