Development of a Web-Based Case Library

Abstract

Case studies have been used for decades to bridge the gap between classroom learning and practical application [1]. Cases used in the classroom are often seen in two forms: decision cases and historical cases. Decision cases are incomplete narratives that take the student to the point at which a decision must be made and the student is then responsible for solving the problem and justifying that decision. Decision cases are often used to help students develop their analytical and problem-solving skills. But historical cases are also important as they can model the decision process of an experienced professional and provide learners with experiences they haven't yet had [2]. Historical cases are complete narratives that state a problem or problematic situation, the actions taken to solve the problem, and the results obtained. This article discusses the development of a web-based case library that organizes and presents historical cases of professionals involved in turfgrass management. CONCLUSION: The Turfgrass Case Library was developed to provide a structured resource consisting of numerous cases for students to use to learn about problem situations and solutions that, as novices, they have not yet had experience with. The cases were planned to model the thought process learners should follow when confronted with a problem and they represent the ambiguous and multi-facet nature of the problems encountered in turfgrass management. Developing the library on a public page on the Web also increases the reach of the cases. The library serves as a resource to professionals in the field who encounter a problem, read about similar cases, and are provided with “just-in-time” learning geared specifically to the problem they are facing. Both classroom use and professional use are areas of research that will be explored in the future.