Prelude to the Case

This “clicker case” leads students through a demonstration of the scientific method by following the story of two Australian biomedical scientists’ discovery of the cause of human gastric ulcers. During the course of the case, students have the opportunity to see how the researchers followed up an unusual observation by applying the steps of the scientific method in support of their new hypothesis for the cause of this disease. Students practice the scientific method themselves by proposing their own hypotheses, identifying methods for testing the hypotheses, and predicting the results of experimental tests.

The 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.

Date Posted: October 10, 2008.