Welcome to A-Level Law Course Leader for Law: Duncan Bunce

Two Truths Each person write down on your post-it-note two facts and one untrue statement about themselves. Each person then reads them out to the group. The group has to try and identify which facts are true and which is the outlandish fib. © Duncan Bunce

Induction Objectives By the end of Induction you will… Begin to know more about each other. Know what you should have with you each lesson and how to access course materials. Understand student expectations. Begin to explore important skills as A-Level Law students. Understand processes for preparing for class, homework and academic support. © Duncan Bunce

All of you should have with you the core textbook ready to begin the course… © Duncan Bunce

Your teacher is now going to give you… Green subject folder Blue exercise book for notes Red notebook for topic reflection (during a lesson if there is something you don’t understand, write a note about it in this notebook. Your teacher will collect it in at the end of each week) Bring these with you every lesson. © Duncan Bunce

Staff Contact Details Teacher: Duncan Bunce Office: TRB03 (upstairs in this building) Email: dbunce@strodes.ac.uk If you have any concerns or queries, please contact your teacher who will help to resolve them. © Duncan Bunce

Accessing Moodle (VLE) © Duncan Bunce

Google Classroom You will need to join the classroom to access the latest information from your teacher and notices about work and events. © Duncan Bunce

A-Level Law Review (Online) Use this to access further reading about key topics with articles written by examiners. © Duncan Bunce

Activity What does the word ‘sabotage’ mean? Your teacher will collect in your comments and write up a ‘contract’ for the class. What is a contract? If anyone breaks a contract, what should the consequence be? In pairs, write down all the behaviours in which learning could be ‘sabotaged’ by members of the class. Share your list with the rest of the group. Agree on three behaviours that rank top three. © Duncan Bunce

Let’s focus on one skill every Law student will need…active listening! © Duncan Bunce

Active Listening (Round 1/4) The class decide on a topic that everyone can talk about. Working in pairs, decide who will be A and B. As and Bs to speak to each other at the same time, without hesitation or stopping for two minutes. © Duncan Bunce

Active Listening (Round 2/4) As speak for one minute, while Bs turn to stone and can’t respond in any way. Before Bs begin, get comfortable and look at a point behind your partner. Teacher will instruct you when time is over to swap roles. © Duncan Bunce

Active Listening (Round 3/4) The class decide on a different topic that everyone can talk about. As now have to speak for one minute, while Bs use subtle behaviours to show that they are not paying attention (e.g. yawn, glance at watch). You can even interrupt them. Teacher will instruct you when time is over to swap roles. © Duncan Bunce

Feedback Based on what we’ve just done, what are the characteristics of quality listening? What do good listeners do? © Duncan Bunce

Active Listening (Round 4/4) New topic – what I’d like to do with my life. A begins and B must listen showing interest. When A has finished, B must sum up what the other person said without making notes. Teacher will instruct you when time is over to swap roles. © Duncan Bunce

How do I prepare for lessons? Each week part of your homework will be to read and make notes from your textbook in preparation for class. You can also refer to and watch a mini-lecture video on the topic from Moodle to reinforce your learning. Your notes must be completed in your blue exercise book and will be checked by your teacher at the start of the lesson. © Duncan Bunce

Answering questions in class… You may know the answer to a topic question but I have a no hands policy in the classroom. When asking a topic question, your teacher will direct it to a particular student. This is to make sure that everybody gets the opportunity to participate and your teacher can assess individual learning.

Law is fun but will be challenging… Try the 4Bs strategy… Brain Stop and think. What knowledge do YOU have to solve the problem. Book Where could you find more information that would help you solve the problem? Buddy Could you solve the problem by working together with a friend on your table? Boss Be prepared to tell your teacher what YOU have done to solve the problem yourself

There are homework tasks you ‘must do’ and tasks you ‘could do’. Homework is weekly and can be found on Moodle under the relevant topic. There are homework tasks you ‘must do’ and tasks you ‘could do’. If you want to fulfil your potential on this course you should complete at least one ‘could do’ activity. This will also raise your effort rating on your ILP. © Duncan Bunce

What I look like if you haven’t completed the class preparation or homework… © Duncan Bunce

Every week… At the end of each topic there will be a quiz (marks recorded by teacher) and exam questions undertaken in timed conditions © Duncan Bunce

A-LEVEL LAW Student Expectations Always give 100% effort in and outside of class. Attend every lesson – if you are absent, follow College procedure and also email your teacher to catch up on work missed. Be punctual and arrive to lesson on time. Come to class prepared to learn and with the materials you need to enable you to do this. Keep an organised subject folder with dividers and bring it with you to every lesson. Complete your weekly homework on time and undertake at least one of the ‘Could Do’ stretch and challenge tasks. If you have questions or are finding a topic challenging speak to your teacher Spend at least five hours a week independent study on Law – this includes homework, reviewing your notes etc. Be prepared to make mistakes as that’s part of learning – learn from them. Have a positive growth mindset approach – you are going to be a success! © Duncan Bunce

