10/2/2017 Case-Based Learning | Centre for Teaching and Learning

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What is Case-Based Learning?

Using a case-based approach engages students in discussion of specific scenarios that resemble or typically are real-world examples. This method is learner-centered
with intense interaction between participants as they build their knowledge and work together as a group to examine the case. The instructor's role is that of a
facilitator while the students collaboratively analyze and address problems and resolve questions that have no single right answer.

Clyde Freeman Herreid provides eleven basic rules for case-based learning.

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1. Tells a story.
2. Focuses on an interest-arousing issue.
3. Set in the past five years
4. Creates empathy with the central characters.
5. Includes quotations. There is no better way to understand a situation and to gain empathy for the characters
6. Relevant to the reader.
7. Must have pedagogic utility.
8. Conflict provoking.
9. Decision forcing.
10. Has generality.
11. Is short.

Why Use Case-Based Learning?

To provide students with a relevant opportunity to see theory in practice. Real world or authentic contexts expose students to viewpoints from multiple sources and
see why people may want different outcomes. Students can also see how a decision will impact different participants, both positively and negatively.

To require students to analyze data in order to reach a conclusion. Since many assignments are open-ended, students can practice choosing appropriate analytic
techniques as well. Instructors who use case-based learning say that their students are more engaged, interested, and involved in the class.

To develop analytic, communicative and collaborative skills along with content knowledge. In their effort to find solutions and reach decisions through discussion,
students sort out factual data, apply analytic tools, articulate issues, reflect on their relevant experiences, and draw conclusions they can relate to new situations. In
the process, they acquire substantive knowledge and develop analytic, collaborative, and communication skills.

Many faculty also use case studies in their curriculum to teach content, connect students with real life data, or provide opportunities for students to put themselves in
the decision maker's shoes.

Teaching Strategies for Case-Based Learning

By bringing real world problems into student learning, cases invite active participation and innovative solutions to problems as they work together to reach
a judgment, decision, recommendation, prediction or other concrete outcome.

The Campus Instructional Consulting unit at Indiana University has created a great resource for case-based learning. The following is from their website which we
have permission to use.

Formats for Cases

Finished cases based on factsfor analysis only, since the solution is indicated or alternate solutions are suggested.
Unfinished open-ended cases, where the results are not yet clear (either because the case has not come to a factual conclusion in real life, or because the
instructor has eliminated the final facts.) Students must predict, make choices and offer suggestions that will affect the outcome.
Fictional cases entirely written by the instructorcan be open-ended or finished. Cautionary note: the case must be both complex enough to mimic reality, yet
not have so many red herrings as to obscure the goal of the exercise.
Original documentsnews articles, reports with data and statistics, summaries, excerpts from historical writings, artifacts, literary passages, video and audio
recordings, ethnographies, etc. With the right questions, these can become problem-solving opportunities. Comparison between two original documents related to
the same topic or theme is a strong strategy for encouraging both analysis and synthesis. This gives the opportunity for presenting more than one side of an
argument, making the conflicts more complex.

Managing a Case Assignment

Design discussions for small groups: 3-6 students are an ideal group size for setting up a discussion on a case.
Design the narrative or situation such that it requires participants to reach a judgment, decision, recommendation, prediction or other concrete outcome. If
possible, require each group to reach a consensus on the decision requested.
Structure the discussion. The instructor should provide a series of written questions to guide small group discussion. Pay careful attention to the sequencing of the
questions. Early questions might ask participants to make observations about the facts of the case. Later questions could ask for comparisons, contrasts, and
analyses of competing observations or hypotheses. Final questions might ask students to take a position on the matter. The purpose of these questions is to
stimulate, guide or prod (but not dictate) participants observations and analyses. The questions should be impossible to answer with a simple yes or no.
Debrief the discussion to compare group responses. Help the whole class interprets and understand the implications of their solutions.
Allow groups to work without instructor interference. The instructor must be comfortable with ambiguity and with adopting the non-traditional roles of witness and
resource, rather than authority.

Designing Case Study Questions

Cases can be more or less directed by the kinds of questions askedthese kinds of questions can be appended to any case, or could be a handout for participants
unfamiliar with case studies on how to approach one.

What is the situationwhat do you actually know about it from reading the case? (Distinguishes between fact and assumptions under critical understanding)
What issues are at stake? (Opportunity for linking to theoretical readings)
What questions do you havewhat information do you still need? Where/how could you find it?
What problem(s) need to be solved? (Opportunity to discuss communication versus conflict, gaps between assumptions, sides of the argument)
What are all the possible options? What are the pros/cons of each option?
What are the underlying assumptions for [person X] in the casewhere do you see them?
What criteria should you use when choosing an option? What does that mean about your assumptions?

Managing Discussion and Debate Effectively

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Delay the problem-solving part until the rest of the discussion has had time to develop. Start with expository questions to clarify the facts, then move to
analysis, and finally to evaluation, judgment, and recommendations.
Shift points of view: Now that weve seen it from [Ws] standpoint, whats happening here from [Ys] standpoint? What evidence would support Ys position?
What are the dynamics between the two positions?
Shift levels of abstraction: if the answer to the question above is Its just a bad situation for her, quotations help: When [Y] says _____, what are her
assumptions? Or seek more concrete explanations: Why does she hold this point of view?
Ask for benefits/disadvantages of a position; for all sides.
Shift time framenot just to Whats next? but also to How could this situation have been different? What could have been done earlier to head off this
conflict and turn it into a productive conversation? Is it too late to fix this? What are possible leverage points for a more productive discussion? What good can
come of the existing situation?
Shift to another context: We see how a person who thinks X would see the situation. How would a person who thinks Y see it? We see what happened in the
Johannesburg news, how could this be handled in [your town/province]? How might [insert person, organization] address this problem?
Follow-up questions: What do you mean by ___? Or, Could you clarify what you said about ___? (even if it was a pretty clear statementthis gives students
time for thinking, developing different views, and exploration in more depth). Or How would you square that observation with what [name of person] pointed
out?
Point out and acknowledge differences in discussionthats an interesting difference from what Sam just said, Sarah. Lets look at where the differences
lie. (let sides clarify their points before moving on).

Resources
Reference

Herreid, C. F. (2007). Start with a story: The case study method of teaching college science. NSTA Press.

Select Books available through the Queen's Library

Crosling, G. & Webb, G. (2002). Supporting Student Learning: Case Studies, Experience and Practice from Higher Education. London: Kogan Page

Edwards, H., Smith, B., & Webb, G. (Eds.) (2001). Lecturing: Case Studies, Experience and Practice. London: Kogan Page.

Ellington, H. & Earl, S. (1998). Using Games, Simulations and Interactive Case Studies. Birmingham: Staff and Educational Development Association

Wassermann, S. (1994). Introduction to Case Method Teaching: A Guide to the Galaxy. New York: Teachers College Press, Columbia University.

Online Articles

Bieron, J. & Dinan, F. (1999). Case Studies Across a Science Curriculum. Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Canisius College in Buffalo, NY.

Walters. M. R. (1999). Case-stimulated learning within endocrine physiology lectures: An approach applicable to other disciplines. Advances in Physiology Education,
276, 74-78.

Websites and Online Case Collections

The Center for Teaching Excellence at the University of Medicine and Dentistry in New Jersey offers a wide variety of references including 21 links to case repositories
in the Health Sciences.

The National Center for Case Study Teaching in Science provides an award-winning library of over 410 cases and case materials while promoting the development
and dissemination of innovative materials and sound educational practices for case teaching in the sciences.

Houghton and Mifflin provide an excellent resource for students including on analyzing and writing the case.

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