Presenting a New Instructional Tool for Teaching Law-Related Courses: A Contract Activity Package for Motivated and Independent Learners

Abstract

Robin Boyle and Karen Russo conducted an empirical study in legal research and writing classes at St. John's University School of Law by assessing the law students of the class. They provided a Contract Activity Package (CAP) for motivated and independent learners. Rose Lefkowitz conducted a similar study in a health law class at Downstate Medical Center. (Both schools are in the New York metropolitan area.) The CAP allows students to work at their own pace and reaches a variety of learning styles within a class. The findings for both studies were that students' knowledge increased significantly when using the CAP; whereas, students' knowledge increased only modestly when using traditional teaching methods.