• Authentic
• Contemporary
• Cross-disciplinary with respect to learning outcomes
• Mirror professional practice
• Ambiguous/messy (not textbook perfect)
• Concrete (information rich)
• Narrative in structure (compelling)
• Open-ended (raising rather than answering questions)

Resources

• Quick Tips for Case Writing (pdf)
  Six quick pointers to help you get started on using cases
• Case Writing Guide (pdf)
  Help for working through the case writing process and how to avoid some of the pitfalls
• Questions for Instructor Peer Review of Case Drafts (pdf)

References

• Hutchings, Pat. “Cases about College Teaching and Learning: A Picture of Emerging Practice.” Ch. 1 of Using Cases To Improve College Teaching: A Guide to More Reflective Practice. Washington, D.C.: American Association of Higher Education, 1993.
• Stinson, John E. and Richard G. Milter. “Problem-Based Learning in Business Education: Curriculum Design and Implementation Issues.” New Directions for Teaching and Learning 68 (Winter 1996), 33-42.
• Silverman, Rita, William M. Welty, and Sally Lyon. Case Studies for Teacher Problem Solving, 2nd edition. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1996.
• National Center for Case Study Teaching in Science