Dr Clare Jones Senior Law Lecturer at the Open University writes about the benefits of using virtual worlds in education.
Online learning is the future of education, (Designing digitally, 2020). Here at the Open University this is what we have been doing since our inception in 1969, but technology is allowing us to design more and more immersive educational spaces. Academics and industry alike are striving to create the best possible online learning environment for our students.
The disruption caused by Covid-19 has had far reaching impacts and required all of us to adapt to life’s challenges under lockdown. University law clinics are no exception and law academics and clinic supervisors have had to act fast and think creatively to keep their clinical programmes running.
Ellie Lewns is currently studying her A-levels at Parkstone Grammar Sixth Form. “I am planning to go on to university next year to study Law and hope to eventually become a practising solicitor. I engaged in the OpenLearn course on ‘Pro Bono Work and Social Justice’ to further my knowledge in this area of law, as I particularly enjoy looking at charitable work and the reasons we often feel such a need to provide this help to those unable to access it independently.
Pip Allen is currently a second year Law and Sociology student at the University of Warwick. Pip was inspired to write this blog post after completing the Pro Bono and Social Justice online course, which has tied neatly in with her current work in an Exceptional Case Funding Clinic. Pip hopes to continue this line of work and in the future, go on to pursue a career in social welfare based areas of law.
In this guest post, law student Vera Potts reflects on her work as a Witness Service volunteer.
As a Witness Service Volunteer both prosecution and defence witnesses are supported at the criminal court through the process of giving evidence. Previously it included pre-trial visits to the courts for vulnerable intimated witnesses, however from April 2019, funding for pre-trial witnesses were devolved from the Ministry of Justice to the office of the mayor of London Sadiq Khan.
In this latest blog post 'Digital Justice' student Heather Gordon looks at the role technology plays in domestic abuse issues.
Domestic abuse cases have soared during the Covid 19 crisis, with many victims increasingly isolated and perpetrators exploiting lockdown rules [1]. Present difficulties in securing access to traditional avenues of support and legal relief, mean the Government must consider alternative methods and procedural changes to best safeguard and protect those affected by domestic abuse.