NP-complete problems such as the traveling salesman problem (TSP) play a prominent role in most advanced undergrad/graduate courses in discrete optimization modeling. Teaching such an important topic from a purely mathematical perspective without discussing specific applications may result in reduced student interest and motivation. The DeLand…

Instructional methods in higher education are changing in response to the growing popularity for distance learning courses. Investigating methods of instruction that will assist in the manner that coursework is taught in online courses is therefore a significant enterprise to research. Specifically, examining the relation between theory and…

Case-based instruction (CBI) provides a way to vicariously engage preservice teachers in their future teaching realities. However, little research has considered how different discussion facilitation strategies relate to the development of preservice teachers' instructional design (ID) skills. We used an embedded mixed methods case study research…

Recognizing the multiple interacting layers of pedagogical content knowledge, in this article, we present the findings from a study that examined the extent to which participation in case-based instruction about self-generated visual representations (VRs) supported special education pre-service teachers (N = 25) in enhancing their (a) knowledge of…

Halloween provides an opportunity to teach public administration and nonprofit management concepts in a fun way, which increases student retention and understanding. Teaching cases are an evidence-based pedagogical tool that facilitates active learning and brings together perspective-taking, critical thinking, and problem-solving. This article…

The aim of this article is to investigate how case method can promote leadership learning and coping with stress. An exploratory qualitative investigation was undertaken to study 57 early childhood education centre directors' course evaluations from the National Leadership Program through an online survey done between 2020 and 2021. With respect…

As development of research ethics competencies is in the focus in higher education (HE) institutions, it is crucial to understand how to support the learning process during such training. While there is plenty of research on how to scaffold children's learning of cognitive skills, there is limited knowledge on how to enhance collaborative…

Classroom methods that facilitate student learning from iteration have received little attention from scholars. Iterative learning requires students to repeat a problem-solving task in new contexts each time applying lessons from previous applications. Iterative learning formats improve students' learning outcomes and help instructors ensure that…

The development of critical thinking is an essential aim in social work curricula, similar to all higher education programmes. Learning environments that effectively stimulate the development of critical thinking are hence of key importance. This paper starts with a small-scale review of the empirical research on learning environments in social…

With biochemistry forced to transition to remote-teaching online, the cooperative active learning and problem-solving normally in labs have been limited. With little ability to perform experiments with laboratory equipment, determining how to mimic the qualities integral to these labs in an online environment is necessary. We propose one possible…

Complex thinking is a desired competency in 21st-century university students, so technology-based teaching and learning strategies must be carefully considered when training them in complex reasoning skills. This systematic review aims to map research on the use of teaching and learning strategies supported by technology to enhance complex…

This article describes a collaborative process between a university's Supply Chain Management (SCM) program and the business community supporting the program to bring about a student team-based case competition. The ideas used for the competition were based on actual challenges experienced and submitted by businesses, while the case narrative and…

The purpose of this study was to gain insight into how employing Case-based (CB) and Non-case-based (NCB) discussions facilitate high-level learning, and whether or not there is a relationship between students' learning outcomes. Findings revealed that students' perceived cognitive presence, learning and satisfaction were significantly higher in…

Theorists have argued instructional strategies that emphasize ill-structured problem solving are an effective means to support higher order learning skills such as argumentation. However, argumentation is often difficult because novices lack the expertise or experience needed to solve contextualized problems. One way to supplement this lack of…

As the world has witnessed an unprecedented pandemic in the living memory, the year 2020 defied all human wisdom in every walk of life. As the scientific community scrambled to search for answers, in the meantime, the world came to a standstill. Physical activity stalled and virtual became the new reality. Education had to embrace virtual classes…