Spreeuw, M. 2023. Formative Assessments in Legal Education: Rethinking its Function and Purpose. Association of Law Teachers Annual Conference 2023. University of Westminster, London 17 2013 - 18 Apr 2023
| Title | Formative Assessments in Legal Education: Rethinking its Function and Purpose |
|---|---|
| Authors | Spreeuw, M. |
| Type | Conference paper |
| Abstract | The paper discusses a broader function and purpose that formative assessments could have in legal education and how this could respond to some of the challenges within the sector to support the learning process and student experience more effectively. The discussion and arguments presented in the paper stem from the author’s experiences of designing and teaching EU Law as a core module and Commercial Law as a large final year option module. The paper argues that by adopting a more student-centred approach in relation to formative assessments that goes beyond, for example, students being able to monitor their progress, reflect on their feedback, improve their work (Sadler 1998, Carlesss and Boud 2018, Molloy et al. 2019), and building student awareness of their own learning (Weurlander et al. 2012), formative assessments could have wider advantages that more effectively support and feed into ‘the design of learning experiences that address the needs of the student’ (Harris et al. 2013, p. 6). Literature focusing on formative assessments and feedback concentrate on the importance of high-quality feedback which aids the development of students’ feedback literacy, and facilitate the development of self-assessment and reflection in learning, as principles and conditions for good practice which increase the potential effectiveness of formative assessments (Gibbs and Simpson 2004, Nicol 2009, Jones 2013, McCallum and Milner 2021). The paper supports these views, but considers student time poverty, lack of engagement, attendance and confidence as causes that undermine the number of students making effective use of formative assessments. This supports a more flexible and student friendly approach towards the design of formative assessments whereby they become a tool to enhance student attendance and engagement, and support students expressing their own critical views about the law in a confident manner, which according to the author should be a key aim of legal education. |
| Year | 2023 |
| Conference | Association of Law Teachers Annual Conference 2023 |