Case-study methodology is an established strategy for active learning in higher education. As a learner-centered approach, it places emphasis on students’ acquisition of skills and competencies such as problem solving, argumentation, critical thinking and ability to synthesize complex scenarios into essential components. Traditionally implemented in professional schools (law, business, health sciences), this pedagogical method is broadening its impact into the humanities, social sciences and liberal arts with the help of a rich spectrum of innovative learning technologies. This presentation will describe a revamped implementation of the case-study methodology geared to the 21st century learner, with particular focus on effective curricular interventions inside and outside the classroom. A series of curricular interventions will be presented, highlighting their relative levels of efficacy considering parameters such as subject matter specificity, class size, and resource-intensiveness.

1. Learning technologies
at the service of the
Case Study
Methodology in the
21st century
classroom
Cristian Opazo, Lillian Moran
New York University

2. Case Method - background
Harvard Law School (~1870)
Harvard Business School
(~1915); widespread use in
1930s and 1940s
Others: medicine & other health
sciences, administration, policy
analysis, management, etc.
Case Method an also be
adopted in liberal arts and
general education

3. Rationale for Using the Case Study Method
To bridge the gap between theory and practice
A good case study gives students practice in:
identifying the parameters of a problem
evaluating courses of action
recognizing and articulating positions

4. Case studies are contextual narratives
Consist of the following elements:
1. a specific, reality-based story
2. a rich scenario that describes a relatively complex
issue
3. a conflict to be solved

5. Case Study Method works on two cognitive levels
Fundamental
Level
1. raises a thought-provoking issue
2. portrays actors at critical junctures
3. provides plenty of data about entities, locations, and actions
4. lacks an obvious or clear-cut right answer
5. encourages students to reflect and take a position
6. encourages students’ active participation
Higher level
thinking

6. Examples vs. Case Studies
CASE STUDIES:
student applies
the facts with
active guidance
over time
EXAMPLES:
instructor
describes
the facts

7. Implementation of Case Study Method
Case with
action questions
What actually
happened
Review case based
on new information
Any number of course sessions

8. Two examples at NYU
Wide spectrum of implementations (from very simple to very complex)
Evaluating clinical competencies through Qualtrics surveys
Multimedia Interactive Case Study: Family Homelessness in
NYC

9. Resources: Free Cases

10. Thanks EdMedia
and thanks Vancouver!