- What are your initial reactions to this theory/model? What are barriers to its use? What benefits might be expected for those who overcome the barriers?
- I am very much in support of the PBL model. Much of the information I retained from undergrad was learned through the PBL model. Generally this model is structured so that the instructor probes students to use higher level thinking skills. The instructor should be present throughout the problem solving process. One major barrier to the use of PBL that I have encountered as a student is lack of presence of the tutor/instructor. In my experience, instructors present the problem and allow students to work but rarely participate in questioning students throughout the process. The instructor must have an active role in this type of learning for students to acquire and develop critical thinking skills.
- I am very much in support of the PBL model. Much of the information I retained from undergrad was learned through the PBL model. Generally this model is structured so that the instructor probes students to use higher level thinking skills. The instructor should be present throughout the problem solving process. One major barrier to the use of PBL that I have encountered as a student is lack of presence of the tutor/instructor. In my experience, instructors present the problem and allow students to work but rarely participate in questioning students throughout the process. The instructor must have an active role in this type of learning for students to acquire and develop critical thinking skills.
- Would you attempt to use this theory/model with the students you are currently teaching or hope to teach in the future? Why or why not? Could elements of the theory/model be modified so that it would work with your current/future students?
- I'm struggling to find situations to use this model in my curriculum. I do think that extracurricular programs such as Odyssey of the Mind provide excellent opportunities to use the PBL method with middle school aged students. Odyssey of the Mind allows students to work in small groups with facilitators. I think it would be challenging to implement this model in a classroom of 30 students with a single instructor. Considering the amount of material that we are required to cover each year, it would be difficult to switch from breadth to depth. I can see modifying this theory by creating smaller problems that don't encourage students to go into such depth with a topic.
- An example would be for my marketing students to figure out why students are not interested in attending student athletic games and perform a SWOT analysis of a particular game. The hard part would definitely be finding the time in a 45 minute class to implement the project as well as providing support/"tutoring" for 5-6 groups of students. It would be a challenge that I would like to implement in my classroom because I do think that critical thinking & problem solving skills are definitely lacking among my students. We are also taught that middle school students need to make real life connections to their work in order to find it meaningful. I would really need to consider my students interested in order to create a problem they would find meaningful and be motivated to participate in solving.
- I'm struggling to find situations to use this model in my curriculum. I do think that extracurricular programs such as Odyssey of the Mind provide excellent opportunities to use the PBL method with middle school aged students. Odyssey of the Mind allows students to work in small groups with facilitators. I think it would be challenging to implement this model in a classroom of 30 students with a single instructor. Considering the amount of material that we are required to cover each year, it would be difficult to switch from breadth to depth. I can see modifying this theory by creating smaller problems that don't encourage students to go into such depth with a topic.
- Since we're taking learning theories/models that were not necessarily created with the Web in mind and turning them into Web modules, what Web-based tools or resources could be leveraged to carry out this learning theory/model online?
- In order to virtually implement the problem based learning model, you would need a real-time communication application such as elluminate. A wiki would also work well as group members could post them opinions and make changes to others ideas based on results. Groups would have to make use of sites like google groups to post videos of interviews like the ones suggested in the medical school patient interviews.
- In order to virtually implement the problem based learning model, you would need a real-time communication application such as elluminate. A wiki would also work well as group members could post them opinions and make changes to others ideas based on results. Groups would have to make use of sites like google groups to post videos of interviews like the ones suggested in the medical school patient interviews.
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Problem Based Learning Environments
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Hi Anni, what information from undergrad that you feel you retained better because the PBL method was used?
ReplyDeleteI understand your sentiments about figuring out how to implement this strategy into your classes. What do you feel to be the hardest thing about implementing it? Time, participation from the students, creating a project based upon the lesson material?
In my blog, I also mentioned that state standards are a barrier to implementation of problem-based learning. But I also think that a lot of concepts can be taught within the context of a problem. As the teacher circulates between groups, she may realize that one group has stumbled upon an important concept. At that point, the teacher can gain the attention of the class and teach a short direct instruction lesson. Afterwards, everyone returns to their investigations. So extemporaneous lessons can be taught during a week-long PBL lesson. That's my idea.
ReplyDeleteAnni! - Very thorough coverage of the PBL potential! And, Ryan - excellent suggestion on integrating PBL within the confines of the state education requirements!
ReplyDeleteI think a wiki is a very good idea to use in an online PBL activity, since students generate questions they need answers to in order to solve their problem and the wiki would serve as a good holding space for those questions and the answers students generate as they go out and conduct research.
ReplyDelete