Prelude to the Case

Is it better to have a new parking lot on campus or utilize that space to develop a community garden? This is the problem presented in this “clicker case” as students are involved in the decision-making process to make a recommendation to the administrators of their university. This issue leads to learning about several concepts related to sustainability and the challenges inherent in developing more sustainable life styles. A real measurement of students’ ecological footprint quantifies the “deficit” that each one of us carries and provides a framework for further discussion.

This case is called a “clicker” case because it was designed to be presented in a class that uses personal response systems, better known as “clickers.” The case study is presented in class via PowerPoint, with multiple-choice questions sprinkled throughout the “lecture.” Students are expected to answer the questions as they arise using their clickers. Many instructors allow students to consult with their neighbor before clicking in their answer. The entire approach encourages student participation even in the largest of classes. The use of clickers in combination with case studies is described in greater detail in the article “Clicker” Cases: Introducing Case Study Teaching Into Large Classrooms.

Go to the handout

Go to the PowerPoint presentation (~800 KB)

Go to the teaching notes

Acknowledgements: This material is based upon work supported by the NSF Grant No.DUE-0618570. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of NSF. Additionally, the authors would like to thank Drs. Clyde F. Herreid (University at Buffalo), Mary A. Lundeberg (Michigan State University), and Eric Ribbens (Western Illinois University) for their guidance and critical evaluation of the case.

Date Posted: November 23, 2009.