Assessing Case Learning

There are many opportunities to evaluate students' performances when they are using case-based learning approaches. Here are some assessable activities students might engage in as they work on their investigations:
  • their participation and contribution to work in groups
  • the kinds of issues they identify,
  • the questions they develop,
  • the investigations they propose,
  • where and how they locate resources,
  • how they conduct investigations, and
  • the presentations they make.

You may wish to ask if learners are:

  • actively acquiring information about an appropriate  topic within this problem space?

  • re-organizing this information?

  • using strategies to select resources beyond text materials?

  • using a problem-oriented approach? (Is there a question for investigation?)

  • collaborating with other individuals in problem posing or problem solving?

  • choosing among alternative approaches to solve problems?

  • negotiating, arguing, or attempting to convince others?

  • generating graphs, tables, charts, or other graphics?

  • presenting conclusions?

  • presenting evidence to support their conclusions?

  • generating further questions as a result of this activity

There are many ways to formally and informally evaluate the quality of student work on these kinds of activities, including:

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