WIP: Using the Case Methodology in the Electrical Engineering Classroom - the Example of a Course in Electric Aviation

This innovative practice WIP paper describes and exemplifies how the case methodology can be used in the electrical engineering classroom to teach about rapidly advancing technologies. The case method uses written descriptions of thought-provoking real-life professional challenges that students will try to understand and address through group work. This paper takes support from the educational research literature on the case method, problem-based learning, and on active learning methods. It contributes to these discussions with a focus on electrical engineering teaching as well as with a teaching case on the electrification of the aviation sector and the quickly changing technological challenges this entails. The uniqueness of this innovative practice concerns utilizing the case method in teaching electrical engineering in a particularly innovative field. The paper introduces the case methodology and how to author various kinds of teaching cases. A teaching case on electrification in the aviation industry will be outlined and evaluated in terms of discussing the teacher's view on teaching this case as well as how it was received and evaluated by students. The key takeaways from this paper are knowledge and encouragement for teachers to not only use the case method as a pedagogical tool to support students in thinking about innovative ideas at the forefront of electrical engineering - but also to start thinking about writing a case themselves.