Modern Innovative Methods of Teaching Economic and Legal Disciplines: Challenges in the Context of Legal Education Reform and Distancelearning

Abstract

The article argues for the need to introduce innovative methods in the process of teaching disciplines of the economic and legal block. The author proves the positive effect of their use for obtaining such learning outcomes as knowledge, skills, abilities, ways of thinking, views, values, and other personal qualities which a person is able to demonstrate after completing an educational program (program learning outcomes). The author substantiates the expediency of testing alternative, «non-classical» teaching methods in the educational process with a view to updating, competitiveness, and modernization of the educational process in higher education institutions, namely, the relevance of introducing such methods of organizing educational and cognitive activities aimed at transferring and assimilating knowledge by higher education students, and developing skills (verbal, visual, and practical teaching methods). The author distinguishes the types of interactive methods used in modern legal education, namely: creative tasks, work in small groups; educational games (role-playing games, simulated court hearings, business games); use of public resources (invitation of a lawyer – a narrow specialization practice, organization of an excursion to the court, to innovation parks, etc;) interactive lecture, work with technical teaching aids, video and audio materials; «student (or other higher education student) in the role of a teacher»; «everyone teaches everyone»; mosaic; discussion of complex and controversial issues and problems (discussions, debates, symposiums, tournaments, round tables, etc.); problem solving, case-study – analysis of certain situations (analysis of incidents, negotiations, mediation), etc. The author demonstrates certain methods and techniques for studying the topics of the disciplines of the economic and legal block, in particular, analyzes the mechanics of conducting such an interactive practice-oriented lesson in the discipline of corporate law as the role-playing game «Simulated General Meeting», reveals didactic techniques for working in small groups, The article also discusses the implementation of the «learning by doing» methodology, brainstorming, and the idea of introducing such an interesting innovative form as a case-study, namely, «Negotiations on the conclusion of a corporate agreement», and analyzes alternative formats for conducting a final examination as a training game on economic law, etc. With a view to making the educational process more practical, the author focuses on the expediency of conducting such classes as «Organization of Own Business», where students analyze the issues of business organization from establishment to termination of a business entity; use of public resources, organization of «guest» lectures, binary classes, etc.
Based on the study, the author concludes that it is expedient to introduce modern interactive tools, which is one of the most important areas for improving the training of law students in the modern educational process.