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Write Case Studies

Hints for Writing Prompts

 

Provide the learning outcome, course level (e.g., first year, undergraduate, advanced), and level of student experience (e.g., novice, experienced) to get higher quality and more nuanced case studies.

Provide a persona and context for the AI tool work with (e.g., I’m a civil engineering instructor at a polytechnic institute).

You can either provide a sample case study and ask the AI tool to create a similar case study, or tell it what makes a good case study in your field (e.g., includes dialogue, incorporates an ethical dilemma, characters encounter diverse perspectives, does not imply a simple solution or a correct answer).

Example Prompt 1

 

 I’m teaching a fourth-year undergraduate marketing course at a Canadian university. I would like my students to learn better team communication skills before they start a group project. Help me write a case study (one to two paragraphs long) that I could use in class as the starting point for discussion. In the case study, I would like to have a team member who doesn’t do their share of the work and a team member who provides harsh feedback to others. Please provide some guiding questions that engage the students in problem solving and analysis.

Output 1 (Copilot)

 

Case Study: The Rocky Road to Marketing Success

In a team of four students working on a major marketing project for a local business, two members stand out. Alex, a talented strategist, has a tendency to procrastinate and often fails to meet deadlines, leaving the rest of the team scrambling to pick up the slack. On the other hand, Jordan, the team’s graphic designer, is known for their high standards and attention to detail. However, Jordan’s feedback often comes across as harsh and demoralizing, leading to tension within the team. Despite their individual talents, the team’s progress is hindered by these issues, causing concern about the successful completion of the project.

Here are some guiding questions for discussion:

  1. How could the team address Alex’s procrastination without causing further conflict?
  2. What strategies could Jordan use to provide constructive feedback that encourages rather than discourages team members?
  3. How might the team establish a more effective communication strategy to ensure everyone is on the same page and feels valued?
  4. What steps can the team take to ensure equitable distribution of work and accountability among all members?
  5. How can the team leverage the individual strengths of Alex and Jordan to their advantage?
Example Prompt 2

The prompt was revised to add more detail.

Please expand the case study with a description of two more team members: Kyla, who is quiet, and rarely contributes, but when she does, she is really insightful. She is particularly uncomfortable with Jordan’s harsh feedback on others as well as herself. And Prakash, who is very social, and comfortable with public speaking, but says he is not a great writer, so we would prefer to focus on giving the presentation at the end of the term.
Example Output 2

Case Study: The Rocky Road to Marketing Success

In a team of four students working on a major marketing project for a local business, two members stand out. Alex, a talented strategist, has a tendency to procrastinate and often fails to meet deadlines, leaving the rest of the team scrambling to pick up the slack. On the other hand, Jordan, the team’s graphic designer, is known for their high standards and attention to detail. However, Jordan’s feedback often comes across as harsh and demoralizing, leading to tension within the team.

Kyla, the team’s market researcher, is quiet and tends to keep her thoughts to herself. However, when she does contribute, her insights are invaluable. She is particularly uncomfortable with Jordan’s harsh feedback, which often leaves her feeling discouraged. Prakash, the team’s presenter, is very social and comfortable with public speaking. He admits he’s not a great writer and prefers to focus on delivering the final presentation. His charismatic personality and strong communication skills make him a natural fit for this role.

Despite their individual talents, the team’s progress is hindered by these issues, causing concern about the successful completion of the project.

Here are some additional guiding questions for discussion:

6.      How can the team encourage Kyla to share her insights more frequently?

7.      What strategies could the team use to make Kyla feel more comfortable receiving feedback?

8.      How can the team balance Prakash’s preference for presenting with the need for everyone to contribute to the written work?

9.      How can the team create an environment where everyone’s strengths are utilized and weaknesses are supported? 
Additional Resources Mollich, E., & Mollich, L. (2024, June 12). How to use AI to create role-play scenarios for your students. Harvard Business Publishing Education.