Warning Signs

 

 

A few of my neighbors (not dog owners) have signs like this one in front of their houses. To be fair, I live on a street where the houses are right up against the curb (and each other), so people do go all out on the three feet of yard that surround their houses. But these signs just crack me up. First, my dog (yes, that is my amazing old man Leo) cannot read[1]. And second, if I am bent over far enough to read a sign that protrudes a maximum three inches from the ground, then despite your passively-aggressively polite request, it is probably too late to do your bidding. I am most likely reading your sign with a colorful baggie over my hand.

This week our 1Ls will start to get back midterms (some graded, some with feedback only). They were not happy about having midterm exams, but I have told them over and over that a midterm is a blessing…even though it might just be one more pressure point at the time in the semester where they feel they like a pin cushion for pressure.  They think I am nuts.[2]

But here is the rub, if you only have a final exam in your 1L classes, then by the time you realize you don’t actually grasp the material or expectations, someone has a baggie over their hand.

The ABA is going through the process of revising Standard 314 on assessments, and the red-line language looks like this:

“Standard 314. ASSESSMENT OF STUDENT LEARNING (a) A law school shall utilize both formative and summative assessment methods in throughout its curriculum to measure student achievement of course learning outcomes, and improve student learning, and provide meaningful feedback to students. (b) All courses in the first one-third of the credit hours earned by students in the JD program shall include at least one formative assessment. The formative assessment shall include feedback that allows students to evaluate their performance relative to the learning outcomes in the course. The law school shall make available academic support for students who fail to attain a satisfactory level of achievement on the formative assessment.[3]” 

For those of us working on commission, this is a windfall, but since that is (hopefully) nobody, this is a windfall for our students. This means that we can engage in meaningful intervention before it is too late. This allows students to receive and read the warning signs before they have done irrevocable damage to their academic careers. This is mindful and humane.

I know that there are doctrinal professors with very large sections of 1Ls (sometimes over 100), and this is a large amount of added work. I am sure they were the commenters the ABA speaks of in their memo. Yet shedding light on potential missteps before the mighty leap of finals is valuable for everyone. It is a win-win. Dare I say (out loud) that formative assessments of students sometimes can show an area where the teaching has not reached its mark? In an ever changing world of what is tested on the bar exam, it is good to know where a little back and fill is needed.

Personally, I’m just hoping my neighbors with the signs don’t have ring cameras that catch me laughing as I knot up a baggie full of rebellion.

(Liz Stillman).

 

[1] If your dog can read, then honestly I am not sure why you are reading this blog. Seriously, go out and profit from this crazy good fortune!

[2] For many reasons, but for some this may have cemented the deal.

[3]https://www.americanbar.org/content/dam/aba/administrative/legal_education_and_admissions_to_the_bar/council_reports_and_resolutions/aug24/24-aug-final-approval-learning-outcomes-memo.pdf