You CAN Conduct the Case Study Method in an Online MBA Course

Written by Barbara Carpenter, YouSeeU MBA Account Advisor

By definition, the case study method of teaching is a participatory process. Learning takes place through analysis of the situation, discussing various approaches to solve the problem, and understanding the nuances of the situation. In a physical classroom, students volunteer their thoughts through small group and classroom discussion, and responses to queries from the educator. They hear the responses of their classmates, which leads to an evolving dialogue and a broader understanding of the different viewpoints. Ideally, this results in a better resolution to the case study problem.

So, how do you replicate this process for an online MBA course? By using the “Question and Answer” activity within YouSeeU, an educator can create an interactive environment that engages each student through on-the-spot video responses to questions about the case study. However, unlike the ground-based classroom, all the students will have to respond verbally to the question, rather than the select few who may dominate a discussion. By getting a response from every student, on video, the educator is able to better assess the students’ understanding of the case study, as well as gain insight to the analytical and communication strengths of each individual student.

After reviewing a number of the video responses, the educator can change the upcoming questions to reflect the direction the students are taking the case discussion, similar to what happens in a face-to-face classroom discussion. The video below highlights how the “YouSeeU Question and Answer Activity” can be employed in an online MBA course using the case study method.