Implementing "Student Centered" Case Studies

Many fundamental courses in an engineering technology curriculum are primarily concerned with the analysis of simple devices. For the example of an introductory mechanics course, forces and motions of levers and bars are studied. Many instructors believe that the complexities of commercial machinery are beyond the student’s current abilities. Students eventually have the opportunity to study the details of machine components in upper-level courses, once the fundamentals are mastered. However, students in the preparatory courses often struggle to see the relevance of such rudimentary analysis, which often results in fading interest. To engage the students and explore real-world applications in the fundamental courses, some instructors began using a case study method of instruction. Studies have shown that under proper conditions, this approach can be tremendously successful. This paper investigates having the students, themselves, preparing and using this case study approach. These “student-centered” case studies allow the students to gain a better understanding and demonstrate their analysis skills, along with enhancing their oral communication skills. Most importantly, the case studies bring excitement and enthusiasm to the classroom.