Problem Based Learning
Problem Based Learning
• Agenda
– What is PBL?
– What does PBL look like?
– What are the Benefits?
– How do I create A PBL?
– PBL in Sun West
WHAT IS PBL?
What is PBL?
An instructional method which focuses on
the investigation and resolution of
messy, “real world” problems as a
context for students to learn critical
thinking and problem solving skills.
What is PBL?
Students work individually and/or in
groups to solve challenging problems
that are authentic, curriculum-based,
and often interdisciplinary”
What is PBL?
Problem-Based Learning (PBL) is
characterized by:
• Meaningful Activity
• Situated Learning
• Open-ended Tasks
• Collaborative Decision-Making and
Problem-Solving
• Changed role of the Instructor
What is PBL?
The “flow” of
problem-based
learning:
Stepien & Gallagher
Problem
Engagement
Inquiry and
Investigation
problem
definition
Problem
Resolution
Problem
Debriefing
What is PBL?
As distinguished from Project-Based Learning:
What is PBL?
Break it down…
Students assume a role in the problem
scenario and are led through a process or
cycle in which they:
1. pose questions, “learning issues,”
identifying what they need to know in
order to address the problem.
What is PBL?
A helpful strategy for planning the problem:
Develop an Problem Statement in which you anticipate what
students might identify as the root issue. This format is the
most common:
How can we [state the central issue]... so that
[state the conditions for an acceptable
solution]?
*This is to be used as a problem design tool, not something to
provide to students. You’ll want students to define the real
problem for themselves!
What is PBL?
2) rank the learning issues in terms of
importance and decide who will
investigate which issue.
3) identify needed resources and where
they might be found.
4) gather needed information through
individual and group investigation.
What is PBL?
5) reconvene to integrate information.
6) generate and evaluate possible
solutions.
7) make needed decisions or take agreed
upon actions.
8) communicate results as appropriate for
problem resolution.
What is PBL?
9) step out of role to debrief on problem
solving experience.
What is PBL?
Cindy E. Hmelo-Silver From Education
Psychology Review, Vol 16, No. 3, Sept. 2004
WHAT DOES PBL LOOK LIKE?
What does PBL Look Like?
Zilvinas Dambrauskas
What does PBL Look Like?
What does PBL Look Like?
Zilvinas Dambrauskas
What does PBL Look Like?
From any Pacific Rim country, you may choose to research
one of the following:
• a famous author
• a well-known artist
• a nationally recognized person
• a style of music/dance
• a holiday or other festival
We want to learn as much as possible about other countries.
One way in which we can all learn more is to research and
share different aspects of life, culture, and people in other
countries.
Prepare a PowerPoint presentation in which you present your
findings on a topic of your choice.
What does PBL Look Like?
Based on your reading and the statistics that you
have interpreted, you are aware that new Canadians
from Asia face a number of challenges, culturally,
emotionally, educationally, and economically.
An immigrant family from <<select country>> has
moved to Beechy, and two of the children will be
attending Beechy School. What can be done to help
the members of this family create a successful
transition from their native culture to Canadian
culture, retaining important native cultural values but
at the same time adapting to the demands of life in
the Canada and in Beechy in particular?
What does PBL Look Like?
Teachers =
• Diagnosing needs
Active Coaches
• Mentoring learning
• Encouraging process
• Questioning thinking
• Modeling inquiry
What does PBL Look Like?
Lecture
Role of Teacher:
• As expert:
– Directs Thinking
– Holds Knowledge
– Evaluates Students
Lecture
Role of Student:
• As receiver:
– Inert
– Inactive
– Empty
What does PBL Look Like?
Direct Instruction
Role of Teacher:
• As conductor:
– Orchestrates
learning
– Guides rehearsal
– Evaluates Students
Direct Instruction
Role of Student:
• As follower:
– Responsive
– Semi-active
– Waiting to be led
What does PBL Look Like?
PBL
Role of Teacher:
• As coach:
– Presents problematic
situation
– Models, coaches, and
fades
– Engages in process as
co-investigator
– Assesses learning
PBL
Role of Student:
• As participant:
– Actively grapples
with the complexity
of the situation
– Investigates and
resolves problem
from the inside
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS?
