Relevance to Adult Learning Contexts
Because the case method can be seen as a dress rehearsal for real life situations, I can't come up with a reason how using this method wouldn't be applicable to adult learning. The goals of using the case method are all ideal qualities of adults, whether they are in a formal adult learning environment or the skills are to be used in their personal lives.
The key concepts of andragogy (Knowles, 2007) can each relate to the use of the case method as well:
The biggest connection I see between the use of the case method and the key concepts of andragogy are the applicability of what is learned and how by using the case method. There is a hands on association between what is being learned in the learning environment and what will be applied in the real life situation as the case method is a way to practice for the real event. Below is a video briefly describing andragogy.
The key concepts of andragogy (Knowles, 2007) can each relate to the use of the case method as well:
- As a person matures, his or her self-concept moves from that of a dependent personality toward one of the self-directing human being
- An adult accumulates a growing reservoir of experience, which is a rich resource for learning.
- The readiness of an adult to learn is closely related to the developmental tasks of his or her social role
- There is a change in time perspective as people mature-from future application of knowledge to immediacy of application. Thus an adult is more problem centered than subject centered in learning
- The most potent motivations are internal rather than external
- Adults need to know why they need to learn something. (p. 84)
The biggest connection I see between the use of the case method and the key concepts of andragogy are the applicability of what is learned and how by using the case method. There is a hands on association between what is being learned in the learning environment and what will be applied in the real life situation as the case method is a way to practice for the real event. Below is a video briefly describing andragogy.