PBL Process

Steps in the Problem-Based Learning Process

A. Students receive a problem from the instructor (that includes some time management suggestions) and then the students:

1. Select what they already know that pertains
2. Identify what they need to know to address the problem
3. Learn it!
4. Apply knowledge to solve a new problem

B. For each problem the students need to:

1. Divide into groups of 3-5 people.
2. Begin by identifying learning objectives, i.e., what specifically does the group want to learn by tackling a particular problem. (The instructor will provide some suggested learning objectives but these may be modified.) The learning objectives will serve as a contract between the group of students (each other) and the instructor.
3. Select a leader (PI-primary investigator) who will organize the group and serve as liaison with the instructor. Other members of the group will be called investigators or researchers.

C. Each student will participate in an assessment process that will involve the following parts:

1. After a problem has been solved each PI and researcher will fill out an evaluation form provided by the instructor about how well each of the members of the research group completed their tasks. The purposed of this evaluation is to help each person improve their problem solving and group communication skills over the period of the course. Assessments will ask about:
   • Quality of the Problem posed
   • Self-assessment of learning objective achievement
   • Quality of knowledge learned/shared
   • Quantity of knowledge learned/shared
   • 3 strengths in problem solving that were demonstrated
   • 3 weaknesses in problem solving to be worked on
2. Cumulative mid-term and final examinations will be given that will involve assessment of problem solving skills particularly as they relate to human interactions with medicinal plants and achievement of learning objectives from the cumulative problems.

References

University of Hawaii Medical School using PBL:

http://www.rwjf.org/reports/grr/019641.htm

Institutions with programs using PBL:

McMaster University, Chemical Engineering System of PBL: http://chemeng.mcmaster.ca/pbl/pbl.htm