The Jasper series is an instructional tool for mathematics. It presents mathematical problems in a narrative format on video. All of the values and information needed to solve the challenge is presented within the narrative of the video. Some information is presented within the verbal conversations between characters where as others are just visually shown. In addition, there are follow up videos that present “analog” problems, where one parameter is changed and the student is asked to solve a problem. There are also extension videos, which takes a real life scenario (such as a past event) and ties it into the complex problem that was initially presented, asking the students a challenging question.
My initial impression of the series was that, contrary to my impression from the readings, the initial challenge is not generative. The students are presented with the challenge at the very end of the series. However, there are many subproblems that need to be generated to solve the challenge/question that it poses. There is also some scaffolding built in within the series. The series has many similarities with problem based learning that we do in medicine. It makes me wonder whether our problem based learning could also be presented in a similar format to make it more interesting and engaging. Also, this is in video format, which could make finding the specific information needed to solve the problem cumbersome. Would this be any easier in another format? If everyone had access to this video on their own personal devices, would it decrease the collaboration that occurs?