2023
UNIQUE CODE: 814524
, QUESTION 1
Read Study Unit 1 in your Study Guide and answer the following questions:
1.1 Discuss the relevance of "learning by doing", especially for law students. (4)
A skill is acquired when a student learns through experience. This learning style is often
regarded as “learning by doing”, rather than merely listening to others or simply reading
In studying cases, students must identify and evaluate the best option(s) in the
circumstances of the case, as well as predict the outcome of the application of such
option(s). Students develop a sense of how legal arguments lead to an acceptable solution
to the problem at hand and how to defend certain ideas and choices.
This method, described as "learning-by-doing", facilitates students to "think like lawyers",
appreciating the lawyer's role in a dialogue-based setting and learning to understand the
law. In applying this method, research is required in sourcing adequate information towards
problem solving. These student assignments generally involve collaboration, time
management, communication, and writing skills. As is indicated later, these are some of the
skills that practising lawyers are looking for in the context of client representation. This
method may serve as an attempt to bridge the gap between theory and practice.
In this kind of approach to learning, a student is expected to be active and interact with
others in the relevant environment. The approach promotes self-awareness and expression
with relevance and meaning. These aspects contribute a great deal to the learners’
knowledge of the real world in which he/she lives.
Therefore, "learning-by-doing" encourages active participation by the students, thus
removing the notion of inferiority and self-doubt by students vis-ä-vis their lecturers.
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