A-LEVEL LAW How should I spend my independent study time (min A-LEVEL LAW How should I spend my independent study time (min. 5hrs p/w)? Complete at least one ‘Could Do’ stretch and challenge homework task Watch a mini-lecture topic video on Moodle Find a law story in the news (online or read a quality newspaper) Review and re-write your notes from class (e.g. Cornell method, a mind-map, a diagram) Listen to a ‘Law in Action’ podcast on Moodle Complete your homework to the best of your ability Plan/write an answer to a past exam question from Moodle under ‘Exam Material’ Tab Access the Hodder Education link on Moodle and read an article from A-Level Law Review Magazine Complete a multiple choice topic quiz on Moodle Read an official full case transcript on Moodle © Duncan Bunce

Activity… How you use your time outside of lessons, particularly during the College day, is crucial to your success. Complete the blank timetable your teacher will give you so that you can identify when you will use available time for pre-class preparation work. © Duncan Bunce

Important… In the rare event you miss a lesson, follow College procedure and also email your teacher out of courtesy to inform them and catch up on missed work. If you are late to lesson or miss a lesson, you will have to attend a compulsory Law Lesson catch-up session on Wednesdays at 2.30pm (if involved with sport, this will be after College on another day). © Duncan Bunce

Is this an option for re-offenders? Important… Mobile phones should not be out in class unless your teacher allows you to use it (e.g. to look something up online or a quiz). Mobile phones should be on silent/turned off and put away in your pocket or bag. If you choose not to do this, your phone will be confiscated until the end of the lesson. Is this an option for re-offenders? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lBUJcD6Ws6s © Duncan Bunce

Academic Support I.e. Not submitting homework, not coming to class prepared, persistent lateness etc. Stage A1 – Follows a discussion and learner note and is the first official record of concerns. If targets not met… Stage A2 – A HoD or PT will issue it, with a formal discussion between member of staff, HoD and student. If targets not met… Stage A3 – A TTL will issue it and a meeting with the student and parents/carers will take place. This stays on your record into the 2nd year. If targets not met… Stage A4 – Directors and TTL issue it. Failure to meet targets leads to a recommendation that you are withdrawn from the course/College. © Duncan Bunce

Growth Mindset How you approach your studies is just as important… Video One: Growing your mind by Khan Academy (3:04) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WtKJrB5rOKs&vl=en How do people become more intelligent? How does the diagram of the neurons “At birth vs. At age 6” demonstrate this? What about the second diagram of the nerves of the animal living in a cage vs. an animal living with other animals and toys? How are our brains like muscles? When do our brains grow the most? © Duncan Bunce Taken from www.mindsetkit.org

Growth Mindset How you approach your studies is just as important… Video Two: Neuroplasticity by Sentis (3:04) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELpfYCZa87g What is neuroplasticity? How does neuroplasticity work? How can you “rewire” your brain? © Duncan Bunce Taken from www.mindsetkit.org

Activity How you approach your studies is just as important… A time when I had to overcome a struggle in learning and learned to solve a problem was… In your groups, discuss a time where you made your brains smarter by working harder, overcoming a challenge etc. © Duncan Bunce Taken from www.mindsetkit.org

Activity How you approach your studies is just as important… Each of you write a letter to a ‘future student’. Tell them about your struggle, what you learned from it and any advice you could give to the student. It should be at least five sentences in length and you can be as creative as you like. Place it in the envelope. Your teacher will collect it in at the end. © Duncan Bunce Taken from www.mindsetkit.org

Those who had devoted at least 10,000 hours effort/practice; Effort brings success! Anders K Ericsson, Professor of Psychology at Florida State University found that ‘world class’ experts could be calculated as: Those who had devoted at least 10,000 hours effort/practice; To be considered ‘good’ on a world class stage, required at least 8,000 hours. For example, the famous composer Mozart could play the piano at age 6 and composed his first piano concerto at age 11. However, his father Leopold was an accomplished composer, musician and performer across Europe. He coached young Mozart at age 3 on a daily basis for a few hours a week. © Duncan Bunce

Let’s focus on another skill every Law student will need…note-taking! © Duncan Bunce

Cornell note-taking system This is arguably the most important independent study skill you will learn – certainly you will use it a lot! But how can you do it effectively? What method suits you best? Cornell note-taking system Outlining method The charting method The mapping method The sentence method © Duncan Bunce

Activity In silence/no talking Begin reading Chapter 1 – ‘The Nature of Law’ from your textbook. You should use two highlighter pens to aid you… For the first five pages adopt a different note-taking method for each so that you have tried all of them at least once. Once done, choose the one you prefer and finish the chapter. = a fact or key term = supporting evidence © Duncan Bunce

An important point about law cases… You will come across a number of law cases during your two years on the course. These are important as they support the points you are going to make and mean more marks! No – but for the topic judicial precedent you will need to recall which case comes first for the Practice Statement (more later…). Will you need to remember the year of the case? Refer to the facts of the case when it helps illustrate your point (more later…) When should you refer to the facts of a case in your written answer?

By the end of the year I will have achieved… Final activity… By the end of the year I will have achieved… (write it on your post-it-note) © Duncan Bunce

Activity Treasure Hunt Working in small groups, each group has 45 minutes to find the following items/pieces of information on their worksheet around the College. The first group to succeed will win a small chocolate prize. Be respectful around the College © Duncan Bunce