Instructional design/Generate PBL Problems/1.3 Real-life problems

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Real-life Problems

Comparison

Assume you were a high school student again, which way do you prefer to learn geometry?

Calculate areas and volumes of different shapes over and over again.

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Reflection

More possibly, you prefer the way on the right, why? Because working on a design contract competition gives you the opportunity to apply your geometry knowledge into a REAL LIFE PROBLEM. Students are more engaged in solving real life problems because this learning experience:

• activates students’ prior knowledge and skills
• has students see the relevance of the knowledge to their life
• leads to a deep understanding of concepts
• allows students to apply their new learned knowledge right away into a real world context

Examples

To enhance students’ motivation, PBL utilizes real life problems. Below are several more examples of real life problems (statements in the parenthesis are corresponding non-examples)

1. Have students make personal financial plans (instead of having them just memorize various financial management terms and principles).
2. Have students tell directions or locate places by constellations (instead of having them merely recognize constellations on a sky map).
3. Have students write reviews on new released movies and post their works online (instead of just talking about theories of film appreciation).

Quiz

1 PBL uses real life problems because(there are more than one answers):

	Students are more engaged in solving real life problems.
	Students will achieve a deep understanding of concepts in solving real life problems.
	Students can see close connections between the knowledge and themselves.
	Students will learn how to apply their knowledge into the real world.

2 Which one below is a real life problem?

	What is the wavelength range of ultraviolet?
	What percent of mid-range ultraviolet can be blocked by the ozone layer?
	How to effectively prevent skin cancer caused by UVB radiation?
	How many subtypes of ultraviolet light have been identified by the draft ISO standard on determining solar irradiances (ISO-DIS-21348)?

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