Faculty Member Barak Blackburn attends Case Method Institute

Humanities Faculty Member Barak Blackburn was selected to attend an intensive training with the Case Method Institute, an organization dedicated to bringing the renowned Harvard Case Method into secondary school classrooms. The institute was founded by Harvard Business School Professor Dr. David A. Moss, whose work has focused on adapting this highly effective instructional approach for history, civics, and the social sciences. 

Originally developed in the late nineteenth century by Harvard Law School Professor Christopher Langdell, the Case Method transformed legal education and remains the instructional standard in most law schools today. More than 100 educators from across the United States, including participants from as far away as Alaska were invited to take part in this immersive professional development experience. 

The Case Method is a Socratic, discussion-centered approach that challenges students to analyze complex problems, weigh competing perspectives, defend their reasoning with evidence, and engage thoughtfully with one another. As Wallace Donham, Dean of Harvard Business School, observed in 1921, "the severe disciplinary and analytic training of the student's mind...is the main object of the school." Through narrative-based learning, carefully structured questioning, and problem-based inquiry, the Case Method develops critical thinking, intellectual curiosity, collaboration, and civil discourse while placing students, not the teacher, at the center of the learning process. During the institute, Professor Moss not only shared the history and research behind the Case Method's effectiveness but also transformed the participating educators into students by leading them through a complete case study examining Athenian democracy. Experiencing the process firsthand allowed participants to better understand how carefully crafted questions and guided discussion can lead students to deeper insight and stronger analytical thinking. Beyond the workshop itself, teachers received complete classroom-ready lesson plans, ongoing instructional support, and access to an expanding collection of case materials. Thanks to the generosity of the institute's donors, the training, travel, lodging, and meals were provided at no cost to participants. 

Mr. Blackburn is excited to bring the Case Method into his AP U.S. History classroom for the 2026-2027 school year, where students will have even more opportunities to think critically, debate historical questions, analyze evidence from multiple perspectives, and develop the discussion and reasoning skills that are essential for success both in college and beyond. 

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