- What exactly IS PBL? How is it implemented? How much time does it take? What kind of resources are needed to incorporate PBL methods?
(PBL is a curriculum development that focuses on engaging the student simultaneously develops problem solving strategies and disciplinary knowledge and skills by placing the students in the role of active problem solver of ill-structured problems, emulating real life problems. Different problems require time constraints. All kinds of resources need to be incorporated, such as, world wide wed, book references, literature, chatline, teleconferencing, experts in the field, newsline, etc. .)
- What has the experience been at other schools/disciplines where it has been tried? How are those schools/disciplines similar to yours? Are those schools/disciplines so different that it's unlikely that PBL would be doable in your situation?
(PBL has a history of being tried in medicine, business administration, engineering, law school. Our feeling is that PBL should be applicable to any discipline. It is just a tool to engage the student in seeking the knowledge to answer real life problems.)
- What are some good examples of PBL problems and what characteristics do they have in common?
(We examined some interesting and provacative examples from the NASA WEB site, Illinois School of Medicine. The common characterics of a PBL Problem is learning by doing. It is a powerful method to have the students develop problem solving methodology for ill-structured problems.)
- What kind of activities do students do while engaged in a PBL project? What kinds of thinking skills and collaboration skills do they develop?
(Whether the problem exists, defining the problem, researching the literature to better understand the problem, generating a solution, validate solution, and then present solution. Students develop methodology for solutions of real life problems, communication skills, collaborative skills of working with others. )
- How inter-disciplinary can PBL be?
(PBL focuses on real life inter-disciplinary problems and therefore PBL is inter-disciplinary in nature. )
- Is PBL implemented the same everywhere?
(No.)
- Is PBL a complete success? A partial success? What are its weaknesses?
(Eventually PBL will be a success. At the present time there are some difficulties because the teachers as well as students have to get adjusted and become familiar with the new methodology. Students and most instructors are more familiar with chalk and talk. Also, students familiar with chalk and talk have difficultly adapting to PBL and teachers find it uneasy and difficult to shift. The shift to uncharted territorties takes time. The exact time be predicted since each individual is at a different place in their teaching experience.
- What is the philosophy that underlies the design of PBL? How is it congruent with the goals of a good education and the characteristics of an ideal learning environment?
(The philosphy of PBL is learning by doing. People retain more than through lecture chalk and talk. )
- In Bridges' book, Problem Based Learning for Administrators, he describes criteria for evaluating pupils--what are some practical suggestions you could incoporate?
(Talk Back form solicits student input about a student project. The student is asked how they feel about the project, feeling about your project, what was learned, the effect of the project on the future, recommendations for improving the project.)
- How does PBL compare to traditional instruction?
(Please refer to to response regarding question number 8.)
- What kinds of teachers can use PBL? What kind of personality or other qualities do they need? How do teachers feel about PBL after they have done it for awhile?
(Teachers that have experience teaching through collaborative problem solving approaches will have the potential for more successes. TBL must be comfortable being a facilitator as opposed to a direct instructor. )
- What kinds of learners are best suited to PBL? How do students feel about PBL?
(Learners that feel comfortable working in groups, self motivated, inquisitive, task orientated, creative, organized.)
- The Bottom Line: Should universities adopt PBL for use in all classes? Will you?
(Yes, Yes.)
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