Introduction

There are many subjects and topics that can be taught within the broad field of intellectual property. There are many different kinds of organizations wishing to deliver teaching or training in some aspect of the field, and many different audiences for those courses. The courses themselves can be delivered in a great variety of ways. Digital communication technologies have permeated almost all aspects of modern life. These electronic communication technologies, and in particular the Internet, have revolutionized the way people work, play and relax, and the kind of entertainment they access. They now provide a range of tools to use in the delivery of teaching programs.

There is an ongoing discourse about the manifold implications of using electronic technologies in education. This chapter, however, is primarily concerned with providing some basic description of the options available and sharing some practical advice about designing, preparing and delivering courses using available technology. This chapter does not attempt to provide models of particular IP courses, although one example is described.

Just as there can be many different kinds of courses, teachers and student groups, there are many ways to use the technology and differing levels in the way it can be employed. For the sake of discussion, however, it may help to contemplate three broad levels of increasing sophistication.

Basic level

At a fairly simple and straightforward level, some organizations and teachers may wish to use technology to provide access to course documentation (like course outlines and class lists) and teaching materials (like readings, extracts of documents, tutorial topics and so on) as an aspect of a traditional face-to-face course.