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"History teaches contingency; it demonstrates that the world
has been different and could and will be different again."

- Drew Faust, Former President of Harvard University

About the Harvard Case Method

The Case Method Institute for Education and Democracy (formerly the Case Method Project) is an initiative formed to bring case method teaching to high schools in order to deepen students’ understanding of American democracy.

Based on the highly successful experience of Harvard Business School and other graduate and professional programs that use case-based teaching, the case method can be employed to strengthen high school education, ensuring a more exciting, relevant and effective experience for students and teachers across a range of subjects.

The case method can be especially effective at engaging students with topics in history and democracy, and it presents a unique opportunity to help reverse the broad decline in civic education and civic engagement in the United States.

The curriculum includes a series of cases covering pivotal decision points in American democracy which appear in Harvard Business School Professor David Moss's book, Democracy: A Case Study.

Case Method  Professional Development Workshops

League of Women Voters chapters from around the country can nominate outstanding, active high school teachers (grades 9-12) of US history, government, or civics to attend a case method workshop taught by Harvard Business School Professor David Moss. 

Teachers from public, private, and charter schools are welcome. Once nominated, teachers complete a short registration link and the Case Method Institute team will schedule a telephone interview with them.

Teachers accepted for the workshop agree to teach cases in their classes, and their nominating League chapter agrees to organize one community case discussion with them.

For more information about this year's teacher training, contact Deirdre Kamlani.
CASE METHOD PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS
FOR TEACHERS
For further information please visit the Case Method Institute Website

National Advisory Board to the League of Women Voters/Case Method Institute Collaboration

National and New England
Greenwich, CT - Deirdre Kamlani, Aaron Hull, Aya DeSimone



Pacific Northwest
Oregon State - Toni Lampkin


California
Beach Cities, CA - Barbara Arlow


Southwest
Santa Fe, NM - Darlene (Kelly) Davis

Upper Midwest
Milwaukee County, WI - Leigh Ann Tidey
Beloit, WI - Deb Fallon


Midwest
Topeka, KS - Jan Martens


Texas
Cy-Fair, TX (Houston region) - Marlene Lobberecht
New York
Albany, NY - Sean Fitzsimons
New York City, NY - Jane Hatterer

Mid-Atlantic
Northern Valley, NJ - Lucy Heller
Radnor, PA - Roberta Winters
Pittsburgh, PA - Cristina Beuger
Montgomery County, MD - Amanda Zigmond
Anne Arundel County, MD - Gail Viamonte

South (ex-Florida)
Piedmont-Triad, NC - Ellen Weiner

Florida
Orange County, FL - Tricia Huder


Community Case Discussions


UPCOMING  COMMUNITY CASE DISCUSSIONS AROUND THE U.S.
Upcoming Events
Upcoming Events

Past Community Case Discussions in Greenwich

CS24 Sue Baker, Alison Waller, and Caroline Adkins
Sue Baker, Alison Waller,
and Caroline Adkins 

2024

In April, Greenwich High School teacher, Aaron Hull, and Wilton High School teacher, Alison Waller, led LWV Greenwich’s 8th annual community case discussion “Democracy and Women’s Rights in America.”  The case traced the long history of the struggle for women’s rights, from the suffrage movement to the fight for ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment.  An engaged group enjoyed a robust and memorable discussion.

CS24 Aaron Hull, Alison Waller, and Deirdre Kamlani
Aaron Hull, Alison Waller,
and Deirdre Kamlani 

LWVG_2022_Case_Discussion.jpeg

2022


In November 2022, Greenwich Academy hosted the League’s 7th community case discussion, marking the first time the event was held in person outside Greenwich High School.  A group of engaged adults and students discussed the “Nation Divided” case on secession which was moderated by teachers Nathan Kress (Greenwich Academy) and Charles Sliter (Rye Country Day School).  Over 90 people signed up to attend the session.
 

SURVEY RESULTS

LWVG_2022_Case_Discussion_wide_shot.jpeg

2021

In November, the Greenwich League organized a national community case discussion moderated by special guest, HBS Professor David Moss, via Zoom, drawing 320 participants.  League chapters and teachers from more than 33 states were invited.  The group discussed a foundational debate at the 1787 Constitutional Convention: "Should the federal government should have veto power over state laws?"

 

SURVEY RESULTS -
Greenwich


SURVEY RESULTS -
National

 




2020

In November, the Greenwich League ran a national community case discussion via Zoom with Leagues from 26 states participating.   Special guests included Dr. Deborah Turner, President of the US League and HBS Professor David Moss.
The event’s 200 participants discussed the long struggle for women’s rights, from suffrage to the ERA.  Greenwich High School teachers Karen Boyea, Ryan Jones and Michael Galatioto moderated.

SURVEY RESULTS


LOCAL PRESS COVERAGE


2019

In 2019, a large and diverse community group tackled the issues covered in A Nation Divided: The United States and the Challenge of Secession (1861).  Greenwich High School teachers Aaron Hull and Mike Galatioto moderated.

