Teaching with the case method: opportunities and problems since the COVID-19 pivot to online

Abstract

Purpose This paper aims to detect the opportunities and problems when teaching with cases since the COVID-19 pivot to online. Design/methodology/approach From a qualitative phenomenological approach, both authors reflect on the pivot to online case method teaching in their master’s level courses in Colombia and the Dominican Republic. Findings The reflection allowed the authors to validate that the questions before and during the debate and the voting are resources equally valuable for discussing cases in the traditional classroom and online. However, the authors observe a pivot to teaching with cases online from the COVID-19 pandemic in aspects such as teamwork requiring more time in online class due to internet problems or students’ slowing down. The instructor’s viewing of teamwork is intermittent and causes feeling out of control. Working with cameras on or off generates different results in the students, in the teaching-learning process and in the results, which require the instructor’s good judgement decisions. The online discussion planning and organisation demand flexibility and empathy by the instructor, to promote a more significant student-student interaction, which, in the experience, is limited in the virtual environment. Finally, working with cases online generates and requires additional skills in the instructors to those of the traditional classroom. Originality/value The study’s originality consists of identifying the main divergences between face-to-face and online teaching with the case method, from the COVID-19 pivot to online. The study’s value is to warn instructors of problems that may arise in online teaching with the case method, for which recommendations are made.