Presentation at the HEA-funded workshop 'A new approach to problem based learning in law: turning pedagogy upside down '. This workshop aimed to promote sharing of good practice across institutions by enabling delegates to visualise the innovation learning space, ‘SCALE UP’ (Student-Centred Active Learning Environment with Upside-down Pedagogies), by visiting it and taking part in a law workshop. The workshop also aimed to contribute to the knowledge exchange of innovative learning practices in the context of simulation, experiential learning and problem based learning, and actively use information technology to solve factual problems in a legal setting to embrace student behaviours in an educational setting. This presentation is part of a related blog post that provides an overview of the event: http://bit.ly/NdOcrh For further details of the HEA's work on active and experiential learning in the Social Sciences, please see: http://bit.ly/17NwgKX

1. Nottingham Law School
Centre for Legal Education
“A new approach to problem based learning in law; turning
pedagogy upside down”
Professor Becky Huxley-Binns
Jo Boylan-Kemp
Pamela Henderson

2. Welcome, and housekeeping
Becky Huxley-Binns
Twitter
#pbllaw
#scaleup
#CLE2014

3. Programme
Tuesday 25th
February 2014
9.00 – 9.30
9.30 – 9.50
Coffee and registration (from 9 am)
Flipped and problem-based learning,
upside down. An introduction to
SCALE UP
Chaucer Building
LT3 – Court Room, level 1
9.50 - 10.00
Entering Lexport... Boots Library
327a – level 3
10.00 – 12.00
Problem based learning workshops Boots Library
327a – level 3
12.00 – 1.00
1.00 – 2.00
Working lunch
Informal discussions
DICE building
DIC – 015 - CR
2.00 – 3.30
NLS; our experiences after one
term.
Boots Library
328 – level 3
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4. What is upside down?
• SCALE-UP is an institutional, multi-disciplinary project. The
approach is an enquiry-based learning style from the USA shown to
improve students' conceptual understanding, problem-solving,
achievement, attendance and satisfaction.
• Learning at NTU takes place in two flexible spaces, one at City site
and one at Clifton campus, which are technology-rich and furnished
with bespoke circular tables to support team working. Each group of
three students is provided with a laptop to share, and the rooms
have Apple TV and multiple screens allowing students to project and
view each other's work.
• In the law school, we have merged SCALE-UP with flipped and
problem based learning in two half year second year modules
(Criminal law and trusts) and built a town to house them –
Lexport.
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5. The student perspective
• NTU: How is SCALE-UP different to a normal lesson?
• Pooja: "It engages you and makes you think for yourself, as
opposed to being spoken at in a lecture. It also allows you to think
about how to use your knowledge in real life situations.”
• "You're constantly learning and processing information because you
watch the videos and read the guidance texts before the lesson and
then you put it into practice in the lesson. When you go into a
lecture you can sit and listen for an hour, but it doesn't always sink
in."
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6. • NTU: What do you like most about SCALE-UP?
• Pooja: "I think what I like most is that it encourages debate and
discussion, which are vital key skills not only to Law, but to
everyday life. It teaches you to forward think and makes you
engage more. You also develop independent learning and time
management."
• "I also like the feedback and encouragement I have received during
SCALE-UP sessions."
• NTU: Would you rather practice SCALE-UP, or go back to
traditional methods of learning?
• Pooja: "I much prefer SCALE-UP! I feel like I'm using my brain a lot
more and I'm understanding a lot more, whereas if you go to a
lecture, sometimes when you read your notes afterwards they don't
make sense."
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7. • NTU: Finally, do you have a message to other students about
SCALE-UP?
• Pooja: "Try SCALE-UP if there is the opportunity to do it!”
• "It can be a bit more challenging but you reap greater benefits. I
think you are a lot more confident in yourself when you are doing
your work the SCALE-UP way."
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11. The academics’ perspectives
• Different approaches (Crime and Trusts) in the same place (Lexport)
• Flipping early
• Vodcast and lecture nuggets (light and sound) quality
• Moving to YouTube
• Happy to let go of the control
• Less teaching, more learning 
• Learning is more relaxed, comfortable, energetic, cooperative
(tutors) and collaborative (peers)
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12. Trusts
No %
Crime
No %
Land
(non
SCUP)
No %
1st
4 22 4 21 1 6
2:1 11 61 12 63 2 12
2:2 3 17 2 11 7 41
3 0 0 1 5 6 35
F 0 0 0 0 1 6
Total 18 100 19 100 17 100
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13. What's next?
• Training in the tech needed
• Build in students’ BYOD
• Expand Lexport to the LPC
– Build a physical representation
• Re-record the vodcasts
• Use last year’s assessments
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