Law School Classroom Technology Improvements to Support Modern, Cross-disciplinary Teaching Methodologies
School of Law
Requested:
$75,244
Status:
Accepted
Awarded:
$80,244
Abstract
Online learning tools have been around for many years so, when the University of Washington was forced to pivot to all online instruction in 2020 early in the COVID-19 pandemic, there were many resources to draw on. However, as we started coming back into classrooms, and as instruction continues in the post-pandemic world, we have seen an increasing need for teaching tools that allow instructors to work with in-person and remote student audiences simultaneously, also known as "HyFlex" instruction. HyFlex instruction is much more complex than basic online learning, and resources on how to do it well are harder to come by. HyFlex instruction has two main components: fundamental shifts in pedagogy to enable the delivery of content to in-person and online audiences in a simultaneous, synchronous, equivalent manner, and the technology needed to support those shifts. We plan to upgrade a Law School classroom with the necessary technology -- which is beyond that in a standard UW classroom -- so that instructors can work with students to experiment and learn effective HyFlex pedagogical techniques using that technology. This will help us address multiple goals: Keep instructors and students safe by supporting the ability to stay home when potentially sick without losing out on the classroom experience Make legal instruction more equitable and inclusive Explore ways to deliver basic legal research skills to under-served, non-Law student populations Meet changing American Bar Association rules around what counts as "in-person" attendance for the purposes of meeting ABA instructional requirements
Access
Most use will be established as part of standard course scheduling. Ad hoc use can be requested through the Law School room reservation system or by contacting the Law School Registrar's Office.