Editorial: What Makes A Great Teaching Note?

Teaching notes (TNs) are written to aid instructors who use case studies as part of their curriculum. Effective TNs support instructors with varying levels of teaching experience in selecting, assigning, preparing, discussing, and concluding case study teaching sessions. This should ultimately result in better learning experiences for students as well as more satisfying teaching experiences for instructors. However, the benefits of effective TNs go beyond the immediate experiences of instructors and students; the process of writing the TN also helps the case authors develop a more compelling case because it drives them to consider the specifics of the discussion flow and content. While writing the TN, the author may give further consideration to how the issues are framed and whether the case conveys all relevant information needed to
support effective class discussion and deliver on its learning objectives. A well-written TN can also increase the adoption of a case since it “pitches” the usefulness of the case and reduces some of the effort needed to prepare for the case discussion. In this editorial, we consider the roles TNs play and provide suggestions on how to develop great, effective TNs.