How to Create Context-Rich Problems Creating a context-rich
problem is more than just adding realistic elements to a
traditional problem. The design of a context-rich problem helps
students to develop an expert-like approach to problem solving.
Careful selection of a learning goal, a context and appropriate
complexity characteristics will facilitate this process. Decide
on the goals of the problem Context-rich problems help students
to apply discipline specific knowledge thus moving beyond novice
skills of memorization. Decide on an outcome you want students
to accomplish rather than the content you want students to
learn. For example, in a principles of microeconomics class your
learning goal might be, 'Students will be able to apply the
profit-maximizing condition in a realistic setting. You may want
to start with a traditional problem you have used before (or one
from a textbook) and build that problem into a context-rich
problem by adding context and varying the degree of difficulty.
More details about th