The quarterly publication of the International Legal Technology Association
Issue link: https://epubs.iltanet.org/i/163881
They are often individuals with very little time for learning during standard working hours, and they rarely have the availability to dedicate more than a few minutes at a time for technology learning. It is important to note that Legal MOOCs are not intended for support staff technology training. Although some elements of this training method can be repurposed for use with support staff, the degree to which they are self-directed learners combined with a firm's culture usually requires a different training approach. The delivery of content can start with basic components and be scaled as needed. A simple Legal MOOC can be assembled with an intranet site, instant messaging, email and e-learning authoring software (to create content). Depending on the complexity and scope of the training, tools such as a learning management system (LMS), screen-sharing software, discussion boards, videoconferencing, third-party communication tools (e.g., Yammer) and others can be integrated. MOOC content, as well as each firm's individual culture, will determine the levels of interactivity and peergenerated learning desirable — and whether elements of gamification and social-interactive learning (attorneys working on learning projects together) are acceptable. Use Case: New Associate Training To get a better understanding of how a Legal MOOC might work, let's run through a possible implementation involving new associates. • Since these are new employees, it is worth spending a little time in the beginning of the course for an in-person orientation. New associates are gathered for a 15 to 20-minute presentation on how the Legal MOOC works and to meet the instructors who will be supporting them should they need assistance. This is the first and only prescheduled class in this course. Had this been a Legal MOOC that addressed a new firmwide software initiative or system upgrade, the training would not have begun with a face-to-face meeting. Instead, an orientation video — one that attorneys could bypass if they had previously gone through the Legal MOOC process — would have been offered. • Attorneys log in to the Legal MOOC intranet site when they have the time for knowledge acquisition. On their first visit, they are presented with a welcome message and a very short list of mass market applications (Word, Outlook, Internet Explorer, etc.) that the firm expects they already know how to use. If an attorney feels he needs instruction on any of these programs, he submits an online checklist. Any attorney requesting help can then be redirected to an online form that gathers details on the instruction needed or receive an instructional prescreening from a trainer. Training in the requested subjects can then take place via the method that makes the most sense. Most important, attorneys are not receiving unwanted or unneeded instruction. • At the Legal MOOC home screen, attorneys are presented with a dashboard that displays available educational topics. Lessons can be taken in any order and are presented in units roughly 10 minutes long. Attorneys can opt-out of any lesson they feel isn't needed. 8 ATTRIBUTES OF THE LEGAL MOOC A Legal MOOC would include the following attributes: 1.Require little to no prescheduled in-person classroom training 2.Restrict content to proprietary or legal-specific topics (applications/ macros created in-house, technological legal processes, vendorcreated legal or business workflow applications, etc.) 3.Address knowledge gaps in massmarket applications (Microsoft Word, Outlook, etc.) via feedback loops generated by attorneys 4.Provide the ability for attorneys to pick and choose study topics as needed, in any order 5.Transfer knowledge effectively in increments of 10 minutes or less with video portions limited to seven minutes or less (ideally three minutes or less) 6.Deliver optional practice exercises or online guided experiences with the student determining when concepts are mastered 7.Provide training assistance upon attorney request only, and assistance can be multitiered (online, one-onone, classroom, etc.) 8.Access all training content and online real-time training via mobile devices Peer to Peer 15