The role of the case study method in training for urban and regional planning.

The case study method of instruction is a teaching method which uses discussion of a case to illustrate or to derive principles important to a profession from the case material. Case study also provides a framework for students to analyze complex situations common to the planning profession. For purposes of training in urban and regional planning, a case is defined as a narrative record of an issue which has been faced by planners together with surrounding facts and opinions upon which decisions were made. Although the case method is used in various courses of study, a systematic exposition of its pedagogic advantages has not been produced for planning. This thesis attempts to fill the gap in the literature by: 1) adapting and demonstrating use of the case method of instruction as a pedagogy in undergraduate planning education; 2) developing problem oriented methods for analysis of case material drawn from planning practice; 3) proposing that a normative theory of planning offers the best structure for planning education; 4) documenting the strong and permanent ties between geographers and planning education; 5) proposing formation of a Case Writing in Planning Programme as a means of improving planning education. These objectives are met through presentation and analysis of four original planning cases. Each case is analyzed differently in ascending order of difficulty and complexity. Each analysis contains a "Best Planning Practice" and a "Best Educational Practice" section which highlights appropriate professional and pedagogic use of the case material