Examines the role of case methods in teacher education, noting that the use of case methods depends upon an understanding of teaching and the learning-to-teach process. Three frameworks for using cases in teacher education are examined (precept and practice, problem solving and decision making, and knowledge and understanding). (SM)

This chapter discusses the origins of the case method, looks at the question of what is a case, gives ideas about learning in case teaching, the purposes it can serve in the classroom, the ground rules for case discussion, including the role of questions, and new directions for case teaching. (MLW)

Describes the case study method as a form of simulation and presents guidelines for their use in professional training situations. Skill development in problem solving is highlighted as a reason to use case studies; steps in creating a case are outlined; and the effectiveness of case studies is discussed. (LRW)

A study investigated the effectiveness of the Case Method of Instruction (CMI) on 67 graduate students taking an interdisciplinary course on families. After instruction, students not only possessed important knowledge related to working with families, but could also apply the problem-solving process used in CMI to a novel case. (Author/CR)

Describes a problem-based course in which students in an interdisciplinary program explored the manufacture of biological knowledge. Discusses how students gained an appreciation of the complex interactions between ideals, individuals, institutions, and investments that comprise modern biological research through study of a variety of problems and…

Describes the investigative case-study approach in biology, a variant of problem-based learning. Students develop questions that lend themselves to scientific investigation and develop their own investigative approaches. Contains 16 references. (DDR)

Compared use of problems and the conventional case method as methods of instruction at the Utrecht University Law School (Netherlands). The problem method required students to find, frame, and analyze issues and provided training seminars in legal problem-solving skills. Students using problems spent more time on learning activities and performed…

Case studies as an instructional strategy have been used in many disciplines, including law, teacher education, science, medicine, and business. Among the benefits of this method of instruction are involving students in learning, developing their critical thinking skills, promoting communication, and engaging in critical analysis. Case studies are…

Case study teaching provides a bridge between the world of theory and the world of practice. In addition, case teaching enhances students' analytical and problem-solving skills and gives students the opportunity to engage in shared problem solving. Undisguised cases have certain advantages as teaching tools. First, undisguised cases give case…

In this article, we discuss the use of client-driven projects--projects that are posed by business, government, and non-profit organizations and based upon real problems facing the organization. Although client-driven projects have long been used in business and engineering education, their use in the mathematics classroom is rare. Client-driven…

In this self-study of a secondary teacher education course, the authors investigated whether there was evidence of critically reflective problem solving on the part of prospective teachers who participated in a peer-led online discussion of a teaching case about English-language learners. They also examined what approaches to multicultural…

When one instructor teaches a course called "Communication and Critical Thinking," he uses Josina Makau's book "Reasoning and Communication: Thinking Critically about Arguments" (1990), which maintains that critical thinking requires training. Case methodology can be used for training, not exclusively but as an alternative to…

The objective of this project was to develop a way of producing instructional materials such that once an acceptable design had been achieved, hypermedia documents could be easily generated with no additional programming or design effort. The project was undertaken to support a case-based instructional curriculum in medical education. Southern…

Case-based teaching in some fields offers competition experiences as prestigious professional benchmarks and development experiences in professional preparation. Case-based team competition in teacher education can offer possibilities for preservice professional growth and development. Case-based teaching also has a natural fit with constructivist…

The case method of teaching in the liberal arts is recommended as a means of reconciling the college curriculum with modern vocational needs for education and problem-solving skills. The method is student-centered, encourages group interaction and cooperation, and relates learning to experience. (MSE)