1. Using an Online Forum or Blog to Incorporate Real World Issues into a Business Law Course Kabrina Krebel Chang, JD Assistant Professor School of Management CEIT 2011

2. My Classes Introduction to Business Law, approx. 55 students, requirement for all SMG graduates, the majority are sophomores. Employment Law, approx. 60 students, elective, the majority are seniors. Both are traditional lecture/discussion format, using cases to illustrate legal theories.

3. Current Events in Class Brings real world business and legal issues into our class discussions. Start of class discussion Current Event Paper

4. How a Blog Fits Into my Class Compliments both components of class fosters discussion of theories and cases from class involves a very current real-world issues faced by a business, the government or an individual. “I like that the forum tool is a way of bridging class related material to current events.”

5. How a Blog Fits Into My Class Included in students’ class participation grade: 15% Optional “It's a nice option to have but unless its mandatory I'm not sure how effective it will be.”

6. Benefits for Students Can be beneficial to any level student “I like the idea that students get to state their ideas fully and it offers the opportunity to come up with one's own ideas without influence from anyone else, which often happens in the classroom setting” Real businesses facing real legal issues

7. More Benefits for Students Alternative to in-class participation “Its a good opportunity for those who don't speak in class to contribute thoughtful responses.” “The Forum tool creates an environment where students don't feel pressured. Especially when students aren't tuned to rebut arguments quickly, the forum allows those participating to put together their thoughts and research evidence.”

8. But Wait, There’s More Can participate in their pj’s. “In class, I don't always think or react quickly enough to make an insightful comment. With the forum tool, I can gather my resources, organize my thoughts, and post well thought out comments” “It offers more time to think of a well thought out statement or argument than the same question would in class.”

9. Still More Benefits for Students Helps students think about Current Event paper topics and analysis “reading comments got me thinking, expanding my own thoughts and gave me a map to choose from and I could go in my own direction” Jane Access and exposure to articles they would not ordinarily seek out without increasing workload. Professional and Courteous

10. Benefits for Faculty Helps the brainwashing Reduced barriers to entry Easy to keep track Great learning experience

11. How it Works: Easy

12. Attach and Save

13. Add your Directions for Students

14. Give students permissions for their posts and Save Settings

15. Start the Conversation

16. LA 245 Posts

17. Discussion Board Main Screen

18. Weather Forum Screen

19. Snow Thread

20. Attached picture of snow scene

21. Work in Progress Needs more input by me More frequent posts Thank you Bill Dupee