Using case studies to facilitate discussions that support the investigation and research of topics.
Case Study
Time and Effort
Instructor Prep Time
High
Student Activity Time
Medium
Instructor Response Time
High
Complexity of Activity
Medium
Description
This discussion type aims to engage students with the content seriously. This discussion type can be the heart of the content knowledge activities, relying on activities that direct students to read, analyze, and investigate content material. New content knowledge builds on the student’s understanding and expands the knowledge base needed to apply and use the knowledge (Boettcher, 2019).
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Use it when you want...
Students to work with the ideas, researching possibilities and relationships and connecting the dots.
Students to build on their current understanding and expand their knowledge base to apply and use that knowledge.
Workflow
Identify a case study or develop a new one that aligns with your course outcomes or unit objectives. The case can be real or hypothetical.
Develop a case study with questions to guide students’ analysis. Distribute the case to students by using a page as a course assignment or discussion in Canvas.
Identify your expectations for students to work on the case. For example, the timeframe or the point(s) of view for students. Also, consider how you expect to monitor or assess the group process and the format of the end product.
Consider your interest in assessing the group's process and how that impacts technology needs. For example, you may want to establish separate assignments for students to submit in-progress reports or reflections on their group experience.
Form student groups and communicate the case and expectations. Allow a forum for students to ask questions.
Direct students to sort out factual data, apply analytical tools, articulate issues, and reflect on relevant experiences. Have them recommend actions that resolve the problem in the case.
You may wish to set up student groups in Canvas and guide students in using campus tools available through Canvas to have their group discussions.
Have students prepare a statement describing their assessment of the case, the options they see, and their recommendations for a decision.
Guide discussion of the cases with the entire class. Students will want to know what happened if the case is a real-world example. Share this with them after they have reported on it.
Have students turn in their final product.
Review the students’ statements on the case study.
Provide feedback/grades to group participants.
Debrief the activity with the class. Some ways this may be done include class announcements or a class-wide discussion forum.
