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PROBLEM-BASED LEARNING (PBL)

PBL is a learner-centered educational method

In PBL learners are progressively given more and more responsibilityfor their own education and become increasingly independent of theteacher for their education. PBL produces independent learners whocan continue to learn on their own in life and in their chosen careers.The responsibility of the teacher in PBL is to provide the educationalmaterials and guidance that facilitate learning.

PBL is !ased on real "orld #ro!lems

In PBL learning is based on the messy, complex problems encounteredin the real world as a stimulus for learning and for integrating andorganizing learned information in ways that will ensure its recall andapplication to future problems. The problems in PBL are also designedto challenge learners to develop effective problem solving and criticalthin!ing s!ills.

PBL IN AREAS O$%SIDE O& MEDI'INE

"lthough the PBLI provides wor!shops, demonstrations, consultationand support for many medical and related health science disciplines#osteopathy, nursing, physiotherapy, physician assistant, chiropractic$ ifhas also been active in wor!ing with teachers in areas outside ofmedicine.

Secondar Education

The PBLI has wor!ed with high school teachers applying PBL tosecondary education. In a cooperative venture between %chool &istrict'() in %pringfield and %outhern Illinois *niversity %chool of +edicine, itdeveloped problems and intensive teacher training programs in PBL forall the core disciplines in high school as well as art, music and otherareas. It has also wor!ed with teachers from many high schools aroundthe country, particularly those with educationally disadvantaged andminority students #in a contract with entures in -ducation, Inc.$. Theseare students who have traditionally not done well in conventionaleducational settings. PBL provides an e ual and exciting opportunity forlearning to all students. The almost immediate interest in PBL byteachers who have seen it demonstrated, and the excitement shown by

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students and teachers who become involved has caused intenseinterest and rapid dissemination. The method is perceived by teachersas the solution to many problems in / '0 education. These includestudents who cannot reason, who cannot ac uire and apply !nowledgeand s!ills, and who exhibit classic signs of boredom #distractiveclassroom behavior and absences$. Teachers realize that PBL putsmany things they have added to their traditional teaching #problemsolving activities, collaborative learning, critical thin!ing exercises,independent study$ into context and gives them meaning. PBL is nowpracticed at all levels of schooling from !indergarten to the '0th grade.In these settings, the teachers act as tutors with classes of up to 12students with success. The students may brea! into collaborative studygroups during self directed learning. 3nce the students are accustomedto the method, the class may brea! into small tutorial groups withstudents ta!ing on the tutorial role, as the teacher moves around theroom. This specific PBL method is adaptable to a variety of educationalsettings.

Graduate and Pro essional Education

The PBLI has provided presentation, demonstrations, wor!shops,consultations and ongoing support for teachers, schools andorganizations in business, education, engineering, law, veterinarymedicine, computer science, social wor! and physics.

Other Areas

The PBLI now has an ongoing contract to provide PBL educationalapproaches for casewor! supervisors in state agency for child andfamily services.