http://bestpracticeslegaled.albanylawblogs.org/2008/11/21/practicing-lawyers-in-the-classroom-special-bonus-edition-free-passion/ A Vision and a Road Map Thu, 02 Feb 2012 15:22:48 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ http://bestpracticeslegaled.albanylawblogs.org/2008/11/21/practicing-lawyers-in-the-classroom-special-bonus-edition-free-passion/#comment-617 Thu, 04 Dec 2008 14:56:39 +0000 http://bestpracticeslegaled.wordpress.com/?p=593#comment-617 Professor Bliss’ post about the importance of passion as a teaching tool should not be underestimated. Not only does it help graduates nurture their quality of life, and provide ethical, competent, models for students, I think it also provides students with much needed BRAIN FOOD. What do I mean? Carnegie outlined for us the change in thinking about knowledge acquisition. Scientists have rejected the 19th century understanding of the brain which undergirds the Langdellian approach to law teaching. Instead, for adult learners, motivation and context are much more important in turning information into knowledge than previously thought. Professor Bliss’s guest lecturer provided both to students – motivation for continuing to study and work your hardest to be a model professional and “context” for why what your studying is important. I posit that her students probably went into their next class better able to absorb information and turn it into knowledge. This does not mean that any satisfied practicing lawyer will do. Not every competent lawyer is meant to be a teacher. Sometimes the most knowledgeable lawyer in a field provides more EEYORE like characteristics than TIGGER enthusiasm, As teachers, it is our job to devise the best platforms and formats for using practicing lawyers in a way which provides the motivation, context and models that our students deserve.

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