Addressing Problems Encountered in Case-Based Teaching

Decision cases and discussion teaching techniques can help students develop their capacities to analyze and solve problems. In contrast to the instructor-centered lecture method of teaching, through which learning occurs passively and largely by revelation, case-based teaching is highly student-centered and promotes learning through a process of discovery. In order for such discovery learning to take place, however, students must fully participate in both small-group and whole-class discussions of the cases under consideration. The purpose of this paper is to identify the problems encountered in case-based teaching, based on the context of my experiences with a case studies course in turfgrass management, and to share several solutions that were developed through trial and error.