What is PBL?

George Watsonghw@udel.edu

Institute for TransformingUndergraduate Education

University of Delaware

2004 Annual Conference onCase Study Teaching in Science

SUNY Buffalo, NY

What is Problem-Based Learning?

PBL prepares students to think critically and analytically, and to find and use appropriate learning

resources.

PBL is a learning approach that challenges students to “learn to learn,” working cooperatively in groups to seek solutions to real world problems.

“The principal idea behind PBL is that the starting point for learning should be a problem, a query, or a puzzle that the learner wishes to solve.”Boud, D. (1985) PBL in perspective. In “PBL in Education

for the Professions,” D. J. Boud (ed); p. 13.

What are the CommonFeatures of PBL?

Learning is initiated by a problem.Problems are based on complex, real-world

situations.All information needed to solve problem is not

initially given.Students identify, find, and use appropriate

resources.Students work in permanent groups.Learning is active, integrated, cumulative, and

connected.

Students are presented with a problem. They organize ideas and previous knowledge.

Students pose questions, defining what they know and do not know.

Assign responsibility for questions, discuss resources.

Investigate learning issues.Reconvene, explore newly learned information,

refine questions.

PBL: The Process

Overview

Problem, Project, or Assignment

Group Discussion

Research

Group Discussion

Preparation of Group “Product”

Whole Class Discussion

Mini-lecture(as needed)

Assessment(when desired)

The Problem-Based Learning Cycle

Characteristics Neededin College Graduates

High level of communication skillsAbility to define problems, gather and

evaluate information, develop solutionsTeam skills -- ability to work with othersAbility to use all of the above to address

problems in a complex real-world setting

Quality Assurance in Undergraduate Education (1994)Wingspread Conference, ECS, Boulder, CO.

Recommendations from the Carnegie Foundation

Make research-based learning the standard.Build inquiry-based learning throughout the

four years.Link communication skills and course work.Use information technology effectively.Cultivate a sense of community.

Boyer Commission, 1998

Collaborative workspace

Flexible furniture in PBL classroom

Problem-Based Learning: From Ideas to Solutions through Communication

January 19-21, 2005

For registration, please visit www.udel.edu/inst/jan2005

This three-day workshop will demonstrate and model ways that PBL can be used effectively in all disciplines, in upper and lower division courses, and in all size classes. One focus of this program will be writing effective problem-based materials; participants will leave the session with new or revised problems for use in their courses. Another focus will be engaging students in research and communication as part of the process of PBL.

Institute for TransformingUndergraduate Education

January 19-21,2005 or June 15-17, 2005Problem-Based Learning: From Ideas to Solutions through Communication.University of Delaware

July 2006PBL2006, an international conferenceLima, Perú

U. Delaware PBL online

PBL at UDwww.udel.edu/pbl

ITUE at UDwww.udel.edu/itue

Watson homepagewww.physics.udel.edu/~watson

Materials from this workshopwww.udel.edu/pbl/buffalo2004