TEACHING SCIENTIFIC SUBJECTS THROUGH PROBLEM BASED AND REAL LIFE CASE SCENARIOS
Chapter 4: Case study method
4.2. Case study method effectiveness in science teaching
According to Freeman Herreid, Schiller and Herreid (2012), the case study method is especially useful in teaching STEM subjects because it allows students to understand what science is and how scientific knowledge is constructed. The authors distinguish several advantages of the case study method while teaching STEM subjects:
- At school students conceive what science is and how scientific knowledge is constructed. When classical research methods are applied, students learn to formulate questions, turn them into hypotheses, carry out research and experiments, process data and formulate conclusions based on the findings. Nonetheless, most students do not understand why they need it. As a result, students are not interested in STEM subjects. When the case study method is applied, students apply a scientific method in the context of the real world.
- A case is given not like a task, scheme or formulas, but as a story. Students like stories. All famous wise men of the world have delivered their teaching as a story, because it is memorisable, has a context, encourages imagination and thinking.
- A case is presented as an extract from the real life. Students take it with a presumption that it really happened, it is real and real people are participants of a given situation. A presumption is formulated for students that science helped to solve problems of some group of people. This helps to consolidate the importance of science and increases motivation to go deeper into scientific subjects.
- When the case study method is applied, the essential skills of STEM subjects are developed. Students not only get knowledge but learn how to think.
Online Resources “Understanding Science: How Science Really Works” is one of the portals that gives access to the resources for teachers and encourages to apply case studies, contextualize science, relate it with the real life of students, real local and global problems. Traditionally, the basis of the case study method is a text that tells a story. The majority of resources available for teachers are provided in the form of texts. For instance, National Centre for Case Study Teaching in Science provides access to a rich library of resources, yet the resources are given in a traditional format without making benefit of e-learning possibilities.
Students prefer cases presented in a video format. Video material grasps more details, enables to employ one’s imagination, to better understand the case itself and make sure that the given information is authentic information about the real world. The products created during the project displayed on the YouTube channel illustrate various aspects of applying the case study method in teaching STEM subjects.
Online Resources
- Freeman Herreid, C., Schiller, N.A., Hereid, K.F. (2012). Science stories. Using Case Studies to Teach Critical Thinking. National Science Teaching Association: Arlington. A practical handbook for teachers of STEAM about the application of the case study method in a classroom
- Understanding Science: How Science Really Works An information portal for teachers of STEM which gives a detailed and interactive explanation how to teach STEM at school and provides examples of lectures and other resources.
- National Centre for Case Study Teaching in ScienceA portal for teachers which stores resources for teaching STEM by means of the case study method
- E-Nature project YouTube channel A channel that provides all digital resources created during the project in one place
- Science community representing education. Report on PRACTICAL WORK IN SCIENCE: A REPORT AND PROPOSAL FOR A STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK.The importance of practical work in science is widely accepted and it is acknowledged that good quality practical work promotes the engagement and interest of students as well as developing a range of skills, science knowledge and conceptual understanding. This report into practical work in science in the UK during 5-19 education reviews evidence and, based on its key findings, proposes a strategic framework for enhancement of the practical work in science in schools and colleges.
- Center for Research on Learning and Teaching. Useful and informative articles on Case-based Teaching and Problem-based Learning.In this website section can be found articles which help to understand and implement on case-based teaching and problem-based learning methods. Articles describe the rationale for using case studies, the process for choosing appropriate cases, and tips for how to implement them in college courses. Given websites offer resources and examples specific to teaching in the sciences. Here provided example, tips for both teachers and students on how to be successful using case studies in the college/university classroom. Includes links to several case repositories, organized by discipline.
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