Post on 12-Jan-2016
transcript
Teach Better, Do More,
Have More Fun, Spend Less Time
Suzanna K. Moran, Denver Law
Presented at the 15th Annual Rocky Mountain Legal Writing Conference,
University of New Mexico, March 7, 2015
Lawyering Process Student Learning Objectives
Legal Analysis
Legal Communication
Legal Research
Values of the legal profession
If it ain’t broke…
Use the most effective teaching methods Use the most effective feedback methods Use time efficiently Improve student experience Improve teacher experience
Teach Better
Frequent low-stakes feedback
Demonstration/practice/ simulation – 75% retention rate
Group discussion – 50% Collaboration Real Life problems Smart use of educational
technology Reflection
Strategy instruction Peer Teaching – 90%
retention (for teacher) Daily writing practice Socratic Q&A Lecturing – 5% retention
rate Reading and re-reading –
10% retention rate Fictional problems Infrequent high-stakes
feedback
Less Time
One Weekly Lecture 7-10 Weekly Labs/Workshops
Flipped Citations Flipped Grammar No commenting marathons
9:00 AM
Civil Procedure
Lawyering Process Green Lab
Civil Procedure
Civil Procedure
9:15
9:30
9:45
10:00 AM
10:15
10:30
Lawyering Process Lecture
Torts
Lawyering Process Purple Lab
Torts
Torts
10:45
11:00 AM
11:15
11:30
11:45
12:00 PM
12:15
12:30
12:45
1:00 PM
1:15
Lawyering Process Orange Lab
Contracts
Lawyering Process
Rainbow Lab
Contracts
Contracts
1:30
1:45
2:00 PM
2:15
2:30
2:45
Lawyering Process Yellow Lab
Lawyering Process Blue Lab
Lawyering Process Red Lab
3:00 PM
3:15
3:30
3:45
4:00 PM
9:00 AM
Lawyering Process Green Lab
9:15
9:30
9:45
10:00 AM
10:15
10:30
Lawyering Process Lecture
Lawyering Process Purple Lab
10:45
11:00 AM
11:15
11:30
11:45
12:00 PM
12:15
12:30
12:45
1:00 PM
1:15
Lawyering Process Orange Lab
Lawyering Process Rainbow Lab
1:30
1:45
2:00 PM
2:15
2:30
2:45
Lawyering Process Yellow Lab
Lawyering Process Blue Lab
Lawyering Process Red Lab
3:00 PM
3:15
3:30
3:45
4:00 PM
Content
Fall Modules Legal Sources Legal Analysis and
Basic Drafting Finding Facts and
Law Formal
Communication
Spring Modules Rhetoric and Persuasion Trial Practice Appellate Practice Non-Legal Persuasion
Smart Use of Educational Technology
Outlining Rules of Law
Client Interview Rhetorical Analysis
Settlement Negotiations
Drafting a Rule, Proof, and Application
Research Status Conferences
Draft Proof and Application
Brief Live Grading Conferences
Using Case Charts Peer Review of Non-Discussion Memo Parts
Debates Using Ethos, Pathos, Logos
Practice Oral Arguments
Developing Outlines
Live Feedback Conference
Argue Motion in Limine
Judge’s Day
Memo One Collaborative Rewrite
Oral Report to Senior Partner
Research Status Conferences
Final Oral Arguments
Guided Research Client Counseling
Point Headings Lab
Letters Workshop
Smart Use of Educational Technology
Google Drive
Google Docs
ICW citation exercises
Online voiceover citation PowerPoints
Core Grammar exercises
Frequent low-stakes feedback
Outlining Rules of Law
Client Interview Rhetorical Analysis
Settlement Negotiations
Drafting a Rule, Proof, and Application
Research Status Conferences
Draft Proof and Application
Live Grading Conferences
Using Case Charts Peer Review of Non-Discussion Memo Parts
Debates Using Ethos, Pathos, Logos
Practice Oral Arguments
Developing Outlines
Live Grading Conference
Argue Motion in Limine
Judge’s Day
Memo One Collaborative Rewrite
Oral Report to Senior Partner
Research Status Conferences
Final Oral Arguments
Guided Research Client Counseling
Point Headings Lab
Letters Workshop
Demonstration/Simulation
Outlining Rules of Law
Client Interview Rhetorical Analysis
Settlement Negotiations
Drafting a Rule, Proof, and Application
Research Status Conferences
Draft Proof and Application
Brief Live Grading Conferences
Using Case Charts Peer Review of Non-Discussion Memo Parts
Debates Using Ethos, Pathos, Logos
Practice Oral Arguments
Developing Outlines
Live Feedback Conference
Argue Motion in Limine
Judge’s Day
Memo One Collaborative Rewrite
Oral Report to Senior Partner
Research Status Conferences
Final Oral Arguments
Guided Research Client Counseling
Point Headings Lab
Letters Workshop
Group Discussion
Outlining Rules of Law
Client Interview Rhetorical Analysis
Settlement Negotiations
Drafting a Rule, Proof, and Application
Research Status Conferences
Draft Proof and Application
Brief Live Grading Conferences
Using Case Charts Peer Review of Non-Discussion Memo Parts
Debates Using Ethos, Pathos, Logos
Practice Oral Arguments
Developing Outlines
Live Feedback Conference
Argue Motion in Limine
Judge’s Day
Memo One Collaborative Rewrite
Oral Report to Senior Partner
Research Status Conferences
Final Oral Arguments
Guided Research Client Counseling
Point Headings Lab
Letters Workshop
Collaboration
Outlining Rules of Law
Client Interview Rhetorical Analysis
Settlement Negotiations
Drafting a Rule, Proof, and Application
Research Status Conferences
Draft Proof and Application
Brief Live Grading Conferences
Using Case Charts Peer Review of Non-Discussion Memo Parts
Debates Using Ethos, Pathos, Logos
Practice Oral Arguments
