“Technology in teaching is no longer for the few technophiles on the faculty. This is a nuts and bolts session demonstrating what technology can accomplish and how you can do it.”

Sally H. Wise
Director of the Law Library
Professor of Law
University of Miami
swise@law.miami.edu; (305) 284-2755

Legal Research Techniques - (Advanced Legal Research)

• Using commercial web course product (TWEN)
  • Need a Westlaw password;
• Used a classroom outfitted with computers for the students
• Syllabus
• Assessment Quiz
• Putting student papers on the site for students to critique - since access requires Westlaw password no one else can see; eliminates the need to put papers on reserve.
• Web sites and Electronic databases (includes Lexis, Westlaw, Loislaw, etc.)
  • Live demonstrations
  • Discussion
  • Students answer questions after accessing the web site during class
• Discussion List
  • Notification of changes in syllabus
  • Reminder of up coming deadlines
  • Did not use as much for discussions outside of class
• Microsoft PowerPoint (or WordPerfect Presentation) slides
  • Posting the slides so students can access after class
• Legal Research Games (designed using HTML)

What Others are Doing

• Web Pathfinders rather than Print Pathfinders (teaching and using HTML skills)
• Student Presentations using PowerPoint or Presentation slides
• Course web pages using HTML rather than commercial products
• Videos as a starting point for discussion
• Starting each class with music - a theme song of the day
• Threaded discussions
  • Required participation (some faculty)
  • Require participation before class discussion on topic
• Online quizzes
  • Used to prepare students for class discussion on topic
• PowerPoint tutorials
• Paltalk - Used as online discussion tutorial
  • http://www.paltalk.com/
  • Students needed to have Internet access, speakers, and microphone to participate in the online classes
  • What is Paltalk? “PalTalk is the total internet communications solution that combines the best of instant messaging and internet telephony. PalTalk offers a wide range of features that allow users to communicate with each other anywhere in the world at any time - all for FREE. PalTalk enables free calls to anywhere in the world, with breakthrough sound quality. Even more, PalTalk enables live video calls, voice chat rooms, instant messaging and lots more. We are pleased to be launching Multivideo with PalTalk 4.0 that enables 4 simultaneous video images in a voice conference. PalTalk is a free service.
• Catchtheweb - used to design online tutorials
  • http://www.catchtheweb.com
• Web tutorials
  • Carole Levitt, Internet for Lawyers
    • http://www.netforlawyers.com/online_mcle.htm
  • FindLaw
    http://www.findlaw.com/
  • The Virtual Chase: Legal Research on the Internet
    • Genie Tyburski, Ballard Spahr Andrews & Ingersoll, LLP
    • http://www.virtualchase.com/
• Examsoft (Softest)- used for quizzes
  • http://www.examsoft.com

• JURIST - The Legal Education Network (web site)
  • http://www.jurist.law.pitt.edu/
• Perspectives: Teaching Legal Research and Writing (periodical)
  • http://www.westgroup.com/aboutus/newsletters/perspectives/

• http://www.cali.org
• Law Librarian Community Authoring project for legal research materials
• Fellows program
• CALI Author software
• Conference for Law School Computing (a.k.a. CALI conference)