ABSTRACT

Teaching notes should provide useful background information in order to better understand a case. According to the European Case Clearing House, which holds the world's biggest case collection, only about 50% of their registered cases are accompanied by teaching notes. Basically, teaching notes are guidance documents that enable potential case instructors to teach a case, providing a case summary, teaching goals, key issues, concepts, open questions and potential approaches to the case. Within the oikos Competition the authors have observed a surprisingly widespread lack of knowledge concerning concepts, goals and contents of case teaching notes. While the style, length and design of a teaching note may vary widely, the authors consider various elements. These include case summary; case teaching objectives, target audience, targeted courses; sources of the case material; teaching approach and didactic elements; analysis and methods; further reading, references, media support; and feedback and perspectives.