1. Definition of educational cases

Many experts and scholars have expressed the meaning of educational cases in different ways. Although there are different opinions, there is also a certain consensus. If summed up as a definition, that is, an educational case is a story of an educational situation. People often express their opinions, that is, comments, while telling stories. Therefore, a good case is a vivid story with wonderful comments.

2. Characteristics of educational cases

Case is a form of writing, so what are the differences and characteristics between it and what we usually call a paper?

The difference between (1) and paper

From the perspective of style and expression, the thesis aims at reasoning and focuses on discussion; The case is for the purpose of recording, mainly narrative, with discussion and explanation. In other words, the case is to tell a story, not to tell the truth through the story. Therefore, from the perspective of writing ideas and ways of thinking, the two are also very different. Thesis writing is generally deductive thinking, the way of thinking is from abstract to concrete, while case writing is inductive thinking, and the way of thinking is from concrete to abstract.

(2) The difference between teaching plan, teaching design and teaching record.

Generally speaking, the difference between teaching plan and teaching design is easy to understand. Teaching plan and design are all pre-conceived educational and teaching ideas, and they are a brief explanation of educational measures to be implemented; This case reflects the educational process that has taken place. One is written before teaching and the other is written after teaching; One is expectation, and the other is result.

The styles of cases and teaching records are similar, and their differences also reflect the characteristics and value of cases. Similarly, it is also a description of the education situation. Record teaching records and select cases when there is news. As for how to choose, it depends on the purpose and function of case writing.

Second, why do you want to write an educational case?

Educational cases can be divided into different types according to different writing purposes, writing scope, time and focus. Some tend to be macro, as big as introducing a country or region; Slightly biased, as small as describing a class and an activity. Some describe in detail the long-term process of event development; Some focus on situational fragments. Some emphasize theoretical analysis; Others emphasize practical description. As a school teacher, we can generally consider the purpose, function and focus of writing from several aspects.

1. Learn to apply theory

An important purpose of learning theory is to guide practice. However, many teachers always think that theory can't get the moon first, so it is better to learn some specific methods to be practical. Therefore, in educational practice, it is not uncommon to act by experience and feeling, which ultimately affects the improvement of teachers' professional level and their own quality. There are subjective and objective reasons for this phenomenon, but the way of learning that theory is divorced from reality is also an important factor affecting the learning effect. Case is a bridge between theory and practice, which largely makes up for the deficiency of the previous learning method of learning theory simply for the sake of theory, and closely combines theoretical learning with teaching practice.

After studying books, we are familiar with many theoretical viewpoints, but this does not necessarily mean that we have really understood and mastered them. Learning and applying theory in the form of cases can effectively deepen understanding. For example, there are many explanations about subjectivity theory in recent years, some say that students are the only subject, some say that students and teachers are both subjects, and some say that teachers are the dominant subject. Who is the subject? Abstract reasoning from theory to theory is sometimes difficult to understand. If combined with a specific example, it may be helpful to solve the problem.

2. Summarize the experience of teaching reform.

Experienced teachers talk about their own teaching experience, and there are many successful examples and experiences, but they are often limited to specific practice, knowing what they know but not knowing why. Case writing is a reflection on teaching practice. By describing and analyzing appropriate examples from practice, we can more clearly understand why some practices have been successful and why some have not achieved satisfactory results. Through reflection, we can refine and clarify effective educational behavior and its theoretical basis, so as to guide future practice more effectively.

Cases are also a good form for teachers to sort out and record their teaching career. In schools and classrooms, there are many people and things worth thinking about, learning or remembering. Some things or ideas are not suitable for writing a paper, and they don't want to be recorded in a running account, so writing a case is an option. The case not only describes the teaching behavior, but also records the thoughts, emotions and inspirations that accompany the behavior. It is a personal teaching file and educational history, which has unique preservation and research value.

3. Promote exchanges and discussions

Case is a story of educational situation, and different people will have different interpretations of the story, so the case is very suitable for communication and discussion, and can be an effective carrier for teaching and research activities and teacher training. Educational cases reflect the problems, contradictions and puzzles that teachers encounter in teaching activities, as well as the resulting ideas, ideas and countermeasures. For teachers, it is very beneficial to communicate and discuss these problems and ideas to improve their analytical ability and professional level.

Compared with writing papers, cases are more suitable for the needs of ordinary teachers. The case content is close to reality, the source of material is rich, the writing form is free, it is easy to spread and communicate, and it is more popular with teachers. According to the actual situation of education reform, schools and teachers can determine the discussion theme at a certain stage, collect materials, write cases, exchange discussions around a certain theme or topic, and combine relevant theoretical study and practical reflection to make teaching and research activities more targeted and effective.

1. Structural elements of the case

Judging from the structure of the article, the case generally contains the following basic elements.

