Eight best practices in case-study teaching for college

A May 2024 Student Voice survey by Inside Higher Ed and Generation Lab found two in five students believe encouraging faculty to better help connect learning outcomes to issues outside the classroom or their career goals would most increase their academic success.

Case studies are one way faculty members can create direct connections between theory and real-world situations, helping students apply their learning in a creative way and develop analytical thinking.

Students say: A 2023 survey by Inside Higher Ed and College Pulse found, of active learning strategies employed in the classroom, 49 percent of students find case studies that connect course content to real-world problems to be helpful to their learning.

Similarly, when asked what their preferred class formats and teaching practices are to help them learn and retain information best, 2024 Student Voice respondents ranked case studies as the third most popular option (23 percent), with interactive lectures (44 percent) and traditional lectures (25 percent) the most popular formats.

Defining terms: A case is a narrative, situation, data sampling or statement that present unresolved and provocative issues, situations or questions, according to Indiana University Bloomington.

“Dependent on the goal they are meant to fulfill, cases can be fact-driven and deductive where there is a correct answer, or they can be context driven where multiple solutions are possible,” says Vanderbilt University’s Center for Teaching.

Case studies are often employed in professional schools of medicine, law and business but are increasingly common across disciplines including engineering, chemistry, education and journalism, according to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign’s Center for Innovation in Teaching and Learning.

The teaching practice, in addition to employing active learning, builds capacity for critical thinking, allows for an exchange of ideas in the classroom and mimics the real world in which decisions are not based on absolute values of right and wrong. It can also be applied to classes of all sizes, broken down into smaller groups, or used in fully online courses using Canvas discussions, according to Penn State University.

Best practices: Inside Higher Ed complied eight best practices and applications of case studies as shared by teaching and learning centers from around the country.

1. Identify learning goals. Assessment of case study assignments can be complex if the instructor does not apply intentional design principles with the work, so professors should be mindful of considering the value of the case study before introducing it in class, according to Columbia University’s Center for Teaching and Learning.
2. Choose complex cases. The best scenarios have ambiguous or multiple answers that allow students to debate ideas or consider multiple viewpoints. A case study can also challenge a student’s current understanding of the topic, as related to course content, according to Northern Illinois University’s Center for Innovative Teaching and Learning.
3. Apply it to the real world. West Chester University in Pennsylvania’s Teaching and Learning Center suggests presenting a case study of an ongoing trial, allowing students to compare the actual verdict to their in-class deliberations.
4. Provide opportunities for independent and collaborative work. Peer work can challenge students’ answers and clarify assumptions, while independent reflections can help learners identify how they arrived at their answer.

5. Include data and documents. When accompanied by reading assignments, case studies can be even more effective, according to Boston University’s Center for Teaching and Learning.
6. Set a positive tone. Like with all classroom discussions, students must feel comfortable learning from one another and demonstrate respect for each other’s ideas. Professors can apply constructive dialogue ideas to help students engage in the classroom.
7. Interrupt strategically. Professors shouldn’t dominate a case study discussion, but clarifying when students are confused or performing a mini-lesson on a challenging area can help ensure students are meeting learning goals, according to Yale University’s Poorvu Center for Teaching and Learning.
8. Track progress and content in the discussion. UIUC’s teaching center recommends the professor utilize the board or computer to structure students’ comments as shared, providing additional context and deepening learning.

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