Problem Based Learning

• First established for medical students

• McMaster University in Canada late 60’s early 70’s

• Currently in the show “House”

• Is not exclusive to medical field

PBL Background and Influences

PBL Background and Influences

John Dewey

Jean Piaget

Other influences = According to – Dewey – “engagement” and “experience” –

Purpose begins with interest; interest creates motivation and desire

– Socratic Method/Questioning - Pose a question – reason through it with series of questions, hypotheses, disproving it step by step – ON YOUR OWN

– Constructivist Theory – Cognitive – Teacher Guided Rather Than Teacher Driven; Teacher should bring down walls between students and the truth.

– Piaget – Developmental levels, 11+ year olds should be able to engage in PBL

– Multiple Intelligences – Howard Gardner Howard Gardner – 1984

– Convergent and Divergent Thinking – Hudson 1967 – Divergent - The other he termed "divergent" thinking. Here the student's skill is in broadly creative elaboration of ideas prompted by a stimulus, and is more suited to artistic pursuits and study in the humanities.

– In order to get at this kind of thinking, he devised open-ended tests, such as the "Uses of Objects" test

– Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs – “Self Actualizaiton”

Howard Gardner

Abraham Maslow

PBL Background and Influences

1. Present the Problem

2. List ‘What you know…’

3. Develop a Problem Statement

4. List possible Solutions

5. Create an Action Plan

6. Research

7. Write up with support & Present

The PBL Process

• Introduce a puzzling or troublesome situation that requires learners to apply and test previous knowledge.

• Teacher as Coach– No longer

disseminator/knowledge holder

• Student as Active-Problem Solver– No longer passive listeners

• Design open-ended projects with many possibilities for competent design and development.

• Students have maximum opportunities to formulate problems, develop hypotheses, create arguments, and defend their views to peers.

PBL in Education

Video http://www.ny1.com/ny1/content/index.jsp?&aid=74415&search_result=1&stid=8

Demonstration of PBL

How do you recognize PBL in a classroom?

• Students may be working in groups.

• Students/Groups are working differently than each other.

• The teacher is not the main resource, just a facilitator.

• Project based or involves multiple tasks to achieve goal.

• Guidelines/Rubric that students are following.

• Objectives/Essential Questions are clearly stated and seen.

Potential Benefits of PBL

• Resemblance to Real World Problems

• Instills Ownership in the Learning Process

• Promotes Creative Thinking• Develops Organizational Skills• Fosters Responsible Members of

a Learning Community

Possible Pitfalls of PBL

• Familiarity with traditional approach

• Ability to work cooperatively in a group

• Transitioning from traditional lecturer to coach/facilitator

• Loss of control

• Creating an effective ‘ill-structured’ problem

For students For teachers

Discussion Questions

• Could you make curriculum requirements regarding Problem Based Learning?

• How effective would this be in the Elementary and Middle School? High School?

• Do you see any roadblocks with assessment by the teacher?

Works Cited

• “Socratic Method & Scientific Method.” 2/07/07. http://www.niu.edu/~jdye/method.html. 10/19/2007.

• “Socratic Method.” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socratic_method. 10/19/2007.

• “The Six Types of Socratic Questions.” http://www.engin.umich.edu/~CRE/probsolv/strategy/cthinking.htm. 10/19/2007.

Works Cited

• Camp, Gwendie, PhD. “Problem-Based Learning: A Paradigm Shift or a Passing Fad?” http://www.med-ed-online.org/f0000003.htm. 10/13/07.

• “Problem-Based Learning (PBL).” http://www.learning-theories.com/problem-based-learning-pbl.html. 10/13/2007.

• “A Comparative Study of Learning in Lecture vs. Problem-Based Format.” Liuex, Elizabeth M. http://www.udel.edu/pbl/cte/spr96-nutr.html. 10/13/2007.

• “What is Problem Based Learning? http://pbl.cqu.edu/au/content/what_is_pbl.htm. 10/13/2007.

• “Problem Based Learning.” http://www.studygs.net/pbl.htm. 10/13/2007.• “History of Education: Selected Moments.”

http://fcis.oise.utoronto.ca/~daniel_sc/assignment1/1969mcmaster.html. 10/13/2007.

• “Featured Article: Problem-Based Learning: An Introduction.” Rhem, James. http://www.ntlf.com/html/pi/9812/pbl_1.htm. 10/14/2007.

• “Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs.” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maslow’s_hierarchy_of_needs. 10/22/06.

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Works Cited

• “Constructivism.” Bencze, J.L. http://leo.oise.utoronto.ca/~lbencze/Constructivism.html#constructivist%20learning. 10/21/2007.

• “Convergent and Divergent Thinking Styles.” http://www.learningandteaching.info/learning/converge.htm. 10/21/2007.

• “Piaget’s Key Ideas.” http://www.learningandteaching.info/learning/piaget.htm. 10/21/2007.

• “Multiple Intelligences.” http://www.learningandteaching.info/learning/multiple.htm/ 10/21/2007.

• “Pask and Lauillard.” http://www.learningandteaching.info/learning/pask.htm. 10/21/2007.