What is a case?

Cases are not simply stories that a teacher might tell. They are crafted into compelling narratives, with a beginning, middle and end, and situated in an event or series of events that unfold over time. They must have a plot that is problem-focused with some dramatic tension that must be relieved. They are embedded with many problems that can be framed and analyzed from various perspectives, and they include the thoughts and feelings of the teacher-writers as they describe the accounts. Some case writers describe problems that remain unresolved and end their stories with a series of questions about what to do. Others include solutions that may or may not have worked. They all include reflective comments about their accounts that examine what they have learned from their experience and/or what they may do diferently in another similar situation.  --Shulman, J. (1991) Revealing the mysteries of teacher-written cases: Opening the black box. Journal of Teacher Education, 42 (4), pp. 250-262.

From writing cases in our course, we hoped students would learn:

• To take a "step back" and reflect on their practice;
• To forge stronger connections between theory and practice;
• To gain a deeper appreciation of their own students' learning;
• To see that multiple interpretations of their experiences can exist; and
• To appreciate the value of analyzing their teaching and their students' learning with their peers.