Simple Staged Problem for Introduction

of PBL Process: Problem Handouts

This work by George Watson is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0
International License.
As an open educational resource, feel free to modify and distribute this work under the conditions
stated by the Creative Commons license. Originally developed as a part of the PBL Clearinghouse at
the University of Delaware.

George Watson Simple Staged Problem for Introduction of PBL Process -

Handouts
Simple Staged Problem for Introduction
of PBL Process
Part 1: Not Again Already!
Kim I can’t believe you’re leaving again next week! Weren’t you just on a trip two weeks
back?

Pat We talked about this months ago. I committed to this trip almost a year ago.

Kim Weren’t you there just last December?

Pat I was. What?s that have to do with anything?

Kim Haven’t you been following the news? Things are different now. Lots of things!

Pat Like what?

Kim You’re impossible! You need to get your head out of your precious journals and read
the paper occasionally.

Pat OK. OK. Just tell me what’s bothering you? I travel all the time. What’s gotten into
you about this trip?

Questions:
1. What is the problem?
2. What things might be troubling Kim?
3. What should Pat do next?

George Watson Simple Staged Problem for Introduction of PBL Process -

Handouts
Simple Staged Problem for Introduction
of PBL Process
Part 2: Some More Details...
Pat Nostaw is heading to Singapore for an international education conference. Following several
days at the conference, he is traveling to Kuala Lumpur to visit a university there. After that he is
heading home to New York City.
Questions:
4. What things might be troubling Kim? Refine the list of things identified in Part 1.
5. What does Pat need to know to assure Kim about his travel plans?
6. What should we ask Kim about Pat to determine if her concerns are legitimate?

George Watson Simple Staged Problem for Introduction of PBL Process -

Handouts
Simple Staged Problem for Introduction
of PBL Process
Part 3: A Twist at the End
Pat’s friend Alejandro is planning a first-time business trip from Lima to New York City in
December to complete the final project report.
Questions:
7. How does the list of 'troubling things' change for this different destination?
8. What are the top three worries you would have about this trip?

George Watson Simple Staged Problem for Introduction of PBL Process -

Handouts
Simple Staged Problem for Introduction
of PBL Process
Powerpoint Presentations
This file is the original version of the problem (four slides, used for PBL workshop in Singapore,
June 2003.
conversation-original.ppt
These two files are a modified version as used for a PBL workshop for high school teachers in
Bolivia, March 2004:
conversation-english.ppt
conversation-spanish.ppt
This file shows how the problem is incorporated into the Introduction to PBL workshop:
introduction-to-PBL-mixed.ppt

George Watson Simple Staged Problem for Introduction of PBL Process -

Handouts