Interactions in Case Discussions: A design-based Research Approach

The rapid growth of online learning environments in educational institutions of all sorts is leading to a search for effective methods of teaching in an online environment. Existing techniques, while adequate for most purposes, have some real limitations – one of which is the provision of effective learning while ensuring successful interaction among groups of people who may never see either the instructor or one another. In this paper the authors discuss the use of electronic case-based learning (e-CBL) as a means of providing an effective learning context, focusing particularly on the ways in which effective interaction can be optimised. The paper presents a review of the literature on case-based learning and then discusses the results of a first iteration within a design-based research project.