Case studies, whether already prepared or created by you or your students, are a wonderful way to force students to interpret and analyze industry situations that are new to them—and often missing from their books.

By Dr. Fred Mayo, CHE, CHT

Last month, we discussed using case studies in your teaching, and I indicated that this month we would discuss types of case studies.

Challenges with Case Studies
Although case studies can have a great benefit as one of your many teaching strategies, they are not always easy to use. While there are a number of good case-study books in hospitality, they may not have cases that fit your specific course. In addition, students face the cost of a case book in addition to other texts. If many of the cases fit well or if your program has adopted one of the case-study books, then you have a great source to use and plenty of information. 

The best cases include contradictory information and paradoxical situations. Good case studies also require students to apply information from previous courses to the presenting problem or situation.

By Dr. Fred Mayo, CHE, CHT

Many of us use case studies; in fact, it was the subject of a whole day of teaching ideas at Career Academy of the ICHRIE conference in Denver this past July. This month, I will discuss some of the factors in using case studies and next month the range of types of case studies.

Benefits
There are many reasons to use case studies in our courses, not the least of which is the opportunity to give students the challenge of facing a real-world situation to analyze while still being in a classroom where there are safe opportunities to make mistakes and learn from them. Case studies are also a wonderful way to force students to interpret and analyze industry situations that are new to students and often missing from their books. In fact, we can make up cases in response to current events and tailor them to our classes, making the topics we teach very relevant.

As you plan your goals and desires for your courses, student activities and department, here are three useful tools to inspire.

By Dr. Fred Mayo, CHE, CHT

This past summer, we discussed pursuing the ABCs and DEFs of your professional development and I indicated that September’s “Mayo’s Clinic” would be about planning for the fall and the year. It is something that we all do when we write syllabi, create new materials for our students and consider what we want to happen during the term. (In fact, I was just revising my MLA guidelines sheet for undergraduates. If any of you want a copy, just send me a note at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. asking for it, and I will be pleased to send you a copy.)

If we are involved in leading committees or task forces, it is time to refocus the agenda for the year, get the individuals engaged again and invite new members. It is also a time of dreaming about what you want to happen in your courses, your student activities and your department. I hope that the three points—Categories of Goals, Limited Goals and Mottos—in this “Clinic” provide you with some new things to try.

By Dr. Fred Mayo, CHE, CHT

Diversity, exercise and focus are three areas that educators can capitalize on in the remaining summer months.

Last month, we discussed “Pursuing the ABCs of Your Professional Development.” They included Activities, Books and Conferences. This month, we will focus on the DEFs—Diversity, Exercise and Focus—other aspects of your professional development, something that we are all doing a bit of this summer.

D – Diversity
Since diversity is an increasingly important aspect of teaching—the diversity of students, the range of their backgrounds and skills, the variety of their learning styles—it is a concept that you probably think a lot about and work with in your daily teaching activities. Each of us has been involved in diversity workshops where we were reminded to recognize and honor the diversity of our students, a practice that we take seriously as educators.

By Dr. Fred Mayo, CHE, CHT

Activities, books and conferences are just three ways to spark your own learning and experience personal and professional growth this summer.

Last month, we discussed using field trips and site visits effectively, and now that the summer months are here, it is time to consider how we replenish our information bank, our instincts and our personal and professional insights. We will discuss the ABCs and the DEF’s of professional development, this month the ABCs—activities, books, and conferences—and next month the DEFs. What better time to think about your professional development when so many of our students are graduating and moving into new phases of their lives. A great time to consider new beginnings in our lives and what we can or want to do to make these new beginnings grow and prosper!