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Ratings |
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| Reviewed: |
Jan 21, 2003 by Business Editorial Board |
| Overview: |
This site provides a self-contained module designed in accordance with the the
Problem-Based Learning pedagogy. The site begins by posing a ?presenting
problem,? framed as a question ?Can you afford to buy a new car?? Within the
site are a host of links and resources, primarily aimed at the instructor for
leading a PBL module. There are an entire set of lesson plans, exercises, and
materials to teach students about the concept of affordability of products, debt
to income ratio, etc. This is a good online example of a PBL problem. Those
that have no knowledge of PBL will need to do additional research.
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| Learning Goals: |
The purpose of this site is to demonstrate how PBL works, by providing an
example of a simple, authentic, open-ended problem. Secondarily, the content has
the learning goal of understanding and applying the concept of affordability
and income to debt ration in one?s personal finance decisions.
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| Target Student Population: |
The target population for this site would be high school, baccalaureate, and
community college level. It would also be very well suited for workforce
development and training in banking and finance industry. Easy to read and
apply.
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| Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills: |
My opinion is that instructor?s totally unfamiliar with PBL would need
additional exposure and background information in order to successfully
facilitate a PBL session. However, this module is self-contained and has all the
necessary components for executing and facilitating the PBL module.
Additionally some exposure to and competence in basic mathematical applications
and economics.
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| Type of Material: |
Amounts to a lesson plan and resource on PBL..
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| Recommended Use: |
This site has a wide range of possible applications. It could be used in Faculty
Development workshops as an example of a PBL designed module. Traditional
classroom settings as well as workforce training in the financial sectors of
retail banking and finance. The material presented at this site could also be
used in personal finance courses and consumer training sponsored by social and
governmental agencies charged with enhancing consumer literacy
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| Technical Requirements: |
Internet access and ability to navigate the web from appropriate browser
platforms. Adobe Acrobat can also be used to download the material but later
reference and distribution
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| Strengths: |
This site provides a well organized set of links that describe the process and
steps for conducting a PBL module. It contains a link called ?Resources? which
students can use to seek information for solving the problem posed. The site
addresses how the Tutor (facilitator) should intervene and work with students to
steer them toward defining their own learning needs. There is link called ?PBL
Problem Template? that defines the performance products expected from the
student teams working on the problem. There is also a ?Tutor?s Manual? that can
be downloaded as a PDF file.
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| Concerns: |
One has to understand that the purpose of this module is demonstrate how a
typical PBL session is designed, facilitated and assessed. It is not meant to
?teach? students directly the concepts of affordability, personal finance, or
income-to-debt ratios.
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Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool |
Rating:   |
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| Strengths: |
The value of this module is more on demonstrating PBL as a method, than on its
academic ?teaching? content. With some creative adaptation, this module could be
used in a basic math class, personal finance, or even in
educational/instructional design courses.
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| Concerns: |
Those unfamiliar with PBL will need to do educate themselves on the method. This
module assumes that one has a basic knowledge of PBL.
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Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty |
| Rating: |
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| Strengths: |
I found the module very easy to use, and the links are quite visible, and well
organized.
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| Concerns: |
I would like to see some other links to PBL sites for those who want to learn
more about PBL.
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| Other Issues and Comments: |
The Resources links are quite useful and appropriate for the problem presented.
Could be used as a model for other online PBL modules.
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For best results, MERLOT suggests using Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, Apple Safari or Opera instead of Internet Explorer when translating pages in MERLOT.