Developing Outlines
Live Feedback Conference
Argue Motion in Limine
Judge’s Day
Memo One Collaborative Rewrite
Oral Report to Senior Partner
Research Status Conferences
Final Oral Arguments
Guided Research Client Counseling
Point Headings Lab
Letters Workshop
Real Life Problems
Outlining Rules of Law
Client Interview Rhetorical Analysis
Settlement Negotiations
Drafting a Rule, Proof, and Application
Research Status Conferences
Draft Proof and Application
Brief Live Grading Conferences
Using Case Charts Peer Review of Non-Discussion Memo Parts
Debates Using Ethos, Pathos, Logos
Practice Oral Arguments
Developing Outlines
Live Feedback Conference
Argue Motion in Limine
Judge’s Day
Memo One Collaborative Rewrite
Oral Report to Senior Partner
Research Status Conferences
Final Oral Arguments
Guided Research Client Counseling
Point Headings Lab
Letters Workshop
Fictional Problems
Outlining Rules of Law
Client Interview Rhetorical Analysis
Settlement Negotiations
Drafting a Rule, Proof, and Application
Research Status Conferences
Draft Proof and Application
Brief Live Grading Conferences
Using Case Charts Peer Review of Non-Discussion Memo Parts
Debates Using Ethos, Pathos, Logos
Practice Oral Arguments
Developing Outlines
Live Feedback Conference
Argue Motion in Limine
Judge’s Day
Memo One Collaborative Rewrite
Oral Report to Senior Partner
Research Status Conferences
Final Oral Arguments
Guided Research Client Counseling
Point Headings Lab
Letters Workshop
Strategy Instruction
Outlining Rules of Law
Client Interview Rhetorical Analysis
Settlement Negotiations
Drafting a Rule, Proof, and Application
Research Status Conferences
Draft Proof and Application
Brief Live Grading Conferences
Using Case Charts Peer Review of Non-Discussion Memo Parts
Debates Using Ethos, Pathos, Logos
Practice Oral Arguments
Developing Outlines
Live Feedback Conference
Argue Motion in Limine
Judge’s Day
Memo One Collaborative Rewrite
Oral Report to Senior Partner
Research Status Conferences
Final Oral Arguments
Guided Research Client Counseling
Point Headings Lab
Letters Workshop
Writing Practice
Outlining Rules of Law
Client Interview Rhetorical Analysis
Settlement Negotiations
Drafting a Rule, Proof, and Application
Research Status Conferences
Draft Proof and Application
Brief Live Grading Conferences
Using Case Charts Peer Review of Non-Discussion Memo Parts
Debates Using Ethos, Pathos, Logos
Practice Oral Arguments
Developing Outlines
Live Feedback Conference
Argue Motion in Limine
Judge’s Day
Memo One Collaborative Rewrite
Oral Report to Senior Partner
Research Status Conferences
Final Oral Arguments
Guided Research Client Counseling
Point Headings Lab
Letters Workshop
Teach Better
Reflection Socratic Q&A Lecturing – 5% retention rate Reading and re-reading – 10% retention rate
Teach Better: Feedback
For Written Work Individualized tutoring
Live critiques
Peer reviews
End comments
Post-critique conferences
Margin and interlinear comments
“Common Problems” classes
For Oral Presentations Oral feedback
Followed by written feedback
For Research Skills Written comments on Logs
Research status conferences
Lessons Learned
People Not for every teacher Not for every student Group make-up essential The coach problem TAs essential
Lessons Learned
Plusses Memorable Catch mistakes while they happen Engagement very high Can be fun Immediate individual feedback Students bonded intensely
Lessons Learned
Minuses One bad apple Students may feel exposed Requires intense focus Uneven lab performance Student expectations/needs raised Finding rooms was the hardest part Can’t be sick IS IT STILL LEGAL WRITING?
Success?
Teach Better? Much improved
Do More? Definitely
Have More Fun? A million times yes
Spend Less Time? Probably
Student Outcomes? Unclear
Success?
Professor Moran utilizes modern teaching methods exceedingly well. This is exactly what is needed in this day and age. The most beneficial part of the class were the one-on-one sessions and labs. LP seems to work very well with this kinds of format. It seems to require a lot of personal attention which she was able to give.
Her teaching methods are very distinct from my other professors, but that's what makes her class effective. Instead of passively eating information, we are forced to engage and respond to the various issues presented.
I really liked the structure of the class that she created.
The hands on material she offered us really helped me understand the real world application of the assignments.
Success?
Didn't understand the point of a lot of our work until it all "came together" at the end of the term. I've learned a lot of really useful information from this class.
Professor Moran was fun and engaging, but this course still has a lot of kinks to work out. The biggest being the lack of clarity on assignments and the varying information from lab group to lab group.
There were some issues with course organization that led to misunderstanding of materials, especially related to citations, but those were sorted out satisfactorily later in the semester. In future years, the kinks will probably get worked out.