Active Learning and Law School Performance

Journal of Multidisciplinary Research, Vol. 3, No. 2, Summer 2011

St. Thomas University School of Law Research Paper No. 7

17 Pages Posted: 16 May 2012

See all articles by Patricia W. Moore

Patricia W. Moore

St. Mary's University Law School

Todd P. Sullivan

St. Thomas University - School of Law

Multiple version iconThere are 2 versions of this paper

Date Written: 2011

Abstract

"Active learning" (AL) recently has become a cornerstone of the calls for reform in legal education in the United States. This article studies three years of data on a comprehensive AL program for first-year law students at St. Thomas University School of Law in Miami, Florida, in order to evaluate whether a student's attendance at AL sessions improves his or her law school grades. Holding all other factors constant (such as undergraduate grade point average and Law School Admission Test score), we found that a student who attended all the AL sessions was expected to earn a cumulative first-year law school grade point average that is 0.47 grade points (on a 4.00 scale) higher than a student who attended none of the sessions. These results and similar statistical analyses of the database are presented.

Suggested Citation

Moore, Patricia W. and Sullivan, Todd P., Active Learning and Law School Performance (2011). Journal of Multidisciplinary Research, Vol. 3, No. 2, Summer 2011, St. Thomas University School of Law Research Paper No. 7, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2012929

Patricia W. Moore (Contact Author)

St. Mary's University Law School ( email )

One Camino Santa Maria St
San Antonio, TX 78228
United States

Todd P. Sullivan

St. Thomas University - School of Law ( email )

16401 N.W. 37th Ave.
Miami, FL 33054
United States

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