Bringing Land Law to Life: Lessons From the Development and Deployment of an Immersive “Virtual Town” in the Teaching of Land Law

Abstract

This chapter sets out to explore the use of a virtual town in the teaching of Land Law. This 3D model of a small town was used to help illustrate legal issues, problems, and concepts in a highly visual manner. By employing 3D visualisation in the teaching of Land Law it ensures that the subject area remains future-ready, and playing a key role in transforming a usually black letter law module to one using a dynamic visual medium to enhance the learning and teaching experiences of students and staff. The anecdotal evidence suggests that the impact of using the town was positive with students demonstrating an improvement in grade profiles against the previous year group, and a higher level of engagement with the subject area. This chapter goes onto argue that academics in legal education have a duty to embrace new practices to enhance and support the curriculum. In doing so, they will meet the expectations of students who demand a more innovative and interactive approach to learning. In doing this we are meeting the demand of employers for a highly competent workforce with skills that are ready from day one and go beyond previous expectations. The pedagogical advantages of using visual elements in the teaching of law are clear in allowing learners to engage with material in a variety of formats that can be incorporated into a wider pedagogical framework utilised by law schools.