A case is generally a story. A case recounts events or problems in a way that one can learn easily from the ambiguities and complexities. One can learn from the original participants in the case, along with taking over a case and dissect key information to solutions to the problems.
Nowadays, case studies are used as a vital part of teacher training modules. Come in different forms, with some being basic questions, and some very detailed, as well as requiring data analysis, case study learning method is two-parted. One is the case itself and another one is the discussion of the case. Case studies are chosen based on several things, including the kind of problem it deals with, how rich the narrative is, and whether the people in the study need to come to a decision or solve a problem.
Salient Features of Case Studies
- Cases are real: Cases compel aspiring teachers to work on real-world issues that are messy and complicated. Those complications force students like you to hone the skills by finding and using evidence, picking the theories, concepts and methods that are relevant and ignoring irrelevant material.
- Cases are huge: Written cases are longer than most other kinds of active learning and have several parts and reflect diverse points of view. It needs analysis, which involves several steps and a variety of kinds of intellectual tasks.
- Case discussion in public: Case discussion even in a small group enhances public speaking skills. It allows the learners to learn from each other that provides them the opportunity to take ownership of their learning. From the perspective of a faculty, case discussion offers a great opportunity for on-the-spot assessment of student learning.
Importance of Case Studies in Teacher Training
There are several reasons for incorporating case studies in teacher training programs, such as –
- Improve the performance of future teachers
When aspiring teachers are taught with case studies, they get a detailed understanding of real-life cases that enhances their knowledge. Case studies are easy to recall than dry facts. So, with better understanding and knowledge, they are not only able to perform better in the examinations but also in the classrooms while teaching students. This is why, nowadays, popular teacher training institutes include case studies in their training modules.
- Increase the perception of learning gains
Completing case studies are more effective at enhancing student perceptions of learning gains than completing general teaching modules. Case studies consist of real-life examples that increase students’ ability to understand what they are learning. And when they learn properly, they can use their knowledge in innovative ways. According to a study, more than 80% of aspiring teachers thought that case studies helped them a lot, compared to less than 20% told that they are happy with the traditional learning method.
- Enhance evaluation skills
Evaluation for aspiring teachers refers to their ability to judge information for a particular reason. This skill is one of the fundamentals of the case study method. And so, case studies help improve the evaluation skills of the future teachers that will ultimately contribute to decision making.
- Help deal with ambiguity effectively
The moment you enter into a classroom, you have to prepare yourself to deal with uncertainties as you never know what is waiting for you. There is no written rule that you can follow to deal with uncertain situations. The only thing that can aid you is critical and alternative thinking methods. When you go through various case studies during a teacher training program, you will come to know how other teacher use their analytical powers and use them successfully to deal with uncertainties. You can team this understanding with the power of your mind and deal with ambiguity effectually.
Case studies have the capability to give insight into phenomena, which can’t be learned in any other way. Along with stimulating new research in teacher training, case studies help question the theories from a new perspective. The days are not far away when teacher training will be incomplete without going through case studies.