It seems that case-based learning is another theory that works well in certain contexts and content areas. I particularly like the idea that students can learn from what somebody else has learned by evaluating a case and the end result as experienced by others. Another plus is the level to which students have to evaluate data – one of the areas I find that students are very weak in is evaluating resources and facts. Many will take anything they see, read, or hear to be the absolute truth, and I like how the case-based learning model can allow them to explore contradictory data to come up with their own conclusions, or to simply push them to conduct further research or figure out why data turned out a certain way. It would also be easy to integrate multi-media components by allowing students to manipulate data and conduct hypothetical scenarios to see their end result.
Engaging students in the types of debates that arise from their research under case based learning also is a plus – anytime we can get students to passionately defend their stance on something we are helping them foster higher-order thinking skills, and I have found that my students will fight tooth-and-nail to defend a stance they have invested a lot of time in developing and researching.
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As a librarian, I am cheered by your enthusiasm for students to do their own research and for students to learn to think critically about the sources they use. I also share your interest in teaching methods that allow students to learn from each other...it would be interesting to see the various ways that these case repositories could be used!
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that "debating" is valuable for helping students learn to form a stance and then defend it. Students tend to take it personal which you must watch closely so it doesn’t get out-of-hand.
ReplyDeleteYou make an excellent point about students thinking everything the read as being fact. This is so apparent to me when students have to do research papers and are supposed to use scholarly journals and reputable sources and they reference wikipedia. Having students evaluate data can give teachers the opportunity to teach students how to discern reputable sources from ones that may be lacking.
ReplyDeleteAlso as noted by Karen above, debates are always great in class and it really gets students involved.
I AGREE I AGREE! I love the point you made that students seem to take what the read and hear as absolute fact. This method could definitely change that and help students to have a critical eye when evaluating information.
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