Often lost in the discourse regarding educational policy-making and implementation are the micropolitical experiences of the individuals who are most affected by policy: students. Policymakers often develop policy under the guise of making schools better, but in effect they often lose sight of insuring that all students receive a good education…

Using a comparative case study approach, the researcher followed 13 instructors for 2 years as they attempted to integrate the Visible Human Dissector, an educational software program, into their undergraduate anatomy courses. Instructors were motivated to use the software as a supplement for limited educational resources and because of its…

Researchers have used many statistical models to determine whether an institution's faculty pay structure is equitable, with varying degrees of success. Little attention, however, has been given to court interpretations of statistical significance or to what variables courts have acknowledged should be used in an equity model. This article…

A call for combining the strengths of geographic education with environmental education to produce an "education for sustainability" addresses local problems for sustainable development. A place-based approach encourages civic responsibility among students. Using service-learning to extend education beyond the classroom in this case study…

A narrative in the form of a courtroom trial is used to compare evidence on the nature of light as part of an introductory college physics course. Prosecuting and defense attorneys present evidence for and against competing wave and particle hypotheses for light behavior while students play the roles of jurors. (Contains 5 figures.)

Understanding the relevance of basic science knowledge in the determination of patient assessment, diagnosis, and treatment is critical to good medical practice. One method often used to direct students in the fundamental process of integrating basic science and clinical information is problem-based learning (PBL). The faculty facilitated small…

Graduate programs which typically produce college instructors rarely teach "how to teach." There is an instructional tool, however, which is invaluable for developing instructional communication skills: the case method. It can also be an effective means of helping pre-service teachers develop teaching skills. The case method is an…

This paper describes the design and use of a Web-based instructional design (ID) case in a team case competition involving six universities. It provides background information on case methods and techniques used to help students learn about instructional design practice. Teams participating in the 1996 competition were from: Arizona State…

This study investigated the characteristics of Computer-based Case Simulations (CCS) that may be associated with case difficulty. Difficulty was defined as the average rating by physicians of examinee performance on a nine-point scale or the passing rate on the cases. Two data sets were used, one from an administration of 18 cases to 201 medical…

This paper discusses the development of concept maps for an entire veterinary curriculum, for each of the planned courses, and for each of the case-based exercises in each course, drawing on current efforts at the College of Veterinary Medicine at Cornell University (Ithaca, New York) to develop an integrated curriculum for use in a problem-based…

This paper explores why and how cases might be used by teacher educators in the professional education of teachers; directs teachers to case materials and relevant articles on case use; suggests guidelines for evaluating cases; and provides a starter set of cases (involving special needs students) that can be photocopied for use in general and…

The case study method, a technique for examining realistic organizational problems through systematic analysis, is a very useful tool in the organizational communication class. Case analysis involves the identification and examination of salient issues causing the problems that organizational members are experiencing, as well as the development of…

THIS STUDY ASSESSED THE VALUE OF A COMBINATION OF PROGRAMED INSTRUCTION AND THE CASE METHOD AS A GRADUATE-LEVEL TEACHING TECHNIQUE. TESTS, SYLLABI, AND PROGRAMED CASE STUDIES WERE DEVELOPED FOR CLASSES IN SCHOOL LAW AT FOUR UNIVERSITIES. THE STUDENTS WERE PRE- AND POST-TESTED AND WERE RATED ON BOTH ACHIEVEMENT AND AN OPINION SCALE. IN THE…

The goal of this investigation was to qualitatively and quantitatively examine the case method as a means of teaching speech communication concepts. Three hypotheses were tested: subjects who read textbook material learn more than those who do not; subjects who read textbook materials and case studies learn more than those who read neither; and…

The case method poses a problem that has no easy solution. The case is based on factual information and has an introduction, an exposition, a development of the central issues, and a summary. Students must decide the outcome for themselves. Tips to help teachers write and use cases are provided. (RM)