Let’s begin with the definition.
Case analysis in teacher education involves collecting information over time
about a teaching situation, and then using that information to understand the
situation better and to derive principles from it.
In other words, it’s a way of learning from experience. Rather than just reading
what experts say in a textbook, case analysis allows us to study real-life examples
of classroom situations, often complex ones, and reflect on them deeply.
This approach is not new — in fact, it has a long history in fields like business,
law, and medicine. For example, in business schools, students might study how a
company became successful and try to understand the principles behind that
success. Similarly, the Harvard Law School has used case studies since 1870.
However, in education, case analysis didn’t really become common until the mid-
1980s, when researchers and institutions like the Carnegie Task Force began to
promote its use for teacher training.
So, what does a case look like?
A case is usually a written summary of a teaching situation. It might focus on
classroom management, student behavior, lesson planning, or learning outcomes.
For example, teachers might videotape their lessons, reflect on the footage, and
describe how they handled specific situations. Or, they might observe high-
performing students and analyze why they succeed.
The key idea is that the written case becomes data — not just a story, but
something that can be studied and discussed to discover useful teaching principles.
Let’s take a moment to look at the key characteristics of a case:
1. It focuses on real-life teaching situations and issues.
2. It describes specific examples we want to learn more about.
3. It has implications beyond the case itself — it can help other teachers learn
too.
4. It provides a detailed narrative, but the analysis is left for the reader.
5. It becomes a tool for reflection and professional growth.
To sum up, case analysis is not just about telling stories. It’s about learning
from practice, thinking critically, and developing a deeper understanding of what
works — and what doesn’t — in real classrooms.
