education," says Clarke. Timely and helpful feedback is crit-
ical for students, especially where one assignment builds off the previous one. Some students say the current system doesn't provide the necessary responses to help them improve, nor
does it give them the information that assists in supporting the evalua- tions they receive. Christopher Bruce is an articling student with Burnet Duckworth & Palmer LLP in Alberta. Along with Bowers, he voices con- cerns over the level and quality of
RISE IN THE EAST...
"During the first year of the program there was less understanding about how much dedicated time the students needed to
work on their assignments." — Corina Farbacher
feedback from the facilitators. Not only was the feedback limited, but at times it would also "bear little re- semblance on a candidate's outcome on the assignment," says Bruce. Winnipeg's Bowers was pleased
...SHINE OUT WEST.
with the marking scheme overall, saying it gave a "comprehensive scope of requirements." Still, the feedback on those requirements was extremely limited. "I've had the chance to hear many students in both Manitoba and Saskatchewan complain that there was very little feedback in relation to the marking scheme, especially on competency evaluations," says Bowers. Part of this can be remedied by enhancing the training of the learning-group facilitators, who are the ones giving feedback to students. Administra- tors are still working on how to do that. Clarke points out facilitators get
www.bhtstudent.com
paid little, the positions are largely volunteer, and that demanding high standards from people volunteering their time can be a delicate issue. He says volunteers in all areas burn out, and he wants to make sure to avoid that when making changes to
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20 S EPTEMBER 2008 C ANADIAN Lawy er 4STUDENTS
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