Abstract:

This paper is aimed at reviewing the free statistical and econometric software available for the main practical applications of a time series business forecasting course. Additionally this paper shows a problem based learning application that exemplifies the possibilities of free software for the students of this sort of courses.
Free software has the advantages of the absence on cost, allowing students with good computer skills to go through its source code, or providing a set of opportunities for experimentation for students given its wide variety, among other advantages. Additionally free software contributes to the development of generic competences in a higher extend that commercial software in the framework of a Competence Based Learning (CBL) as imposed by the European Higher Education Area (EHEA).
The course on Business Forecasting of Quantitative Methods for Business and Economics area of Universidad de Huelva covering a set of deterministic and stochastic time series forecasting techniques is lectured in Campus Andaluz Virtual online in an e-learning environment and Universidad de Huelva in a blended learning environment combining the physical presence of students and e-communication. It consists of 9 credits and has more than 70 students enrolled this academic year.
The implementation of free software against commercial software provide the learning of generic competencies like the management of information and communication processes related to the use of computer and internet technologies, or the ethical compromise with democratic values.
The advantages for the implementation of a CBL approach together with those generally associated to freeware against commercial software make advisable shifting to free software in courses where specific software skills are included in the set of specific competences and appropriated free software is available or can be easily produced.

Keywords:

problem based learning, free software, business forecasting.