2018

In November 2018, 100 Greenwich residents of diverse ages and political viewpoints participated in a community discussion about Martin Luther King and the Struggle for Black Voting Rights (1965).    Greenwich High School teachers Jessica Keller, Karen Boyea, and Steve Swidler moderated.

2017

The first community discussion was moderated by Professor David Moss at Greenwich High School in November 2017. Participants examined the question of how much power the federal government should have over states, a key debate at the Constitutional Convention of 1787.  Survey results from this pilot show significantly increased interest in voting, political engagement, and constructive debate. 


Greenwich Teachers
Trained in the Case Method

CMI Baske
Joseph Baske
Greenwich High School
Civics, US History
CMI Boyea
Karen Boyea
Greenwich High School
Civil War and Reconstruction, Honors US Government, AP US History, Honors US History
CMI Galatioto
Michael Galatioto
Greenwich High School
US History
CMI Hull
Aaron Hull
Greenwich High School
Honors Civics, AP US Government, Honors US History

CMI Jones
Ryan Jones
Greenwich High School
AP US Government, 
Honors US History

Judy Scinto
Sacred Heart Greenwich
Global Scholars Program Director,
Spanish Levels II, IV, V

Steve Swidler
Greenwich High School
AP US Government, AP US History, Honors US History


Past Community Case Discussions Nationwide

Radnor, PA. Bill Thames (l) of Lower Merion discusses the Case Method Project developed by Harvard Business School with Radnor High School teacher Ed Ruby who guided a discussion on Martin Luther King and the civil rights movement at the Radnor Memorial Library. Teens to seniors engaged in an insightful decision-making process based on historical facts and model civil discourse.

League of Women Voters Greenwich encourages participating League chapters around the
country to make community case discussions part of their regular educational programming.


GUIDELINES FOR ORGANIZING
COMMUNITY CASE DISCUSSIONS


League of Women Voters Chapters Nationwide Which Have Nominated Teachers 

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Alabama
Alabama
Tennessee Valley
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California
California
Beach Cities
Diablo Valley
Santa Maria Valley
Santa Monica
South Bay
Ventura County
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Colorado
Colorado
Adams County
Boulder
Estes Park
Larimer County
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Connecticut
Connecticut
Greenwich
Hamden/North Haven
New Canaan
Ridgefield
Westport
Wilton
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Florida
Florida
Broward County
Florida State
Jacksonville
Manatee County
North Pinellas County
Orange County
Palm Beach County
Seminole
Space Coast
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Georgia
Georgia
Carrollton
Gwinnett
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Illinois
Illinois
Champaign County
Roselle/Bloomingdale
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Indiana
Indiana
Brown County
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Iowa
Iowa
Northern Iowa
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Kansas
Kansas
Johnson County
Lawrence-Douglas County
Topeka/Shawnee
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Kentucky
Kentucky
Lexington
Louisville
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Louisiana
Louisiana
Lafayette
Louisiana State
New Orleans
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Maryland
Maryland
Anne Arundel County
Baltimore County
Montgomery County
Queen Anne's County
Washington County
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Massachusetts
Massachusetts
Acton Area
Central Berkshire County
Natick
Southcoast
Westford
Winchester
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Michigan
Michigan
Ann Arbor
Grand Traverse Area
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Montana
Montana
Helena
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Nebraska
Nebraska
Nebraska State
Omaha
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New Hampshire
New Hampshire
Kearsarge/Sunapee
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New Jersey
New Jersey
Fair Lawn
New Brunswick
New Jersey State
Northern Valley
Plainfield
Red Bank
Ridgewood
Southern Monmouth
Teaneck
Western Monmouth
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New Mexico
New Mexico
Las Cruces
Santa Fe County
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New York
New York
Albany County
Broome-Tioga
Buffalo/Niagara
Central Nassau
Cooperstown Area
East Nassau
Mid-Hudson Region
New York City
Saratoga County
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North Carolina
North Carolina
Mid Sandhills
Moore County
Piedmont-Triad
\
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Ohio
Ohio
Columbus Metro
Kent
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Oregon
Oregon
Clackamas
Coos County
Klamath
Lane County
Marion/Polk
Oregon State
Portland
Rogue Valley
Washington County
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Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
Erie
Philadelphia
Pittsburgh
Radnor
Warren County
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Tennessee
Tennessee
Chattanooga
Knoxville
Oak Ridge
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Texas
Texas
Amarillo
Cy-Fair
Dallas
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Utah
Utah
Salt Lake City
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Virginia
Virginia
Fairfax Area
Washington County
Williamsburg Area
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Washington
Washington
Clark County
Kittitas County
Mercer Island
Pullman
Spokane Area
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West Virginia
West Virginia
Jefferson County
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Wisconsin
Beloit
Dane County
Door County
Greater Green Bay
Milwaukee County
Wisconsin State
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Wyoming
Wyoming
Wyoming State
For more information about how your League might participate in the
Case Method Civics Project, contact
Deirdre Kamlani.