My Health Law class is an almost entirely student-driven course.
What is a "student-driven" course?
A student-driven course puts the student in charge of the learning experience.
In this class, we conduct trials and debates about important Health Law related issues.
I do not stand in the front of the classroom and lecture the students about the laws, or about the information they should use. The students are given an outline consisting of a brief background on the subject, their objective, and what they will need to do. The students then utilize the technology I provide for them (laptops or computer lab) and the students split into groups (depending on their personal views on the matter) to collect information and build an argument or case. They then either conduct a mock trial or a debate where they try to sway their fellow students and myself that their position is the right one.
After the completion of the mock trial or debate, the students each write a letter to their senators in which they present their own personal views and provide evidence to support. I proofread these, grade them, and then send them to our senators with a note explaining our class.
The work for this class is almost entirely done in class. The only homework is if, on the day the Letter to the Senator is due, the student didn't finish in the class time provided and so they must finish at home by midnight that same night.