problembasedlearning

What is Problem Based Learning?

Problem Based Learning is a way of constructing and teaching courses using problems as a stimulus and focus of student activity. It is NOT the insertion of problem-solving activities in a course but a way of conveiving the curriculum with problems at the centre. Problem based courses begin with a problem rather than a presentation of the concepts and principles of a subject. According to Boud and Feletti (1991) the starting point of learning should be a problem, a query or a puzzle that the learner wishes to solve. Information on how to tackle the problem is not given, although resources are available

Problem Based Learning is not new; it has been around for centuries and was practised by Socrates and Plato in earlier times to spur learning and understanding among students. Problem Based Learning began to be adopted in the health sciences, especially in medical education. The pioneers of this approach were the faculties of medicine at Case Western University (1950's) in the United States and McMaster University (in the 1960s) in Canada. However, problem based learning has spread to other areas of studies and disciplines. See the case examples in Biology and the introduction of PBL in an MBA programme.

A) CHARACTERISTICS OF PROBLEM BASED LEARNING

21st Century Learning Initiative

Problem Based Learning at Queen's University

What is PBL?/Objectives/Process/Student Responsibilities in PBL/Using Learning Resources/Role of the Tutor/Characteristics of a Good Tutor/Assessment & Evaluation of PBL/How PBL Problems are Created/PBL on the WWW.

Problem Based Learning: An Introduction

by James Rheam

What is does/What is it/Historical origins.Roles & procedures/So long, Tonto

Why Problem Based Learning?

http://www.odont.lu.se/projects/ADEE/shanley.html

Problem Based Learning in an Active Classroom

http://www.cstudies.ubc.ca/facdev/services/newsletter/97/active.html

Problems with Problem Based Learning

http://edweb.sdsu.edu/clrit/learningtree/PBL/DisPBL.html

This site discusses some of the problems of implementing problem based learning.

Project-Based Problem-Based: Same or Different

http://pblmm.k12.ca.us/PBLGuide/PBLPBL.htm

Problem Based Theory

http://www.usd.edu/~knorum/learningpapers/pbl.html

B) LECTURER/INSTRUCTOR/TEACHER AS 'TUTOR' IN THE PBL LEARNING

ENVIRONMENT

Tutoring in Problem Based Learning: A Conceptual Approach

http://www.medicine.dal.ca/gorgs/came/tutor.html

The role of the teacher in a problem-based learning environment is that of a tutor, and traditional teachers who are unaccustomed to playing the role of a facilitator need to undergo some training. This article discusses the role and function of the tutor.

Example of a Tutor Manual - "UBYACAR"

http://www.mcli.dist.maricopa.edu/pbl/ubuytutor/index.html

C) ISSUES IN IMPLEMENTING PROBLEM BASED LEARNING

But I Teach Large Classes

http://www.udel/pbl/cte/spr96-bisc2.html

Interpersonal Skills to Enhance Problem Based Learning

http://www.med-ed-online.org/f0000009.htm

Large Classes and Problem Based Learning

http://chemeng.mcmaster.ca/pbl/pbl.htm

Small Group Problem Based Learning

http://www.biology.iupui.edu/Biology_HTML_Docs/biocourses/K345/PBL_Web_pages/

D) PROBLEM BASED LEARNING IN SELECTED SUBJECT AREAS