Undergraduate Programme and Module Handbook 2005-2006 (archived)

Module LAW3121: COMPUTER LAW

Department: LAW

LAW3121: COMPUTER LAW

Type	Open	Level	3	Credits	20	Availability	Not available in 2005/06	Module Cap	None.	Location	Durham

Prerequisites

The Law of Obligations (LAW1023) (or Corequisites).

Corequisites

Law of Obligations (LAW1023) (or Prerequisite).

Excluded Combination of Modules

None.

Aims

To acquaint students with the fundamentals of information technology law.
To explore ways in which law and information technology interact.
To examine the policy, purpose and process behind the regulation of information technology.
To improve the legal analytical skills of students.
To encourage students to adopt a questioning and evaluative approach to legal principles and rules.
To encourage students to appreciate the different ways in which the law is capable of being developed.

Content

Students are introduced to a number of different areas of law which affect and are affected by information technology.
Relevant areas include: intellectual property law, the law of private obligations, criminal law, and data protection.

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge:

Students should be able to:
Demonstrate a sound understanding of computer law in England.

Subject-specific Skills:

Students should be able to:
apply the existing law to given factual scenarios and advise accordingly
Analyse and evaluate the existing law in the light of the economic, political and social issues raised.
Engage in informed debate concerning current proposals for reform.

Key Skills:

Students should be able to:
Demonstrate developed analytical and written skills, including the ability to work independently and for the student to take responsibility for their own learning.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

Students will:
Receive a detailed introduction to important computer law topics in a series of lectures. In the accompanying module reading lists, they will be given guidance on important sources to consult and indications of how to pursue their interests further.
Be given the opportunity to raise difficulties and to discuss aspects of the law both in five one-hour topic-specific tutorials and also by being given access to module teaching staff via email.
Be expected to undertake two formative assignments in the course of the module. The assignments will be returned to the students in good time both marked and accompanied by detailed written feedback.
Summative assessment comprises one unseen examination of two hours fifteen minutes (including fifteen minutes reading time). Students are given a choice of questions to answer, but the paper is structured in such a way as to assess students on all the specific outcomes. Essay questions are used to assess knowledge, the ability to apply the law to factual scenarios, evaluative capacity and an awareness of placing the analysis of law in wider contexts of enquiry.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Activity	Number	Frequency	Duration	Total/Hours
Lectures	28	3 per fortnight	1 hour	28
Tutorials/Practicals	6	1 per 3 weeks	1 hour	6
Preparation and Reading				166
Total				200

Summative Assessment

Component: Examination		Component Weighting: 100%
Element	Length / duration	Element Weighting	Resit Opportunity
two-and-one-quarter hour written examination - including 15 minutes reading but not writing-in-the-answer-book time		100%

Formative Assessment:

2 essays of 2000 words max

■ Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University