Social Studies Case Study description and Rubric

A case study is a description of an actual situation involving a decision, a challenge, an opportunity, a problem or an issue faced by a person or persons. The case requires the reader to step figuratively into the position of a particular decision maker, specifically to identify, analyze, and to propose solutions to the problem using data analysis, technology and other research tools.

The teacher candidates will create and write a comprehensive case study that includes data collection and analysis and reporting during their clinical internship, EDFS460.

The clinical intern will identify a student or small group of students in their assigned classroom who are not attaining an acceptable level of understanding of a specific concept related to an NCSS theme. It is suggested (though not required) that the student(s) used in the Case Study also be the individual student(s) focused on in the Candidate Work Sample data analysis section.

The purpose of this case study is to identify a student having specific problems in your class, identify the problem(s), propose a solution that will aid the student and report whether that solution was successful. Specific NCSS theme(s) need to be identified to be addressed.

The steps listed below should assist you through the process and will be evaluated with the rubric.

Case Study steps
Evaluate
Describe the student(s) and why they were chosen for the case study. Identify and describe the concept within an NCSS theme that is not being understood. Collect data on current performance.
Analyze
Consider the prior student work using appropriate data analysis, collection and explanations to define why the student is having difficulty. Include student examples and data tables or graphs to demonstrate the issue.
Describe Environment
Describe the classroom management and instruction techniques used to teach prior lessons and how these may be influencing current performance.
Propose a Solution
Propose a method based on your research of current student work and educational theories that you could use to aid the student(s) to understand the concept. Use your training to determine potential causes for misconceptions. Use theories that you learned in EDFS 303, EDFS 345, EDFS 456, or any other courses (use APA style citations).
Implement
Try your new method of instruction. Describe how data will be collected and analyzed based on the proposed solution
Report results
Analyze and write up results with appropriate data tables and/or graphs and interpret the results based on theories you learned.
References
Include minimum of five references. Text books you have used in your studies are appropriate. Use APA style for citations and reference page.

Case Study Rubric

Elements/Standards / Not Met (1) / Met (2) / Target (3) / Score
Evaluate
Describe the student(s) and why they were chosen for the case study. Identify and describe the concept within an NCSS theme that is not being understood. Collect data on current performance. / Does not describe the student(s) or identify the concept nor researches/or write the concept / Attempts to identify the concept and attempts to research/write the concept / Clearly identifies the problem and thoroughly researches/writes the issue. The NCSS Theme at issue is clearly addressed.
Analyze
Consider the prior student work using appropriate data analysis, collection and explanations to define why the student is having difficulty. Include student examples and data tables or graphs to demonstrate the issue. / Does not analyze the data or define why the student is having difficulty. / Analyzes some of the data and recognizes the student difficulty. / Clearly formulates the problem the student is having based on thorough analysis of the data using tables or graphs.
Describe Environment
Describe the classroom management and instruction techniques used to teach prior lessons and how these may be influencing current performance. / Does not adequately describe the classroom management and teaching techniques used. / Describes the classroom management and teaching techniques used. / Clearly describes classroom management and teaching techniques used with great detail.
Propose a Solution
Propose a method based on your research of current student work and educational theories that you could use to aid the student(s) to understand the concept. Use your training to determine potential causes for misconceptions. / Proposes no strategies to assist the student. / Proposes limited classroom management or teaching strategies to assist the student. / Proposes comprehensive classroom management and/or teaching strategies based on research to assist the student.
Implement
Try your new method of instruction. Describe how data will be collected and analyzed based on the proposed solution / Does develop classroom management or teaching strategies to address the student’s issues. / Attempts to develop classroom management or teaching strategies to address the student’s issues. / Clearly writes classroom management and teaching strategies to address the student’s issues and a data collection method to document it.
Report results
Analyze and write up results with appropriate data tables and/or graphs and interpret the results based on theories you learned. / Does not analyze the classroom management or instruction techniques / Minimally analyzes the classroom management or instruction techniques used and provides some data.. / Thoroughly analyzes the classroom management and instruction techniques and supports this with data tables and/or graphs.
References
Include minimum of five references. Text books you have used in your studies are appropriate. Use APA style for citations and reference page. / Does not include references / Includes five references / Exceeds the minimal five required references

Revised 5/10/16