On the Principles of "Case Analysis Method" for Political Learning in Germany : Focused on the Teaching Plan "Reform of the Article 218 of Criminal Law"
1999 Volume 24 Pages 77-84
Details
1999 Volume 24 Pages 77-84
The aim of this paper is to identify didactical principles of the "Case Analysis Method", which has been implemented since the 1970' s in political science classes (civics) in Germany. The feature of the "Case Analysis method" is to provide understanding of the real political process for secondary students through analysis of situation and political process of the Case. The decision-making of students is the focal point of this method. As a procedure of this research, at first the characteristics of the method are illustrated by comparing with the "Institutional Learning method". The "Institutional Learning method" can be explained as a method to learn polity systematically, generally and abstractly, on the other hand of the "Case Analysis method". Secondly the author analyzed these methods from three concepts of politics in order to clarify the goal of civics. Then thirdly, a lecture plan "Reform of the article 218 of criminal law" is described as an example of "Case Analysis method". Then the following three aspects are constructed and considered to analyze the principles of "Case Analysis method": (1) clarifying of criteria of selection of the Case, (2) drawing criteria of teaching materials and (3) formation of decision-making by students as goal of learning. The conclusions of this consideration are as follows. First the Case should be to improve the subjective commitment of students, to involve objective treatment of political process and to contain open-ended style to form students' own opinion. Secondly for the criteria of teaching materials, primary sources should be used in the classroom and avoid use of secondary sources. Thirdly "Case Analysis Method" offers two levels for decision-making by students, one is experience of political decision-making process and the other is to make one's own opinion through comparison with the political decision about the Case.
