Introduction
You have just graduated from college and have landed that “big” job. As a graduation present, your grandparents and parents wish to provide you with the down payment on your first new, not used, car. Their gift to you is $3,000. As a savvy consumer, you have read the advertisements in newspapers and magazines. However, you have decided to use the Web to assist your purchasing decision. Your graduation gift is burning a hole in your pocket, and you have solicited the help of several friends who will assist you in searching the web regarding car manufacturers, safety, insurance, and financing. With your current salary and budget, you have limited yourself to a maximum budget of $400 (loan payment and insurance). You and your parents have decided that your car will be given to your younger sister. Thus, you will not have a car for trade-in. In the following WebQuest, you will use your team of friends and the resources on the Web to learn about buying a new car. Each one of your friends will research a designated area and share the information. So start your search to move from “clunker to classic!”
Task
Work with three to four classmates.
Your team may assist each other. Select three to four vehicles to compare and contrast.
Prepare an Excel spreadsheet calculating your loan payment, total amount paid, and interest paid for the vehicles. Use the PMT function. All team members will be asked to explain the PMT function. Insurance cost should be displayed in a cell.
Prepare an Excel spreadsheet or Word table highlighting the advantages and disadvantages of each car. (include specifications, gas mileage, insurance, etc).
All sheets should be integrated into a Word file (traditional memo format) with key points about financing a vehicle. Address the memo to your instructor.
Presentation to the class of the vehicle selected and why.
Process
In this WebQuest, you will be working with three to four classmates. Each group will answer the above tasks. As a member of the team, you will explore selected automobile Web sites. You will start with your team members and yourself with some general background information before dividing into “expert” roles.
Evaluation
Rubrics will be used for evaluating the project. A spreadsheet rubric (page 72) and group cooperation rubric (page 95) from the Assessment Chapter of the Nebraska Frameworks will be utilized. (http://www.nde.state.ne.us/BUSED/PDF/assessment.pdf )
Conclusion
Sharing Information Research has been collected about the different aspects of purchasing a new vehicle. You and your friends are now “experts.” Come together as a group and share your information. Assemble the information collected in a group Excel spreadsheet. Integrate your sheet(s) into a Word file. Present to the class your findings and vehicle selection. Each person should speak on the topic for which they did research.