What is Problem Based Learning (PBL)?
Learning is more complex than memorization of facts. Students must learn to
apply what they have learned to real life situtations. After all, very
few jobs depend on recalling memorized facts. Most jobs depend on application
of knowledge or problem solving skills to solve complex problems. Problem
based learning attempts to engage students' curiosity and prepares students
to think critically and analytically, and to find and use appropriate learning
resources.
In PBL, the content is introduced in the form of a problem to
be solved. Students do not receive a lecture in advance. Instead, they receive
the problem first, and then themselves find the information needed to solve
the problem. This contrasts with traditional teaching where students hear
a lecture, and are then tested on the contents of the lecture or application
of the lecture contents.
PBL Works Best In Groups
Many people consider PBL to be similar to Collaborative or Cooperative Learning
because students work in small groups. The problems are complex and require
many different ideas and approaches, and a lot of information to solve them,
making them ideal for group projects.
Usually, students are divided into groups of from five to seven
students. In the online environment, students are assigned their own private
asynchronous conference for discussions. Groups of students may also use synchronous
chat if all students in the group can meet virtually at the same time.
How Does It Work?
At Queen's University
in Kingston, Ontario, Canada, a PBL exercise works like this. The group
is assigned a problem to read. The problems contain information, some of which
is important, and some is not. Students brainstorm about the problem and form
a hypothesis about the cause of the problem. They examine the problem for facts
that support their hypothesis. They also determine what additional information
they need to solve it. Then students in the group decide how to find that information.
Some information is central to the problem and everyone is responsible for
looking it up. Other information may be important and individual students take
the responsibililty for researching those issues. Students adjourn and spend
time, maybe several days, researching the topics that may prove valuable to
solving the problem. At a time that they determine in advance, students return
to the group conference. Each student contributes to the discussion what they
have learned. This process leads to a group report that presents the best group
solution to the problems. At the end of the process, the group may assess how
well they performed, and how they can improve for the next problem assignment.
Advantages of PBL
Students learn to appreciate how interrelated most problems
are and that many kinds of information are often used to solve real life
problems.
Students learn to think critically and solve complex problems.
Students learn to become self directed learners.
Students learn to work cooperatively as part of a small
group. Group issues include responsibility, dependability, concern for
others, and evaluation of personal abilities, those of others, and evaluation
of the group process.
Disadvantages of PBL Instructors: Some instructors feel that so much time is spent
solving problems that the actual amount of material covered is less than
in more traditional teaching. Although some problems can be found on
the Internet, gathering enough information to create real life problems
can take the instructor a considerable amount of time. Most textbooks
do not contain assembled problems or even enough information about a
topic to construct a problem.
Students: Students have spent their
previous years being "taught".
Many resent having to look up information on their own. They may also feel
uncomfortable working in groups and depending upon other students for their
grade in the course. Some student groups can be dysfunctional.
Assessment: Since learning is a group process that involves
solving a problem,the traditional methods for assessing learning are not suitable.
Some assessment methods are given below.
How to Assess Learning?
Essays that allow students to discuss important issues
about which they gathered information to solve the problem can be an
effective way to assess learning.
Draw diagrams that show how information is related can
provide the instructor a method to determine whether or not students
understand the how the information was used to solve the problem.
Peer assessment allows group members to assign a grade
to other group members participation in the problem solving process.
Allow self assessment to represent a portion of the student's
grade.
