I am sitting in my office reviewing 27 Property outlines. I won't lie–it's a chore. But reviewing outlines before final exams is a little thing I can do that can have a big impact on student success.
1) By reviewing outlines 2 weeks before the final review session, I give students a chance to correct their mistakes of law before the final exam.
2) By reviewing outlines, I can snag students who have significant, fundamental misunderstandings of law. I can ask them to see me before the final exam. It gives students the chance for an "A HA!" moment before the exam.
3) I get better exam answers if I know what they understand. I can correct any class-wide errors or misunderstandings, preventing me from experiencing frustration and anger when correcting exams at Christmas. Better exams=happier students + happier teacher.
4) By reviewing outlines before finals, I KNOW they have studied. Outlines are 10% of their final grade. I give them just enough credit to make an impact, but not so much that errors in the outline will derail them. Outlines are not curved or normed.
5) By reviewing exams, I am showing them that their success matters to me. Showing students you care about their success helps them invest in their education, invest in the law school, and give more to their courses. Reviewing outlines helps them see you are not just designing an exam to "curve" them; you are designing an exam so they can demonstrate their knowledge. It's a little way to help students feel like the process is not arbitrary and random. (RCF)
