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ASSOCIATIONS
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What is
Problem-Based Learning?
Problem-based learning is a strategy for encouraging critical thinking and problem solving skills along with content knowledge through the use of real world situations or problems. Teachers act as facilitators, providing resources, guidance, and instruction to learners as they develop content knowledge and problem-solving skills. Students assume greater responsibility for their own learning as teacher-directed instruction decreases. The teacher's role shifts from that of instructor to guide, facilitator, and fellow learner. Problem-based learning may take the form of group discussion of cases or problems and/or projects designed and developed by students.
| Learning is initiated by a posed problem the learner is interested in solving. | |
| Problems are based on real-life, open-ended situations. | |
| Projects are open-ended, with many possibilities for design and development. | |
| Students are responsible for finding information necessary to solve problems. | |
| Learning is active, integrated, cumulative, and connected. | |
| The teacher's role is supportive, not directive. | |
| Evaluations emphasize integration of knowledge. (from the Problem Based Learning web site at Samford University) at the IMSA Center for Problem-Based
Learning |
Examples and Applications of Problem-Based Learning

- Dan Tries Problem-Based Learning (Univ.
of Delaware)
- Examples
and Facilitations of Problem-Based Learning
- Introducing Art
History through Problem-Based Learning (Univ. of Delaware)
- Investigating PBL--A Webquest
(San Diego State University)
- Problem-Based Learning in Biology
(Peter Ommundsen)
- Problem-Based Learning in
Chemistry (Maricopa College)
- Problem-Based
Learning in a Large Introductory Geology Class (Univ. of Delaware)
- Problem-Based
Learning in Mathematics (Rio
Salado College)
- Problem-Based
Learning in Physics (Univ. of Delaware)
- UBUYACAR (Maricopa College)
Problem-Based Learning Resources
- Evaluation of Project-Based Learning
(Challenge 2000 Multimedia Project)
- IMSA Center for Problem-Based Learning
- The Learning Tree at
San Diego State University
- Problem-Based Learning at
Buck Institute for Higher Education
- Problem-Based Learning
Handbook (Queens University)
- Problem-Based Learning Initiative (Southern
Illinois University School of Medicine)
- Problem-Based
Learning web site at Samford University (Alabama)
- Project-Based Learning
References (Houghton-Mifflin)
Books on Problem-Based Learning
The
Power of Problem-Based Learning, A Practical "How To" For Teaching
Undergraduate Courses in Any Discipline, edited by Barbara Duch, Susan Gron, and
Deborah Allen, Stylus Publishing, LLC (2001),
256 pages.
ISBN 1-57922-037-1, paper, $24.95
ISBN 1-57922-036-3, cloth, $59.95
Chronicle of Higher Education Reading List (4/3/2001): A Practical Guide to
Problem-Based Learning .

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Armstrong Atlantic State
University
Savannah, Georgia 31419
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