Problem Library | Institute for Transforming University Education

Problem Library: 36

Title	Excerpt	Author	Discipline	Length	Level	Type
A Missed Diagnosis	“Susan presents herself to her family physician for a routine physical. During the physical examination Susan explains . . .	Tallitsch, Robert	Biological Sciences	1 Hour or Less	Intermediate	Problem
A Pain in the Belly	This problem aids students in the development of their three-dimensional understanding of abdominal anatomy, with . . .	Tallitsch, Robert	Biological Sciences	1 Hour or Less	Intermediate	Problem
Are You Sure I’ve Seen You Before?	“Rachel is a 37-year-old female who works as an administrative assistant for a Fortune-500 company in downtown Chicago. . . .	Tallitsch, Robert	Biological Sciences	3-6 hours	Advanced	Problem
DNA for Dinner	The use of bioengineered food in quick service restaurants is controversial. Some stakeholders believe genetic . . .	Lieux, Elizabeth	Biological Sciences, Biotechnology, Faculty Development, Multidisciplinary, Nutrition	3-6 hours	Introductory	Problem
An Unwanted Souvenir	“Ralph is a young botany professor of Swedish heritage at a Midwestern liberal arts college. Ralph, who was born in the . . .	Tallitsch, Robert	Biological Sciences	1 Hour or Less	Intermediate	Problem
Daddy, Help! I Can’t Get out of the Pool!	Tammy, a 10 year-old girl, is normally active for her age, participating in her local soccer club (playing goalie) and . . .	Tallitsch, Robert	Biological Sciences	1 Hour or Less	Intermediate	Problem
Doc, is it my heart?	A 52-year-old black man presents to the emergency room with chest pains. The patient is agitated and apprehensive. He . . .	Tallitsch, Robert	Biological Sciences	1-3 Hours	Intermediate (non-majors)	Problem
Does Anyone Know What’s Wrong with Me?	“Molly is a nineteen-year-old, multiple-time All-American pole-vaulter on her college’s track team. During the summer, . . .	Tallitsch, Robert	Biological Sciences	1 Hour or Less	Intermediate	Problem
Fifty Miles for My Fiftieth Birthday	Lincoln is a 50-year old runner who, over the past five years, has completed five one-half marathons and four marathons. . . .	Tallitsch, Robert	Biological Sciences	1-3 Hours	Intermediate (majors)	Problem
Fire Chicken	“Choi In Sung, 32-year-old male of Asian descent, presents to his family physician to seek treatment for chest pains. . . .	Tallitsch, Robert	Biological Sciences	1-3 Hours	Intermediate	Problem
Granny’s Hip	“You stop over to visit your grandmother for your weekly visit to set out her medications for the coming week. As you . . .	Tallitsch, Robert	Biological Sciences	1 Hour or Less	Intermediate	Problem
Harvest Time Danger	Tom, a 36-year-old, right hand dominant male farmer, is involved in a farming accident that involves his right upper . . .	Tallitsch, Robert	Biological Sciences	6+ Hours	Advanced	Problem
Homecoming Surprise	This problem enables students to examine the results of soft-tissue injuries stemming from hyperflexion of the vertebral . . .	Tallitsch, Robert	Biological Sciences	1-3 Hours	Intermediate	Problem
Will I Ever Be Able to Run Again, Doc?	Bob is a 53-year-old college professor. He is a regular runner, averaging between 25-35 miles per week. During the . . .	Tallitsch, Robert	Biological Sciences	3-6 hours	Advanced	Problem
Is My Pitching Career Over?	“Tom, a 53-year-old, right hand-dominant male plays on a traveling “exhibition” fast-pitch softball team. He has been a . . .	Tallitsch, Robert	Biological Sciences	3-6 hours	Advanced	Problem
Why Am I Getting More Clumsy, Doc?	“Marshall, a 62-year-old attorney, presented to his family physician with questions as to why he was shuffling a little . . .	Tallitsch, Robert	Biological Sciences	3-6 hours	Advanced	Problem
Who Owns the Geritol Solution?	The Geritol solution is based on the premise that iron availability limits primary productivity in the high-nutrient, . . .	Allen, Deborah	Biological Sciences	6+ Hours	Introductory	Problem
What Is Wrong with My Child, Doc?	“Tommy, a robust seven-year-old second grader is brought to the Emergency Room after experiencing a seizure on the . . .	Tallitsch, Robert	Biological Sciences	3-6 hours	Advanced	Problem
