Authentic Prolem - A great problem to have

Today I quickly incorporated an authentic problem into a lesson plan. I have a lesson that I teach on the Marketing/Promotional mix. I teach the material then have an activity with the students. Rather than giving my normal activity & examples....I transitioned to "creating an authentic problem." I usually "lecture" on the various types of items involved in a Promotional mix and have student "think, pair and share" examples as I lecture. This time....rather than lecturing - I had the definitions of each promotional mix element on the whiteboard...I then told students that H&M in Fair Oaks mall called me to ask my students to help them with an upcoming fashion show. I asked the groups to tell me a plan that they would propose for each of the elements (Advertising, promotion, publicity, public relations, personal selling). They got very excited and began to work and stay on Task! The concept of an authentic problem is GREAT. I do know the manager @ H&M....and I do plan to sumit their ideas so that I can get feedback from him to respond to the students. In this scenerio - having an authentic problem is a great problem to have:)