Problem Based Learning is a curriculum development and delivery system that recognizes the need to develop problem solving skills as well as the necessity of helping students to acquire necessary knowledge and skills. Indeed, the first application of PBL was in medical schools which rigorously test the knowledge base of graduates. PBL utilizes real world problems, not hypothetical case studies with neat, convergent outcomes. It is in the process of struggling with actual problems that students learn both content and critical thinking skills. Problem based learning thus has several distinct characteristics which may be identified and utilized in designing such curriculum.
Students solve the problems - teachers are coaches and facilitators.
Students are only given guidelines for how to approach problems - there is no one formula for student approaches to the problem. Authentic, performance based assessment - is a seamless part and end of the instruction. As Authentic as it Gets. Designing a Problem Based Curriculum for the Pre-Clinical Years. Problem Based Learning assists students to solve problems by the process of continually encountering the type of ill-structured problems confronted by adults or practicing professionals.