What Is the Cause of This Swelling and Why Am I Short of Breath When I Exercise?	“Joan is a corporate lawyer for a Fortune-500 company. She has been physically active her entire life. Lately Joan has . . .	Tallitsch, Robert	Biological Sciences	1 Hour or Less	Intermediate	Problem
What Did You Say, Doc?	John Angleman, a 41-year-old machinist, complains of difficulty hearing in the right ear. In addition, his gait has been . . .	Tallitsch, Robert	Biological Sciences	6+ Hours	Intermediate	Problem
Uff Da–Why Does This Hurt, Doc?	“Lars Johnson is a fledgling actor in L.A. California. He has just recently auditioned for a major part in a new . . .	Tallitsch, Robert	Biological Sciences	1 Hour or Less	Intermediate	Problem
The Woozy Smoker	“David, a 76-year-old male with a history of heavy cigarette smoking has developed a progressive gait disorder. He . . .	Tallitsch, Robert	Biological Sciences	1 Hour or Less	Advanced	Problem
The Road to Rockingham	Elliott is a regional stock car racer that is hoping to make it to the Busch Racing Series and, ultimately, the NASCAR . . .	Tallitsch, Robert	Biological Sciences	6+ Hours	Intermediate	Problem
The Restless Baby	“This problem helps a student develop a three-dimensional understanding of the anatomy of the pleural cavities by . . .	Tallitsch, Robert	Biological Sciences	3-6 hours	Intermediate	Problem
The Complaining Postal Carrier	This PBL follows a patient through two visits to the outpatient department of a rural hospital. The problem presents . . .	Tallitsch, Robert	Biological Sciences	3-6 hours	Intermediate	Problem
The Complaining Husband	George, a 46-year-old presents to his family physician complaining of increased clumsiness. As the students progress . . .	Tallitsch, Robert	Biological Sciences	3-6 hours	Advanced	Problem
Teetering on the Brink of Extinction? (Or Is It Too Late?)	The Florida panther is an endangered subspecies of puma (Felis concolor coryi). Within the context of problems posed by . . .	Donham, Richard	Biological Sciences	3-6 hours	Introductory (non-majors)	Problem
Street Fight	Rick, a high school student, is involved in a fight in which he and two other classmates “jump” a fourth classmate . . .	Tallitsch, Robert	Biological Sciences	3-6 hours	Intermediate	Problem
Something Is Horribly Wrong, Doc, and I Am Embarrassed to Talk About It	Brian is a 27-year-old-male graduate student that was injured in a rugby game approximately ten days ago. He has a . . .	Tallitsch, Robert	Biological Sciences	3-6 hours	Introductory	Problem
Roots: Exploring our Distant Ancestry	While most students take a position for or against evolution, few actually understand the concept of natural selection . . .	White, Harold	Biological Sciences	1-3 Hours	Introductory (majors)	Problem
Please Don’t Tell My Parents	A seventeen-year-old female presents to her local hospital’s E.R. at 7:45 in the morning on a school day. She appears . . .	Tallitsch, Robert	Biological Sciences	3-6 hours	Intermediate	Problem
Out of Control	The population of Lesser Snow Geese is growing exponentially in the US and Canada. Growth curves, survivorship curves, . . .	Dion, Linda	Biological Sciences	1 Hour or Less	Introductory (majors)	Problem
My Aching Back	Frank, a 39-year-old college professor, was putting dishes into his dishwasher at the end of the day when he felt a . . .	Tallitsch, Robert	Biological Sciences	3-6 hours	Intermediate	Problem
It Must Be a Bad Year for My Allergies	“It is an idyllic March day on the Midwestern university campus as Dr. Bob Johnston walks to his 8:00 philosophy lecture . . .	Tallitsch, Robert	Biological Sciences	1 Hour or Less	Intermediate	Problem
Is This Normal for Someone My Age?	Eleanor, an 88-year-old widow and mother of two, visits RediMed late on a Sunday afternoon. Her chief complaint to the . . .	Tallitsch, Robert	Biological Sciences	3-6 hours	Intermediate (majors)	Problem
Gene to Taste Case Study	You are the geneticist meeting with two concerned parents who were referred to you by their son’s pediatrician. They are . . .	Ginu Thomas	Biological Sciences, Science Education	1 Hour or Less	Introductory (majors), Introductory (science majors)	Prototype