Students engage with issues in the case and collaboratively identify questions. Students explore their questions using a variety of investigative strategies, including library searches, internet searches, laboratory work, field work, computer simulations, interviews, film reviews, etc. Their results may be presented in several formats including posters, letters to the editor, web pages, an advertisement for local radio, an editorial cartoon, presentation, forum, etc. ICBL addresses several of the National Science Education Standards and AAAS Benchmarks. Teachers and students experience science integrated with other disciplines such as mathematics, history, language arts or consumer science.
Cases engage students in problem identification and problem solving.
ICBL focuses on the skills of inquiry and encourages collaboration. Cases provide multiple opportunities for students to develop communication, teamwork and information management skills needed for life long learning. Teachers will work with a variety of cases and case teaching strategies for meeting different objectives. Participants will write their own cases to fit within their current curriculum, identify likely learning resources and plan how to implement the cases in their own classes. Familiarity with the Internet and email are expected.