Traditionally, instructors create case studies for teaching, but these may not always reflect the situations students face in their life space. Dr. Bonnie Lee, Professor in Health Sciences (Addictions Counselling), is named one of this year’s EDI Scholars to advance the University of Lethbridge’s ongoing commitment to accessibility, belonging and community. Her project, Student-generated Quick Cases: EDI Dilemmas from Students’ Lived Experience, invites upper-level undergraduate and graduate students to craft concise, lively cases that capture students’ encounters with EDI dilemmas in their teamwork, internships, interactions with superiors and social media.
Following the style of Hollywood screenplays, these Quick Cases feature protagonists tackling EDI challenges in three acts: setup, conflict, and resolution. Submitted cases will be adjudicated by a panel to be included in an open educational resource that primes class discussions and learning.
“Situations involving EDI are often complex, involving multiple players, each with their own background, values and life experience,” says Lee. “They can bring up strong emotions. Quick Cases allow students to dive into assumptions held beneath the surface and experiment with various dialogues to work out these dilemmas with feedback from fellow students.”
A pool of Health Sciences faculty and instructors are supporting this project by planning course discussions and assignments to help students become a part of this collaborative project, as well as sitting on a panel that will select four of the most compelling cases to receive a $75 award. Inclusion in the learning resource will also add to students’ resumes. The Quick Cases approach not only fosters empathy but also hones critical analysis, leadership, negotiation and conflict-resolution skills critical to addressing EDI issues
The goal is to enhance EDI awareness, tapping into students’ experience to build a valuable repository of student-created cases for future teaching and learning. In essence, this initiative transforms students into co-creators of their education, making EDI learning a richer and more grounded experience.
Anyone interested in participating or learning more about this project can contact Lee at bonnie.lee@uleth.ca.