Field Training Through Case Studies

Described in this technical note is a 2-week workshop designed to train Indonesian community education workers (peniliks) to develop and use case studies in their work with village learning groups. The peniliks are described as mostly male, from a variety of backgrounds, but with backgrounds similar to that of their clients. Learning groups are defined as usually made up of 10 people who have come together to learn a particular subject. Using the definition that "a case study is a description of something that really happened," the document describes how the workshop approaches teaching the case study method to peniliks so that they will not only have new skills to use in their work, but will also see villagers as a valuable resource. The use of the case study to gather, organize, and analyze information is emphasized. An already existing model, "The Ten Characteristics of Learning," is used as the outline for preparing case studies. After classroom work involving small groups and brainstorming is completed, the report follows the peniliks to a village where they use new interviewing skills to acquire information for case studies; individual case studies are critiqued upon return to the training center. Program advantages and disadvantages are listed. (BRR)