Creating Online Tutorials: Five Lessons Learned

In the fall of 2005, two librarians, a legal research and writing program director, and an instructional technologist at Wayne State University received a grant to create online tutorials introducing novices to the basics of legal research. Tutorials were planned on subjects that the library and the legal research and writing program had traditionally covered jointly via library workshops, coordinated with classroom instruction for first-year law students. Since the mission of the law library is to support campus-wide activity and to assist members of the general public with legal research needs, the content of the tutorials was designed to serve multiple audiences.With a year to finish the tutorials in time for the next incoming class, the group began work toward the completion of seven tutorials on a shoestring budget of $4,000. Since the completion of the tutorials, librarians have asked us directly or made general calls for information looking for ideas about tools, costs, and the process of beginning similar projects. Our response to this question has not been to chronicle our journey but, rather, to share a few lessons we learned from the process

Before You Log-On: Incorporating the Free Web in Your Legal Research Strategy

In 2006, the American Bar Association (ABA) published its Legal Technology Survey Report, which included a volume on Online Research. In the report, attorneys responded that 91% are conducting at least some of their research online. Though 39% report that they start their research using a fee-based service like Westlaw or Lexis, the report shows that even those who start their research with a fee-based resource eventually get it right-87% of attorneys report using some free online resources at some point over the course of a research project

Voices of American Law: US Supreme Court Cases Meet the 21st Century

reviewing Voices of American Law documentary series(Thomas B. Metzloff & Sarah Wood producers

Chicago, It’s Time to Desert Food Deserts: Health Concerns and Policy Suggestions

As the effects of food deserts continue throughout Chicago, the opportunities for residents in particular neighborhoods to buy quality, affordable, diverse, and fresh food in close proximity to them dwindles. This paper contends that the distinct racial and socio-economic divides in Chicago neighborhoods create low food access and disproportionate food qualities between neighborhoods. Additionally, this trend is linked to health concerns, such as obesity and diabetes. Despite these clear correlations, Chicago’s government policies have failed to create effective change when it comes to these problems. Therefore, a multidimensional approach that promotes community involvement is needed to remedy food deserts and inequities in Chicago

A Frank & Honest Talk: AALL’s Diversity Symposium Takes on Hard Questions of Creating and Maintaining Diversity in the Legal Community

Getting a Rise Out of Diversity: Celebrating the Challenge took on hard questions of diversity, while keeping the spirit of New Orleans alive through celebration. With speakers who work to maintain diversity in legal practice and education every day, participants engaged in a lively discussion of what diversity actually is and how to create and sustain it

The Effects of a Tiered-Training Intervention on Teachers\u27 Use of Behavior Specific Praise During the Reading Instruction of Elementary Students with Emotional Disabilities

Despite longstanding acknowledgement regarding the effectiveness of behavior specific praise for students with emotional disabilities, there continues to be an underuse of this strategy with this population. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of a tiered training intervention on teachers\u27 use of behavior specific praise during the small group reading instruction of elementary students with emotional disabilities. A multiple baseline design was used across two groups of teacher and student participants as the means of investigating the effectiveness of the training model on teachers\u27 use of behavior specific praise and the associated student outcomes. Similar to previous studies, results indicated that a brief approach to teacher training may be effective in increasing teachers\u27 use of behavior specific for students with emotional disabilities during small group reading instruction. Future research is needed to explore increasing teachers\u27 maintenance of this strategy, the effect of behavior specific praise on the academic achievement of students with emotional disabilities, and the challenges of conducting research in an applied setting for students with emotional disabilities

Before You Log-On: Incorporating the Free Web in Your Legal Research Strategy

In 2006, the American Bar Association (ABA) published its Legal Technology Survey Report, which included a volume on Online Research. In the report, attorneys responded that 91% are conducting at least some of their research online. Though 39% report that they start their research using a fee-based service like Westlaw or Lexis, the report shows that even those who start their research with a fee-based resource eventually get it right-87% of attorneys report using some free online resources at some point over the course of a research project

Book Review: \u3ci\u3eFor the Common Good: Principles of American Academic Freedom\u3c/i\u3e, by Matthew W. Finkin and Robert C. Post

In For the Common Good: Principles of American Academic Freedom (2009), law professors Matthew W. Finkin (University of Illinois) and Robert C. Post (Yale) articulate basic principles of American academic freedom (p.6) as a means of grounding the ongoing debate over the concept. The authors succeed in providing an account that is both comprehensive and surprisingly concise. Though slow starting, their book aptly sets the scene for all who wish to participate in a continuing conversation about the state of academic freedom