University News Last updated 06 February 2012
The School of Law at Birmingham City University has invested £18,000 in a new state-of-the-art eLearning Resource Centre.
The centre was officially opened by Professor Fiona Church, Executive Dean, Faculty of Education, Law and Social Sciences at a ceremony where students and staff were able to come and try out the new equipment, which includes laptops, flip cameras, voice recorders, headsets, webcams, a digital video recorder and a state-of-the-art Smartboard and electronic notepad.
With features such as Skype Group Video Calling, the school will be able to keep in touch with students carrying out internships in the USA, allowing tutors to provide effective support while the students are abroad.
Students will be able book the room at their leisure to record video blogs, practice and film advocacy skills or produce presentations for use in seminars. All of the material created can be uploaded onto e-portfolio and networking software, Mahara as evidence of reflective practice.
Staff will also have access to the room to hold seminars as well as develop their own high quality lecture material and associated resources, which is designed to supplement what students have learnt in class.
Sarah King, Learning, Teaching and Assessments Advisor who was responsible for developing the new centre said: “The eLearning Centre will provide a perfect environment for both staff and students to develop eLearning resources that will give added value to the learning experience within the School of Law.”
The School of Law has already been recognised for its commitment to the development of on-line learning when it was nominated for three awards for its Virtual Solicitors Office at the prestigious eLearning Awards in 2011.