Problem Based Economics

Problem Based Economics is a curriculum developed by the Buck Institute for Education that uses problem-based instruction to teach high school economics. The curriculum consists of nine modules, with five modules used in this study covering fundamental economics concepts aligned with state standards. Each module takes 4-15 instructional days and uses real-world economic problems as the basis for student learning. Teachers received a five-day professional development workshop during summer 2007, followed by ongoing support through group conference calls and direct access to developers throughout the 2007/08 academic year. The curriculum was designed for grade 11-12 students in regular economics courses and implemented over two consecutive semesters. Teachers used the five modules to cover approximately 50-70 percent of their economics curriculum content. The intervention included specific curricular materials, professional development training, and ongoing teacher support to implement problem-based pedagogical strategies in economics classrooms.