8 ways e-learning can help law students

E-learning has removed the geographic barrier of education. People from any parts of the world can learn with the help of a computer. They no longer need to go to the classrooms for learning. E-learning has proved to be an effective tool in many fields, including the legal industry. The law students are now reaping the benefits of e-learning.  Many law schools are incorporating e-learning as part of their academic agenda.

Chris Stoy of the Fort Worth personal injury law firm Hutchison & Stoy does speaking events at universities around Texas and goes over e-learning. His typical speech goes over the following 8 areas that e-learning can help with law students:

1. Helps to learn outside of classroom

The computer-assisted exercises help students to learn even outside the classroom. This helps them in preparing for the exam. They can learn things in a classroom setting when they are not in class.

2. Create discussion groups

Discussion group is an important part of e-learning. Discussion groups can be created so that students can collaborate to complete their assignments. They won’t need to sit in the library for long hours for discussion. They can join the group from their homes.

3. Offers flexibility

You can get access to the computer-assisted exercises anytime. So, you can learn at your own convenient time, instead of a fixed class time. You can also learn at your own pace. If you don’t understand a lecture, you can go back to that lecture and start the exercises once you are ready.

4. Get online support

You can get help from your professors and peers online. This is much easier than waiting in your professor’s office. You can get online support any time of the day.

5. It saves time

Getting good grades in law school is not easy. You will have to study a lot. The bar exam also requires extensive preparation. Through e-learning, you can save your commuting time and spend more time studying.

6. It’s easy to track your progress

E-learning helps you to keep track of your progress. You can know which lectures you have completed, how you performed on your practice exams, what are your assignment deadlines, schedule of your exam, etc is.

7. A great learning experience

E-learning uses various interactive tools to make your learning experience better. It uses images, videos, newspaper clippings, graphs, etc. for teaching. There are forum and chat options that allow students to interact with each other and make it a better learning experience.

8. It’s cheap

It is cheaper than taking a traditional class. You don’t need a classroom space, desks, chairs, boards, etc. So, the course fee is usually cheaper in the case of e-learning.

E-learning is a big industry today. It is a very convenient option for a student to learn independently of their location. They can learn using different teaching techniques and it improves skill retention in students as they can learn at their own pace. You should consider e-learning as part of your law course and get good grades in your exams.

 

5 tips on how to create the best online courses for special needs students

Many students with learning disabilities or physical impairments want to do online courses. This can be quite difficult if there are no courses that consider their special needs. It is not possible for these students to do any course. Here are five tips on how to create courses for them:

1. Groups of online learners with the same needs

Create courses with a specific disability or impairment in mind.

You can create one for learning disabilities, one for students who have hearing problems and one with visual problems. There may be many more to think of.
Try to group students with the same needs together.

2. Special attention to how the material is presented

If you write an online course, you cannot use audio clips for hearing impaired students.

You will have to use text to make it accessible for them.

Students with visual impairments may need only audio clips.

3. Learners have to be able to follow their own pace

Some students want to read the same text repeatedly in order to understand it. Others may want to do the activities again.

Make sure that the material will still be available for them to go back to it.

4. Activities should cater for different needs

The specific activities you have in your course should cater for different students. Not all students may be able to go outside to do certain activities. You will have to be very creative to make all activities possible for all students.

5. Avoid difficult vocabulary

It is important that the vocabulary you use is understandable for all students. Use short and clear sentences with short words. Students with reading difficulties will appreciate clear and concise sentences.

You do not need to shy away from writing courses for these students. Just imagine how they need to cope with certain information and you will be able to adapt the courses for them. A little extra attention to details will make these courses accessible to them.

5 important benefits of getting your studies done in a virtual classroom

A virtual classroom is where you have several students from all over the world receiving and sharing their study material online. It means that they can interact as if they are in the same classroom together. Studying in a virtual classroom has the following important benefits:

1. Low cost/affordable

The student only needs to have a computer, tablet or smartphone to start studying. Internet is important.

You do not need to have any fancy clothes or a car. You study in the privacy of your own home and can have your own office or corner to study.

2. Environmentally friendly

Studying online is the way to go if you want to go green. There is no travelling and no fuel gasses from more cars on the road, which means that it is safer for the environment.

You limit the use extra paper and save a few trees.

There are no buildings to maintain and clean with harmful detergents.

3. Can access an expert in another place/country

If you are living in a third world country with little possibility of having an expert as a teacher, you will get it online.

4. Getting to know other cultures

With online studying, you can make friends from different cultures. It will open the world to you and put you directly in contact with other people with the same interests. You get new job opportunities in this way.

5. Large groups of students at once

There is no limits to how many students there are in the class. No problems with logistics and parking. There are also no complicated class schedules, making it much easier to accommodate every student.

Virtual classrooms are not just good for putting the student in contact with other students and experts. It saves money and is good for the environment. There is no extra logistical problems of where to stay and how to get there. It is surely the way to go in the future.

7 ways to ensure your e-learning deliver good results

You think it is easy to do your studies through e-learning. However, when you receive the study material you suddenly feel overwhelmed. Will you be dedicated enough to finish on time? All of these questions are unnecessary if you following a few golden rules. Here are some ways in which you can be successful:

1. Be committed


It is important that you commit yourself to the process.

Know that is will take some hard work.

Keep in mind why you want to do this course and remind yourself about it every now and then.

Realise that there will be no teacher to motivate you as an individual.

2. Have reliable internet


Having reliable internet is of utmost importance.

Make sure that you get this right before you even consider taking up the course.

Frustration regarding a slow or bad connection will be destructive for your studies.

3. Set goals and keep to it


You have to set daily, weekly and monthly goals.

Goals give you direction and keep you on track.

You will feel satisfied when you can tick off goals as you reach them and this will motivate you even more.

4. Have a quiet study place


It is very difficult to study in an area where other people talk, the television is on and pets are everywhere.

Find yourself a quiet study corner where you can focus.

Natural light, clean fresh air and a neat area will boost your learning.

5. Ask for help when needed


No one will know if you are struggling with certain areas of the course. You need to be assertive and ask for help.

Asking does not make you inferior, but shows that you are eager to get this course done.

6. Take breaks


Take breaks and walk outside, eat and focus on something different.

7. Stay motivated


Stay aware of how you feel. If you start to feel pressured or frustrated, make a plan to make it easier for you.

If you follow these guidelines, you will make a success of the course. It will take some effort but soon you will reap the results.