Building Analytical and Problem Solving Skills through Archival Research in the Business Law Course

Traditional Business law courses at community colleges focus on an overview of the United States legal system and overarching topics of the law. Of vital importance in the study of the law is a historical perspective about the evolution of the common law that has shaped societal norms in the United States. Legal analysis, accompanied by archival research, provides for a richer and more diverse learning experience. This presentation reviews the development of student-centered case studies that engage primary source archival materials about the 1904 Slocum disaster for students’ critical learning and engagement beyond traditional course barriers.