Many undergraduates, especially women and traditionally underrepresented groups, avoid higher-level science and mathematics. Several students who switched from science and mathematics majors in college report "poor teaching by faculty" as a significant reason for switching (Seymour and Hewitt 1997, p. 32). One effort to improve the learning of science is through case study teaching. Teachers use realistic or true narratives to provide opportunities for students to integrate multiple sources of information in an authentic context (Lundeberg, Levin, and Harrington 1999; Herreid 1994). Although such methods are being used in some university level courses, relatively little empirical research has examined whether and how these case-based teaching approaches have the desired effects of promoting deep understanding, enabling transfer of ideas to new contexts, and making learning more motivating or valuable for certain student populations (Lundeberg, Levin, and Harrington 1999; Lundeberg et al. 2002).
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Type Journal ArticlePub Date 3/1/2006Stock # jcst06_035_05_10Volume 035Issue 05