THE CASE STUDY METHOD OR TECHNICAL CASUISTRY: A PROPOSAL IMPLEMENTATION IN A UNIVERSITY OF VALE DO ITAJAÍ – SC - BRAZIL

Abstract

This comparative scientific paper deals with the relationship between traditional didactic teaching method used in Universities of the State of Santa Catarina (Brazil) and the proposal of a new methodology consisting of the following innovative strategies: (1) theoretical - practical discursive method based on real and current illustrative cases; (2) division of the class-room groups in two or more of them, each one with its specific attributions as regards the subject-matter in focus (defense – answer), as a motivation of practical debates; (3) interaction between different classroom, as enrichment of the thematic debate; (4) consensus of the solutions presented by different groups through the final debate. The proposal that defends this dynamic is based on the deconstruction of the traditional methods, rebuilding at the same level of social reality factual (case method), so that what would privilege is the practice, although without forgetting the theory. By the overlap of continued practical aspect on the basis theoretical, the assimilation of new knowledge acquired contours of concrete immediate understanding, adhesion and applicability, facilitating student learning. Although this method has being applied from formerly (the University of Harvard was already applying it in its High School of Law, from 1870), there seems to be certain contrariety with its practical function in other scientific branches, as the examples of Administration, Pedagogics, Economy, etc. However, it does not seem to us that it is inadequate to apply it to him at different areas – such us Pedagogy – since the practice facilitates the comprehension and the assimilation more quickly than the simply theoretical discussion. The defense of this assumption is our central target of this proposal.