Students have to ask higher level questions, provide divergent responses, provide feedback to one another, and collaborate with others in the completion of the task. PBL can be as interdisciplinary as the problem allows. The philosophy is that learners are actively involved, the learners are constructing their own knowledge, and the teacher is a guide not an autocrat. It prepares professionals to engage in the type of problem solving that will be necessary on the job. The evaluation of projects by the learner, peers, and the instructor promote professional growth and personal responsibility for learning.
Students experience increased involvement, thinking, and motivation during the learning process.
Flexible, risk-taking, organized instructors will probably experience more success with this approach. The learner has to be able to tolerate ambiguity. No, but it may be a good option for most classes and we will probably use it along with other methods in many of our classes. A WebQuest page. All rights reserved.