Author: Alexandra Dobson, University of Wales Newport. Presented at the Research - Teaching in Wales 2011 Conference, 13th -14th September, Gregynog Hall, Newtown (Powys)

1. Students as Investigators: Knowledge Providers and Knowledge Producers. Alexandra Dobson Senior lecturer in Law Newport Business School alexandra.dobson@newport.ac.uk

2. Students as Investigators: Knowledge Providers and Knowledge Producers. Research - led teaching is linked to post graduate programmes but particularly apposite on undergraduate programmes as it engenders a culture of student research at an early stage. Case Study case – learners studying Criminal Law at Level Four in the first year of a Business Studies degree. Methodology - Students were asked to contribute to a Focus Group in order to evaluate the success of this approach and the findings are discussed in the presentation.

3. Why Use This Approach? QAA Benchmark Statement for Law (2007) Seven key areas Knowledge Application and problem solving Sources and Research Analysis, synthesis, critical judgement and evaluation Autonomy and ability to learn Communication and literacy Other key skills

4. Criminal Law: Level Four ‘Knowledge of the underlying concepts and principles associated with their area(s) of study, and an ability to evaluate and interpret these within the context of that are of study.’ QAA Benchmark Statement for Law (2007)

5. Knowledge Providers Research the Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007 Why Use this as Formative Assessment? Tutor research area Background to the Legislation – Contentious Allows students to ‘adopt’ a pressure group

8. The Process Background to the Act. Students (14) asked to form small groups and consider the following Institute of Directors Confederation of British Industry Trade Unions – TUC etc Victims Families - Families Against Corporate Killing Police – Deaths in Custody Local Government Association Health and Safety Executive

9. The Process Why was the Act passed? Remedies a fault line in the common law – Useful link to Legal Frameworks Summative Assessment: Does the Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007 introduce a form of ameliorated aggregation in relation to senior management failure?

10. The Results Some viewpoints: ‘I found it useful to look at the Act prior to the final assignment. I was looking at trade unions and it was interesting to see their view.’ ‘If I think about what I got out of it – it was the chance to work on something and find some answers without being told’