1. Problem-based Learning An Introduction

2. What is PBL? –“the most significant innovation in education for the professions in many years” –now very common in medicine e.g. in Taiwan all medical education will become PBL HKU significant PBL elements

3. What is PBL? n Instead of Lecture and Presentation –small groups of students (6-8) are presented with a problem to solve –students in class discuss the problem to determine the nature of the problem the learning issues to be explored –students research the issues outside class –students return to class to finalize and present conclusions –teachers and students evaluate the process and performance

4. The PBL Process PROBLEM IDENTIFY LEARNING ISSUES RESEARCH DISCOVER ANALYZE DEVELOP SOLUTIONS REFLECT ON SOLUTIONS

5. Why PBL? n Knowledge is exploding - it is impossible to teach everything or even the most important things n With traditional teaching methods –students retain little of what they learn –knowledge is not transferred to new contexts n With PBL –prior knowledge (from anywhere) is activated –new knowledge is learned in the process of solving problems

6. How will we PBL? n 2 or 3 problems –depends on progress n Problem 1 –first discussion tonight –re-arrange the furniture! –October 28: Lecture then continue discussion –November 4: Lecture then presentation of 2 solutions (randomly selected groups) –written solutions handed in on November 11

7. Resources for Problem 1 n Previous learning n Textbook n Lectures - look them up on Prof.Davies’ Website n Look for yourself - prices for similar software

8. How will we PBL? n Problem 2 –introduced on November 11, after feedback on Problem 1 -use that meeting to identify the Learning Issues –November 18 - work on the problem after the lecture –November 25 - two groups - different from Problem 1 - present solutions –written solutions by December 2

9. Resources for Problem 2 n Previous learning n Textbook n Lectures - look them up on Prof.Davies’ Website n Look for yourself - what does promotion cost?

10. How will we PBL? n Problem 3 –introduced on December 2, after feedback on Problem 2 –the first part of the end of term test on December 17 will be “your solution to problem 3” THIS WILL COUNT FOR 50% OF THE TEST MARK - SPEND ABOUT 45 mins ON IT –the second part of the test will be 2 questions out of 6 on topics arising in solving the problems

11. Assessment for PBL? n Tutor appraisal of solutions -2x10% - based on written solutions n Confidential Peer Appraisal of Contribution to Solutions - 10% n End of Term Quiz will be based on the Problems - 25%

12. The Role of Tutors in PBL n Facilitates, not teaching you points! n Does not give answers n Asks questions –“why say that?” –“is there anything else?” n Promotes higher learning –“how is that relevant?” –“what is the difference?”

13. How Will I Feel about PBL? n PBL sessions often go through a pattern everyone polite and co-operative some friction - “you are wrong -you are not helping!” - cohesion - we are all contributing the solution

14. How to Do It Well? n Divide jobs amongst team members –everybody read the textbook carefully - various different parts are relevant –look at academic articles and summarize relevant points –look for similar real-life information –communicate with each other –use meetings to organize and synthesize - bring ideas together