Renee Nicole Allen, Florida A&M University College of Law: “Metacognition and the Value of Reflection in Learning”
Renee Allen is a Professor of Law at Florida A&M University College of Law; she presented her talk, “Metacognition and the Value of Reflection in Learning,” at the 2014 Igniting Law Teaching conference with the Simulations, Feedback, & Assessment Pod. In her presentation, Professor Allen explains that strong metacognition (the ability to self-assess skills, knowledge, and learning) is essential for law students in the self-regulated learning environment and is need for both success in law school and the practice of law. Reflective writing skills and doctrinal courses complement formative assessments, improves metacognition, and gives students a compass to guide their learning through the semester.
This video is part of a video collection from the Igniting Law Teaching, hosted by LegalED at American University Washington College of Law. Responding to the calls for legal education reform, the conference -- the first of its kind -- created a forum for professors experimenting with cutting edge technologies and techniques in law teaching with the goal of spreading their ideas to the broader community. The talks were modeled on TEDx Talks, with each speaker on stage alone, giving a well scripted and performed talk about an aspect of law school pedagogy. The goal of LegalED is to curate a growing collection of short, 10-minute videos on law school-related pedagogy that will inspire innovation and experimentation by law professors to bring more active learning and practical skills training into the law school curriculum. This videos, and others like it, are available on LegalED, a website developed by a community of law professors interested in using online technologies to facilitate more active, problem-based learning in the classroom, in addition to more assessment and feedback.
Renee Allen teaches Introduction to Analytical Skills, a first-year course at Florida A&M University College of Law. She also coaches students in FAMU’s Bar Exam Success Training (“B.E.S.T.”) Program. Prior to joining the faculty at FAMU, she taught Academic Legal Skills at Phoenix School of Law. Her primary research interests are in academic success, metacognition and collaborative teaching. Professor Allen received her J.D. from the University of Florida Levin College of Law, her B.A. from Mercer University, and is licensed in Georgia.
LegalED aims to harness the power of the internet for legal educations. It facilitates blended or flipped learning – by migrating lectures to the web, LegalED frees up classtime for active learning that challenges students to learn the essential lawyering competencies while they are in law school. Professors may assign the videos in any combination for students to view outside of the classroom for active learning that challenges students to learn the essential lawyering competencies while they are in law school. LegalED seeks to develop and maintain a vibrant online community of teachers and students of the law, creating a central hub for the community. Through the video collection, teachers can be inspired to borrow, adapt, and bring great teaching moments into their own courses. With an internet platform, LegalED opens up formerly isolated classrooms by sharing showcasing, celebrating and inspiring innovative teaching. Simply put, the vision of LegalED is to inspire innovation in legal education. Join the movement!
The LegalED 2015 Igniting Law Teaching conference will take place on Friday, March 20th, from 9am to 6pm. Register to attend in person or live stream the event.