(1) background

The case needs to explain the relevant situation of the story to the reader: time, place, people, the cause of the matter, etc. If you introduce a class, you should explain the background of the class, whether it is a key school or an ordinary school, an experienced excellent teacher or a young new teacher, a prepared "open class" or a usual "home class", and so on. The background introduction doesn't need to be comprehensive, but it is important to explain whether there are any special reasons or conditions for the story.

(2) Theme

This case should have a theme. When writing a case, we should first consider what problems I want to reflect in this case, whether it is to explain how to change poor students, or to emphasize how to inspire thinking, or to introduce how to organize group discussions. Before you start writing, you must have a clear idea. For example, when a school conducts research-based learning activities, different research topics, research groups and research stages will face different problems, situations and experiences, all of which are unique. When writing, we should cut in from the most rewarding and enlightening angle, choose and establish the theme.

(3) Details

With the theme, you don't have to record everything you hear when writing, but you should screen the original materials and explain the specific content to the readers in a targeted manner. For example, when introducing how teachers guide students to master learning methods, it is necessary to write clearly the transition process from "not knowing" to "learning", especially the key details. We can't introduce the "method", but we just pass it by when it comes to "mastering".

(4) results

Generally speaking, the teaching plan and teaching design only have the envisaged measures without the results of implementation, and the teaching records usually only record the teaching process without introducing the teaching effect; The case should not only explain the teaching idea, describe the teaching process, but also explain the teaching result, that is, the immediate effect of this teaching measure, including the students' reflection and the teachers' feelings. Readers know the result, which is helpful to deepen their understanding of the whole process.

(5) Evaluation

The author should have some views on the theme and content reflected in the case, including the guiding ideology, process and results of education and teaching, and analyze its advantages and disadvantages. Comment is a discussion based on narration, which can further reveal the significance and value of the event. For example, the same example of the transformation of "poor students" can be cut in from different theoretical angles such as pedagogy, psychology and sociology to reveal the reasons for success and scientific laws. Comments are not necessarily theoretical explanations, but can also be practical and emotional, causing people to resonate and inspire.

2. The key to writing a good case

Methods should be considered when writing articles, but having a complete story structure does not mean having a good case. To write a good education case, there are three key issues to pay attention to.

(1) Select a complex situation.

The so-called complex situation means that there are many possibilities for the occurrence and development of the story. Teachers are faced with various problem situations in education and teaching activities and need to make judgments, choices and decisions. Complex situations provide more space for choice, thinking and imagination, thus giving people more enlightenment. There are many typical cases and difficulties in school education and teaching, how to deal with them. Cases can reflect teachers' behaviors, attitudes, thoughts and feelings from different angles, and propose solutions and examples.

The so-called complexity is also relative. You think it's complicated, but he doesn't think it's complicated; It used to be complicated, but it's not complicated now. Therefore, the choice of educational situation varies from person to person and from time to place. What kind of situations and materials to choose should be targeted. First, we should meet the needs of the current educational reform practice and put forward things and problems that people care about and want to know; The second is to consider the scope of case dissemination, whether it is published publicly, disseminated in schools or for personal reference only. In short, writing a case should not only tell a vivid story, but also pay attention to why the story is told and to whom.

(2) reveal the psychology of the characters

The behavior of the characters is the superficial phenomenon of the story, and the psychology of the characters is the internal basis of the story development. Faced with the same situation, different teachers may have different ways to deal with it. Why are there different methods? What is the internal logic of these educational behaviors? What do the instructors think? Cases can go deep into people's inner world and let readers "know why". This is also the place where cases are different from teaching plans and teaching records. A good case should give full play to this feature and advantage.

Another important aspect of characters' psychology is students' psychological activities. Because cases are generally written by teachers, attention is often focused on teachers. How do you think, how do you teach, and how effective you are? You can explain clearly and feel good about yourself. However, how students think in their hearts and whether their views on teaching effect are consistent with those of teachers are often ignored. People often say that "preparing lessons should be done at both ends": preparing textbooks and preparing students. Truly reflecting students' thoughts and feelings in the process of education is an important part of writing a good case.

(3) Have original thinking.

The same thing can lead to different thinking. In a sense, the quality of a case is determined by the level of thinking. Because, choosing complex situations, revealing characters' psychology and grasping various structural elements are all carried out from a certain observation angle and under the guidance of certain ideological viewpoints. You need a pair of "eyes" to find, ask and solve problems from the complicated educational phenomena, and tell people what you want to know but can't say. There are no secrets and shortcuts to this skill, and it can only be understood and mastered through long-term tempering.

Cases can directly and vividly reflect the specific process of education and teaching, so they are very readable and operable, and are also very suitable for front-line teachers with rich practical experience to write. To write a good case, we must first have the foundation of practice and the accumulation of experience, secondly have certain writing skills, and more importantly, strengthen theoretical study and constantly carry out practical exploration. A good case can be better than many generalities. After all, good articles are not written, but made.