ABSTRACT
A case is a narrative of an ill-structured problem that is waiting to be resolved. Students collaborate in case-based learning when you present them with a narrative with several possible outcomes and ask them to decide and defend the most likely outcome. Using the analytic models developed in the class, the students work through the facts of the case and decide which outcome best meets the agreed-upon criteria. As with problem-based learning, case-based learning is primarily concerned with developing problem-solving skills using knowledge acquired in the course and in previous courses. Unlike problem-based learning, the students are not expected to add any new information to the case. Cases are often descriptions of actual events, situations and conditions that illustrate the concepts. Sometimes they are fictional cases that permit the instructor to focus student attention more effectively on a small set of relevant factors where a real case might be too complex.
