How do I choose an interesting case for my class?

When planning the courses, teachers are faced with the need to select cases for their classes.

This process can be quite fun, but it can also be tiring. In this process, we analyze dozens of possibilities, read many case options, visit many case bases until we find those that meet our pedagogical objectives of that particular content, that class or for that class. Sometimes we look for the theme of the discipline, for the specific theme of the class in question. At other times, we look for specific organizations, territories, time periods, companies, or events that catch our attention.

The choice of teacher can be simplified when some criteria are clear. Thus, we will suggest here 6 points to be observed:

• The case has a level of difficulty compatible with your goals and for your class. In other words, neither too easy nor incomprehensible
• The case makes it possible to bring different perspectives and interpretations, so it is not based on the idea that there is only one correct answer or one ideal decision
• The case shows people and events in their temporal and organizational contexts with a wealth of information, but does not account for the full reality
• The case has noise and partial information, it deals with ambiguity

• The case does not focus on the outcome, but rather emphasizes the questions that fuel a discussion
• The case favors the student to build his knowledge, individually and collaboratively, and not just find this knowledge somewhere

The above points concern, above all, the quality of the case and adequacy to the teacher's objectives. There are also other aspects that can be observed that concern the cases available in the different digital databases. One of them is the budget allocated to the activity, as there are case bases that are free and others paid. If in your reality there is no budget to buy cases, see more details at the link How do I get free cases for my courses?