PBL – The Benefits
• Engages students.
• Allows students to use a variety of skills.
• Gives students specific skills relating to
curriculum outcomes.
• Opportunities to learn and practice
interpersonal skills.
• Provides students a chance to practice
acquired skills (skills they will use in
their adult life).
Center for Youth Development and Education - Boston
PBL – The Benefits
• Expectations for learning and
accomplishments are included and
known by students early in the project.
• Gives students time for reflection and
critical thinking.
• PBL ends with a presentation or product
that demonstrates learning.
Center for Youth Development and Education - Boston
HOW TO CREATE A PBL
How to Create a PBL
1. Identify Learning Objectives
• Identify learning objective(s) for your
PBL development; consider both
content and process goals.
• Traditionally, how might these learning
objectives be addressed? What kind of
problem or activity would you assign?
How to Create a PBL
2. Identify Real-World Context
• Name a realistic application of the
concept
• Outline a scenario
How to Create a PBL
Two Schemes for Writing Problems
1. Think of one or more
learning objectives in
your course
2. Name a realistic
application of the
concept(s). Outline a
scenario.
1. Think of a realistic
scenario from the
news, a videotape,
or popular press
article
2. What learning
objectives for your
course are evident in
the scenario?
How to Create a PBL
3. Draft the problem
Outline the problem (create a ‘story
board’) First consider, “What will be on
the first page?”
How to Create a PBL
3. Draft the problem
Suggestions:
• Good PBL problem has multi-page, multistage construction – progressive disclosure.
• Not all information given in chapter or text students look for resources.
• Challenge students to come to consensus,
reach conclusions, and make judgments.
How to Create a PBL
3. Draft the problem
Suggestions:
• Good PBL problem has multi-page, multistage construction – progressive disclosure.
• Not all information given in chapter or text students look for resources.
• Challenge students to come to consensus,
reach conclusions, and make judgments.
How to Create a PBL
3. Draft the problem – Problem Types
Explanation or Analysis Problems
‘What is going on here?’
Decision or Dilemma Problems
‘What would you do?’ ‘What do you think?’
Task-Oriented Problems
Doing an activity or carrying out a project - for
example, interviewing patients or designing a
brochure.
How to Create a PBL
Example from Physics: Solving Problems
Using Conservation of Momentum
Traditional End of Chapter Problem:
A 1500-kg car traveling east with a speed of 25 m/s
collides at an intersection with a 2500-kg van traveling
north at a speed of 20 m/s. Find the direction and
magnitude of the velocity of the wreckage after the
collision, assuming that the vehicles undergo a perfectly
inelastic collision (ie, they stick together).
Serway and Faughn. 3rd ed. College Physics, Saunders, 1992
How to Create a PBL
How to Create a PBL
For presentation:
•
•
•
•
Basic features of course
Objectives for student learning
Synopsis of problem
Scenario for first page, including guiding
questions
• What comes next?
How to Create a PBL
How to Create a PBL
How to Create a PBL
How to Create a PBL
Sources and strategies for Writing Problems
•
•
•
•
•
•
Newspaper articles, news events
Popular press in the discipline
Make up a story – based on content objectives
Adapt a case to a problem
Research papers
Other?
4. Continue to draft the storyline
beyond a sketchy scenario
Think about point-of-view, nature of the
end-of-stage questions, suitability for
‘audience,’ alignment with problem and
course objectives
4. Continue to draft the storyline
beyond a sketchy scenario
• Remember: A good PBL problem
leaves just the right information out!
• Challenge students to come to
consensus, reach conclusions, and
make judgments.
SUN WEST BPL CASES
References
Problem Based Learning in Teacher education
https://org.elon.edu/t2project/ppt_docs/pbl.ppt
Problem based Learining http://www2.waterforduhs.k12.wi.us/staffweb/sereno/mainpages/InfoLit/pbl
%20presentation.ppt
Writing Effective PBL Problems Courtesy of Deborah Allen University of
Delaware
Problem based Learning
rds.sem-ums.ac.ir/edc/downloads/problem-based-learning.ppt
8 steps of PBL
References
Zilvinas Dambrauskas
usmf.md/uploads/Downloads/.../lituania/Intruduction%20to%20PBL.ppt