I like case based reasoning for many of the same reasons I prefer qualitative research findings to quantitative findings...because I understand them better. I agree with the assigned articles' statements that story-telling is something that seems to be built into our psyche and culture. It almost seems to be the most natural way to communicate and event or idea, through narration. So why is it not used more often in academia? I agree that it leaves room for conjecture, subjectivity and bias....these are things that have to be weeded out for something like a case-study. But I feel that these are barriers that can be overcome.
I really don't see how some professions or areas of study could get by without using case-based reasoning in some form or another. Physicians, lawyers, judges, detectives, psychologists, anthropologists, even sports coaches. It seems that these professions would (and do) rely heavily on previous cases in order to solve new cases...how could they get by without case-based reasoning? How to you train a doctor to make a diagnosis without relating it to some sort of past case? How do you train a lawyer without having them to read through old case files and study them at some point? I really wonder if it can be done. I think it's examples like this that allow case-based reasoning to speak for itself. Not only is it a useful method, sometimes it is an essential method.
Another interesting thing about using cases, that differs from the other problem solving models we have looked at, is that it stresses using actual events. The other models rely on a designer to create situations or problems which simulate a real world problem. When using cases, you don't have to simulate a real problem...you use a real problem that has actually occurred and been documented. Doesn't really get more "real-world" than that.
Zac, you bring up some interesting points. I agree that there are many fields that can use case based learning. I can see this approach being used more in the upper grade levels, then in lower elementary school grades. Once student have a base knowledge, they can apply it to case based learning better. I think it will be hard to teach reading, phonics, and addition in a case based learning environment. I also feel students will get more out of real world problems, vs simulated real world problems.
ReplyDeleteI also like that they use real cases. We don't have to make them up! This is easier for the lesson designers and way more authentic for the learners! Great point!!
ReplyDeleteZac,
ReplyDeleteI agree with you on how previous cases can help. When I taught private music lessons, I sometimes had to diagnose playing problems. It helped to think of previous students and how I corrected their problems.
I find it interesting that storytelling is becoming re-legitimized in learning - in training contexts to research. Seems like anecdotes were a natural way of learning in the past, then came popularization of empirical methods that moved away from mere anecdotes, and then now the literature is saying that anecdotes were useful, but maybe we can capture them more accurately, purposefully and systematically.
ReplyDelete