DIGITAL LIBRARY
THE INCIDENCE OF OPEN LEARNING MATERIALS IN LEGAL EDUCATION AND ITS IMPACT ON THE EUROPEAN HIGHER EDUCATION AREA
1 Jaume I University (SPAIN)
2 Open University of Catalonia (SPAIN)
About this paper:
Appears in: INTED2011 Proceedings
Publication year: 2011
Pages: 333-337
ISBN: 978-84-614-7423-3
ISSN: 2340-1079
Conference name: 5th International Technology, Education and Development Conference
Dates: 7-9 March, 2011
Location: Valencia, Spain
Abstract:
The teaching materials are an essential tool for both students and faculty. However, at present the manuals, which are the best way to facilitate learning and teaching for teachers, are not fully adapted to the requirements of the degree (although, increasingly, teachers are more aware of the situation and they are adapting the manuals for the new educational process). On the other hand, Law is not a "universal" branch such as Mathematics, Biology or Physics, so that every state has some distinct features. Merely as illustrative data, we must say that there are two major systems: the Civil Law and Common Law, and even in countries that have the same system, between them there are significant differences. To this must be added that in many Spanish universities do not study Comparative law and is essential to gain a solid legal basis.

We consider that due to the nature and meaning of the European Higher Education Area, such as globalization and the free movement of students between countries, is essential that students possess a minimum knowledge of Comparative Law, and hence the importance of fostering a university society based on free knowledge, where teachers of all States openly publish teaching materials used in their courses, while respecting the legal requirements. This materials carries benefits not only for the students, since they will possess a major knowledge and a major juridical base; but also for the professorship since it will allow the elaboration an development of a more complete and suitable materials for the complete training of the student of Law. While it is true that such material does not imply a direct relationship with the University or the professor who made these materials, it is true that there are support materials suitable for the formation of the future lawyer.

The aim of this paper is, therefore, to determine what are the benefits and drawbacks, and the obstacles they can find free legal materials, and to propose solutions to these obstacles, to make free knowledge society in a solid reality.
Keywords:
European Higher Education Area, Open Learning Materials.