The main purpose of this study is to compare the effectiveness of case- based learning method instruction over traditional method instruction on eleventh grade high school students&rsquo / understanding of solubility equilibrium concepts. In addition, students&rsquo / attitudes toward chemistry as a school subject and students&rsquo / epistemological beliefs were investigated. Sixty-two eleventh grade students from two classes of a chemistry course taught by the same teacher in Atakent High School in 2007-2008 spring semesters were enrolled in the study. The classes were randomly assigned as experimental and control group. Experimental group students instructed by case-based learning method in which specific situations, generally real-life examples were discussed. On the other hand, control group students were instructed by traditional method. Solubility Concept Test was administered as a pre-test to both groups. Moreover, Attitude Scale toward chemistry and Epistemological Belief Scale about chemistry were administered as a pre- and post-tests to all groups. Solubility Equilibrium Concept Test and Open-Ended Solubility Equilibrium Concept Test were administered as a post-test to all groups. The results showed that case based learning instruction produced significantly greater achievement in understanding of solubility equilibrium than the traditional instruction. Also, there was a significant difference between the experimental and the control group with respect to their epistemological beliefs and attitudes toward chemistry as a school subject in the favor of experimental group. Results obtained revealed that students have several misconceptions related to solubility equilibrium. Case based learning was effective for remediation of misconceptions and enhancing students&rsquo / understanding in comparison to traditional method.

At a theoretical level the research identifies a conceptual framework for the design of fruitful case discussions in an online environment and at a practical level, the conceptual framework has been used to implement and evaluate several versions of a case-based online course.

The effect of case based learning on 10th grade students&rsquo / academic achievement in the unit of human reproductive system and their perceived motivation (Intrinsic Goal Orientation, Extrinsic Goal Orientation and Task Value) was investigated in this study. The study was conducted during 2007-2008 spring semester in a private high school in Ankara, Turkey. A total of 80 (48 males and 32 females) tenth grade students from four biology classes of two teachers were involved in the study. One class of each individual teacher was assigned as control group and the other class of the same teacher was assigned as experimental group to sustain randomization. Two of the classes assigned as experimental group were instructed with case based learning, while two classes of the control group were received traditionally designed biology instruction. In the experimental group, two cases that are divided into several parts were assigned in an interrupted manner. Students learned the human reproductive system via cases in experimental group without any additional method. The cases include incomplete data and students were needed to search for and discuss to answer the questions posed in the cases and by themselves and to complete the data. When the students completed a part of the case, next part was distributed. While dealing with the dilemma presented in cases, students did independent study as well as group work. In the control group, instruction was based on teacher explanations and web based notes prepared by the biology department of the high school. Human Reproductive System Achievement Test, Motivated Strategies for Learning Questionnaire were administered as pre-test and post-test to the students in both groups to measure the students&rsquo / academic achievement in the unit of human reproductive system / and their perceived motivation / specifically, task value, intrinsic goal orientation, and extrinsic goal orientation. Multivariate Analysis of Variance (MANOVA) was used to investigate the effect of case based learning on the students&rsquo / academic achievement in the unit of human reproductive system and their perceived motivation. Results revealed that case based learning improved students&rsquo / academic achievement and task value.

Software development is no longer a task limited to professionally trained computer programmers. Increasing support for software customization through scripting, the opening of application programmer interfaces on the Web, and a growing need for domain specific application support have all contributed to an increase in end-user programming. Unfortunately, learning to program remains a challenging task, and the majority of end-user programmers lack any formal education in software development. Instead, these users must piece together their understanding of programming through trial and error, examples found online, and help from peers and colleagues. While current approaches to address the difficulties facing end-user programmers seek to change the nature of the programming task, I argue that these challenges often mirror those faced by all novice programmers. Thus, pedagogical solutions must also be explored. This dissertation work investigates the challenges that end-user programmers face from a computer science education perspective. I have engaged in a cycle of learner-centered design to answer the high-level questions: What do users know; what might they need to know; how are they learning; and how might we help users discover and learn what they need or want to know? In so doing, I uniquely frame end-user programming challenges as issues related to knowledge and understanding about computer science. Rather than building new languages or programming tools, I address these difficulties through new types of instructional materials and opportunities for felicitous engagement with them. This work is contextualized within a specific domain of non-traditional programmers: graphic and web designers who write scripts as part of their careers. Through an in-depth, learner-centered investigation of this user population, this dissertation makes five specific contributions: (1) A detailed characterization of graphic and web design end-user programmers and their knowledge of fundamental computing concepts. (2) An analysis of the existing information space that graphic and web designers rely on for help. (3) The implementation of a novel case-based learning aid named ScriptABLE that is explicitly designed to leverage existing user practices while conveying conceptual knowledge about programming. (4) Initial confirmatory evidence supporting case-based learning aids for the informal computing education of web and graphic design end-user programmers. (5) An argument in support of the value of normative computing knowledge among informally trained programmers.

Implant dentistry has emerged as a very reliable and predictable option for replacing missing teeth. Implant education at the pre-doctoral level has been implemented in most parts of the world and is currently perceived as a fundamental discipline in dental education. Dental graduates today are expected to have knowledge and possess skills at the competence level in order to provide care for the growing number of patients seeking this treatment option, which may be the optimal option for the majority of their cases. However, very little is known about current trends, issues, and perspectives of implant dentistry education. This study builds a knowledge base about implant dentistry education in pre-doctoral dental education programs. It begins with an overview of the current state of implant dentistry education described in Chapter 1. Chapter 2 evaluates faculty perception in Kuwait University Faculty of Dentistry regarding case-based-learning, a pedagogy that has been recommended by multiple dental education institutions as the context within which pre-doctoral implant dentistry education should be taught. Chapter 3 presents an example of how case-based-learning pedagogy might be implemented in the form of a case report. Chapter 4 creates the link between faculty perception and student outcomes and presents an evaluation of students' competence level regarding pre-doctoral implant education. Finally, Chapter 5 provides a summary and synthesis of the three articles with a focus on placing this research within the larger body of scholarship on implant education and on identifying implications for policy, future scholarship, and practice.

There has been a growing call for change in the management of dental education programs, and, in response to this call, the faculty and staff at the University of the Pacific Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry developed the Pacific Dental Helix Curriculum management model. The first major component of this curriculum was the development of the Integrated Clinical Science Strand of the Helix focused on multidisciplinary and case-based andragogies. The mixed method research design was used to identify common aspects of Case-Based Learning and multi-disciplinary teaching through a qualitative analysis of curricular materials and to analyze their impact on selected student outcomes of pre and post-change through statistical analysis. The outcomes chosen for the quantitative portion were surrogate measures of National Board Scores and grade point averages to represent knowledge and skills. The overall analysis of the quantitative data shows negligible impact on the outcomes being measured. We know from the literature that active learning models motivate and engage students at a higher level in their learning and better prepare them to solve problems creatively versus a traditional educational model, so it is significant to see that there were no decreases in performance with a move to a more engaging curriculum. This study offers foundational information for future curriculum design, pedagogy, and assessment.