The computerized case study shell: A new tool for integrating hospitality management education

Abstract

Conventional, paper-based cases can create administrative and pedagogical difficulties for both teachers and learners. They may also make open-ended problem solving more complex by obscuring the organization of data. The EXMAN project has invested three years and about $100,000 to devise a method of exploiting the learning potential of case studies more effectively. The result has been a computerized case study shell that presents material to students structured as a series of frames. These frames may include power tools such as spreadsheets or tutorial advice in the form of expert systems. Realism is enhanced by the use of time and cost constraints for accessing data and by facilitating the dynamic updating of material. Student learning strategies can also be monitored more easily to identify where more guidance is needed. This new tool seems to offer major advantages in terms of student motivation and learning. © 1989, Sage Publications. All rights reserved.