Modern Learning Methods for HRD: The Clinical Legal Education (CLE) Approach[C]

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore how professional skills training in making ethical decisions for redundancy selection, can be utilised though interactive role play, in a virtual learning environment.Design/methodology/approach – A pilot study was undertaken with a group of part time mature students pursuing a professional development programme. The pilot was based on the CLE concept using a virtual learning environment (VLE) and involved ethical decision making in a redundancy scenario. Data was gathered through the VLE “log” and through a focus group interview.Findings – Evidence is provided of the suitability of the CLE approach in this context. Additionally, the findings suggest that the use of a virtual learning environment for CLE raises a number of different issues for the management and motivation of participants. Virtual interaction of this nature creates different timescales, degrees of confidence and levels of anonymity than found with more traditional face‐to‐face training. Th...