ecch encourages authors to write a teaching note to accompany each case. Case teachers consistently report on the value of a well-conceived teaching note and the statistics speak for themselves. While 40% of the cases in the ecch catalogue have a teaching note, 95% of the fifty most popular cases have one.
Teaching notes are registered in the ecch catalogue alongside the case and they attract a royalty in their own right.
Content of a good teaching note
-
Summary of the case
The teaching note should include a brief description of the case and its context.
-
Teaching objectives and target audience
It should describe, with examples, the key issues and intended learning objectives, indicating the target group or class level for which the case was written.
-
Teaching approach and strategy
It should suggest how the case may be used in class and ways in which the class may be conducted. It may offer ‘trigger’ questions for opening and advancing the case discussion, suggestions for group work or student assignments, how to consolidate the learning, etc. Useful additional information could include suggestions for a teaching plan. It should also give some indication of the case’s demands on course time-tabling.
-
Analysis
The analysis should offer comprehensive answers to the list of questions and should, at least, be as thorough as one would expect from the best student. If the case includes quantitative data, it might suggest ways of utilising the data, and should ideally include the details of any spreadsheet analysis. At the very least it should indicate the techniques to be used for analysing the data.
-
Additional readings or references
Suggested additional readings should be listed if it is necessary (or helpful) for students to read text or other material in conjunction with the case. Specific readings can be assigned from these lists.
-
Feedback
It should provide an indication of how the case worked with different student groups; where possible indicating the case’s suitability for written assessment or examination, role-playing, or other forms of use. Where known, it might also include the actual outcome of the case situation, and some follow-up facts.
Read more
John Heath's article, The case teaching note, offers guidance on writing an effective teaching note.
