How Do We Know If We are Achieving Our Goals? Strategies for Assessing the Outcome of Curricular Innovation

Abstract

To determine whether curricular innovation is effective in achieving our goals, we must design and implement an effective assessment program. What is an effective assessment program? If we have a clear sense of mission, state our student learning outcomes, develop effective teaching methods and curricula, and follow the principles that foster student learning, assessment will become a clear and integral part of legal education. We will find that the focus of student assessment in law school will be on enhancing student performance, providing multiple evaluations of student performance, and giving appropriate feedback to students. In the end, we will know whether our curricular innovation has been successful.

Keywords: legal education, curricular innovation, assessment