Problem-based learning

Problem-based learning (PBL) is an exciting alternative to traditional classroom learning.

With PBL, your teacher presents you with a problem, not lectures or assignments or exercises. Since you are not handed "content", your learning becomes active in the sense that you discover and work with content that you determine to be necessary to solve the problem.

In PBL, your teacher acts as facilitator and mentor, rather than a source of "solutions."

Problem based learning will provide you with opportunities to

• examine and try out what you know

• discover what you need to learn

• develop your people skills for achieving higher performance in teams

• improve your communications skills

• state and defend positions with evidence and sound argument

• become more flexible in processing information and meeting obligations

• practice skills that you will need after your education

A Summary of Problem-Based Learning: This is a simplified model--more detailed models are referenced below.

The steps can be repeated and recycled. Steps two through five may be repeated and reviewed as new information becomes available and redefines the problem. Step six may occur more than once--especially when teachers place emphasis on going beyond "the first draft."

1. Explore the issues: Your teacher introduces an "ill-structured" problem to you. Discuss the problem statement and list its significant parts.  You may feel that you don't know enough to solve the problem but that is the challenge!  You will have to gather information and learn new concepts, principles, or skills as you engage in the problem-solving process.

2. List "What do we know?" What do you know to solve the problem? This includes both what you actually know and what strengths and capabilities each team member has. Consider or note everyone's input, no matter how strange it may appear: it could hold a possibility!

3. Develop, and write out, the problem statement in your own words: A problem statement should come from your/the group's analysis of what you know, and what you will need to know to solve it. You will need:

• a written statement

• the agreement of your group on the statement

• feedback on this statement from your instructor. (This may be optional, but is a good idea)

Note: The problem statement is often revisited and edited as new information is discovered, or "old" information is discarded.

4. List out possible solutions List them all, then order them from strongest to weakest Choose the best one, or most likely to succeed

5. List actions to be taken with a timeline

• What do we have to know and do to solve the problem?

• How do we rank these possibilities?

• How do these relate to our list of solutions? Do we agree?

6. List "What do we need to know?" Research the knowledge and data that will support your solution You will need to information to fill in missing gaps.

• Discuss possible resources Experts, books, web sites, etc.

• Assign and schedule research tasks, especially deadlines