George H. Watson, University of Delaware
IntegratingInformation Technology
and PBL
PBL Workshops atBronx Community College - CUNY
October 20, 2006
www.udel.edu/pbl/bcc-cuny/
Active Learning Objectives
Courses should:1. Be student-centered and encourage students to “learn to
learn.”2. Provide opportunities to think critically and to analyze and
solve problems.3. Assist students in developing skills in gathering and
evaluating information.4. Provide experience working cooperatively in teams and
small groups.5. Help students acquire versatile and effective communication
skills.6. Offer a variety of learning experiences.7. Apply technology effectively where it will enhance learning.
Information Technology Objectives
Students should:
1. engage in electronic collaboration.
2. use and create structured electronic documents.
3. do technology-enhanced presentations.
4. use appropriate electronic tools for research and evaluation.
5. use spreadsheets and databases to manage information.
6. use electronic tools for analyzing quantitative and qualitative data.
7. identify major legal, ethical, and security issues in information technology.
8. have a working knowledge of IT platforms.
Adapted from Technology Across the Curriculum, George Mason U.
collaboration
structureddocuments
enhancedpresentations
research &evaluation
managinginformation
analyzingdata
cooperativegroups
critical thinkingproblem solving
gathering &evaluating info
student-centeredlearning to learn
varied learningexperiences
communicationskills
IT6
IT5 IT4
IT3IT2
IT1
AL1
AL2
AL3
AL4
AL5
AL6
Overlap of Active-Learning Objectives and Instructional Technology Objectives
collaboration
structureddocuments
enhancedpresentations
research &evaluation
managinginformation
analyzingdata
cooperativegroups
critical thinkingproblem solving
gathering &evaluating info
student-centeredlearning to learn
varied learningexperiences
communicationskills
IT6
IT5 IT4
IT3IT2
IT1
AL1
AL2
AL3
AL4
AL5
AL6
Overlap of Active-Learning Objectives and Instructional Technology Objectives
collaboration
structureddocuments
enhancedpresentations
research &evaluation
managinginformation
analyzingdata
cooperativegroups
critical thinkingproblem solving
gathering &evaluating info
student-centeredlearning to learn
varied learningexperiences
communicationskills
IT6
IT5 IT4
IT3IT2
IT1
AL1
AL2
AL3
AL4
AL5
AL6
Overlap of Active-Learning Objectives and Instructional Technology Objectives
Syllabus Introductionto PBL
Organizing the Syllabus
Groupfacilitation and
supportForms forassessment
Examples of supporting information that can be linked from an online syllabus:
1. Instructor’s instructional philosophy 2. Detailed course objectives (both content and process) 3. General education curriculum goals 4. Motivation and description of PBL 5. Problem solving process and strategies 6. Roles and responsibilities of students, peer tutors, and
instructor 7. List of frequently asked questions about PBL and working
in groups 8. Forms for assessment of individual performance in groups 9. Some thoughts on grading 10. Anonymous suggestion box and responses to suggestions11. Academic Services Center 12. Policies on academic dishonesty and responsible computing
GroupsIdentity:
Rosters, photos,addresses
Organizing Groups
Vehicles forcommunication
Vehicles forcollaboration
Student toprofessor
Professor tostudent
Organizing Groups
Groups
Student togroup
Professor togroup
Student tostudent
Vehicles forcommunication
Group toprofessor
Group togroup
Groupsbulletin boards,
newsgroups
Egroups.comchatrooms,filesharing,
scheduling meetings
CMS: WebCTcontrolled discussion forums,
collaborative space,whiteboarding
Vehicles forcollaboration
Organizing Groups
MS SharePoint
Web Sites andWeb Pages
Ingredients forwriting problems
Utilizing Online Resources
Inspiration fordesigning problems
Information forsolving problems
Web Sites andWeb Pages
Utilizing Online Resources
Borrowing imagesfrom other sites
Creating imageswith scanners,digital cameras
Ingredients forwriting problems
Background factsfrom networked
databases
Web Sites andWeb Pages
Utilizing Online Resources
Online regionalnewspapers for
local perspective
Internationalnewspapers for
global view
Quack websitesfor “raw”material
Film and TVsites for scriptsand characters
Inspiration fordesigning problems
Web Sites andWeb Pages
Utilizing Online Resources
Executing websearches effectively
Information forsolving problems
Evaluating onlineresources critically
Old thinking:The web is full ofmisinformation andbiased representationStay away!
New thinking:Engage and developcritical thinking skills.The Internet Challenge!
Web Sites andWeb Pages
Organizingthe Syllabus
OrganizingGroups
Student Reportsand Projects
Introductionto PBL
Groupfacilitation and
support
Forms forassessmentIdentity:
Rosters, photos,addresses
Vehicles forcommunication
Vehicles forcollaboration
student toprofessorstudent to
student
student togroup professor to
studentprofessor togroup
group toprofessor
group togroup
Using a Course Web Site to Organize a PBL Course
Web Sites andWeb Pages
Ingredients forwriting problems
Inspiration forproblem design
Information forsolving problems
Borrowing imagesfrom other sites
Creating imageswith scanners,digital cameras
Background factsfrom networked
databases
Online regionalnewspapers for
local perspective
Internationalnewspapers for
global view
Quack websitesfor “raw”material
Film and TVsites for scriptsand characters
Executing websearches effectively
Evaluating onlineresources critically
Using Online Resources to Support a PBL Course
Computer SimulationsA wide variety of educational games exist that represent a PBL approach to learning <www.legacyinteractive.com> :
emergency room www.trauma.orgvirtual hospital www.vh.orgarchaeological dig dig.anthro.niu.eduhalls of justice www.objection.com
Interactive Java applets and Flash animations are also an excellent way to bring the power of technology to the PBL classroom.
One of my own is a Flash Circuit Simulator that emulates a laboratory for studying the properties of electric circuits.