Title          : Review of: Butterworths Electronic Tutorials - Business Law
Author         : Warren Baillie
Organisation   : Murdoch University School of Law
Keywords       : Business law; computorials; legal education
Abstract       : Review by a law student of "Butterworths' Electronic 
Tutorials - Business Law", a series of self-paced computer tutorials to 
assist students in their understanding of Australian business law
Citation       : E Law - Murdoch University Electronic Journal of Law,
               : Vol 3, No 2, (July 1996)
ISSN           : 1321-8247
Filename       : baillie.txt
Email Retrieval: message "get elaw-j baillie.txt"
Ftp location   : www.murdoch.edu.au/pub/elaw/issues/v3n2/
File size      : 4K
File type      : Document
File format    : ASCII
Contact        : elaw-editors@central.murdoch.edu.au
Copyright      : E Law and author; details on the web page

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Review of: "Butterworths' Electronic Tutorials - Business Law"

Review by Warren Baillie

Computer Tutorial by Alan Tyree, based on Business Law of Australia, 8th
Edition Workbook written by Anne Ardagh which is based on Business Law of
Australia, 8th Edition by R B Vermeesch & K E Lindgren.

  1. The Business Law tutorial covers a wide range of topics. There are 32
     tutorials on various topics including: The Courts; Contracts;
     Remedies; Property; Intellectual Property; Partnership; Companies;
     Securities; Banking and Finance; Restrictive Trade Practices;
     Insurance; and Bankruptcy. The tutorials allow students to revise
     basic principles and definitions and then apply these in short problem
     questions. Each tutorial explains the subjects that it covers and
     identifies exactly what a student should know before attempting that
     particular tutorial.

  2. The software is very easy to install and straightforward to use. The
     format is simple - each topic is a separate tutorial, comprised of a
     number of short questions. On starting the tutorial program you will
     be presented with a menu of tutorials to choose from. The choice of
     tutorial is made by simply "clicking" on the appropriate button. Each
     question is selected in a similar manner. The student submits a
     response to each question and then checks this against the solution.
     The solution consists of all the important points that the student
     should have considered, followed by a model answer. This enables the
     student to assess how well he/she has identified all the issues and
     answered the question. The student can mark his/her response against
     the solution and the program maintains a running progress score. The
     answers are quite clearly explained and include relevant case law. The
     solutions frequently refer to the Vermeesch and Lindgren text, on
     which the tutorials are based. As the questions and solutions are
     often quite brief, it is likely that further reference to Vermeesch
     and Lindgren would be necessary for a fuller understanding of the
     subject matter.

  3. As the Business Law tutorial covers so many topics, it would be useful
     to all students and it would be especially useful for those students
     using the Vermeesch and Lindgren text. It is an effective way to
     revise the basic principles of each topic and it is a good way to
     practice answering short problem questions. For a student commencing
     to study one of the topics, the tutorial may be useful as a guide to
     knowing what is covered in that topic.

  4. The main disadvantage of the tutorial is that it is difficult to
     maintain interest. The simple format, of short questions and
     solutions, makes no use of graphics or interesting problem scenarios.
     Typing in responses can be annoying and there is the strong temptation
     to look forward to the solution without actually entering an answer of
     your own.

  5. Although some may find the tutorial a little tedious, it is worthwhile
     as a tool for revision and for testing your knowledge and
     understanding of the various topics.