Case Based Learning presented by Yesenia Preciado

Case Based Learning presented by Yesenia Preciado

What is Case Based Learning?

Case Based learning is getting students to relate to real world through discussions of specific examples. The focus for students includes building knowledge and analyzing situations. This style of learning is mostly used for business education, medicine. (Harasim, 2012). Students use case study’s to learn a concept and do so by using dialogue and analytical skills.

Characteristics of Case Based Learning in the Classroom

Features that case based learning include: exploring real world examples, students working together, discussing specific examples, and discussing questions with more than one answer. The students also make connections from the real world examples to their own personal lives. Students can make connections to their own lives to help them formulate discussion. The role of the teacher is to facilitate discussion among students.

Theoretical Family of Case Based Learning

Constructivism is where Case Based Learning derived from and has its foundation for instructional model. “Constructivism refers both to a learning theory (how people learn) and to an epistemology of learning (what is the nature of knowledge)(Harasim, 2012,p. 60).” In other words, the theory is mostly based on the process of learning.  There are two major influential thinkers in this school of thought. One being Jean Piaget and the other was Lev Semyonovich Vygotsky.  Piaget focused his theory on cognitive constructivism, which basically means how a “learner understands the world, in terms of biological development stages”(Harasim, 2012,61). ”Vygotsky emphasized social constructivism, which focused on how “meanings and understandings grow out of social encounters (Harasim, 2012,61)”. Both of these enlightened thinkers contributed to the Constructivist view in which the Case Based Learning has its theoretical family ties.

Example of using Case Based Learning

An example of using a case study is when studying a famous incident in history. For example learning about civil rights, students can read a legal case studiy like Plessy v. Ferguson and other law cases that give students an opportunity to analyze the situation, make their own inferences, and relate to real life issues and how those cases made a difference in our civil rights movement. Many case studies can be found on different subjects in whom students are allowed to cerate dialogue and their analytical skills to determine connections. The process of analyzing these case studies allows people to learn in this manner.  Teachers standby and facilitate this discussion.

Helpful Links

Planning Lessons for Case Based Learning

Strategies for Case Based Learning

 What is Case Based Learning

References

Harasim, L. (2012). Learning theory and online technologies. New York, New York: Routledge.