Hybrid PBL project design: authentic company problems delivered as four memos with driving questions, integrated into selected syllabus topics

Design · All designs
Evidence · 2 claims (2 for) · 1 study (1 causal), q2 · 0 of 1 report an effect size · 2 claims rest on one study

Description

The authors embedded a partial PBL project in the Financial Accounting Principles course using problems faced by a fast-growing halal food manufacturing company, delivered as four entry-document memos from the Finance Manager to the Assistant Accountant. They state the problems "helped to facilitate the self-directed learning of six of the ten topics found in the syllabus", with driving questions designed to help students identify what they needed to learn. Authenticity was ensured by interviewing the CEO and visiting the plant. The project contributed 30% of course marks, assessed with rubrics, written reports, presentations, logs and peer evaluation.

Design Implications

Context

Requirements

• Driving questions designed before project activities to help students identify what they needed to learn
• Relevant supporting documents (invoices, bills, receipts, vouchers) attached to each memo
• Assessment rubrics, student logs and an instructor's manual as part of the documented project

Constraints

• The problems facilitated self-directed learning for only six of the ten syllabus topics; the rest remained lecture and discussion or problem solving

Target Learners

• first-year undergraduate Accounting, Finance and Banking students

Learning Goals

• recording transactions and preparing financial statements
• interpreting financial information for business decisions
• teamwork, communication and presentation skills

Claims

• Pbl Outperformed Non Pbl Accounting Grades [+M]
• Pbl Significant Perceived Skill Benefits [+M]

Related Designs

• Problem Based Learning

Examples

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Key Sources

• Nor Aziah Abdul Manaf, Zuaini Ishak & Wan Nordin Wan Hussin. (2011). Application of Problem Based Learning (PBL) in a Course on Financial Accounting Principles. Malaysian Journal of Learning and Instruction: Vol. 8 (2011): 21-47. http://mjli.uum.edu.my

Page metadata

Field	Value
type	design
id	ctkay-hybrid-pbl-memo-project-design
title	Hybrid PBL project design: authentic company problems delivered as four memos with driving questions, integrated into selected syllabus topics
description	The authors embedded a partial PBL project in the Financial Accounting Principles course using problems faced by a fast-growing halal food manufacturing company, delivered as four entry-document memos from the Finance...
status	review
generated	by process:settle-candidates on 2026-11-03
trust	unverified — no one has confirmed this page's content
sources	1 — nor-aziah-abdul-manaf-2011

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