Problem-based learning in formal and informal learning environments

Problem-based learning (PBL) is a student-centered instructional strategy in which students solve problems and reflect on their experiences. Different domains need different approaches in the design of PBL systems. Therefore, we present one case study in this article: A Java Programming PBL. The application is developed as an additional module for the Learning Management System (LMS). This way the LMS is extended by PBL functionality and the LMS learning resources can be used in PBL.     

A case study: Problem-based learning for civil engineering students in transportation courses

This paper describes two case studies where problem-based learning (PBL) has been introduced to undergraduate civil engineering students in University College Dublin. PBL has recently been put in place in the penultimate and final year transport engineering classes in the civil engineering degree in University College Dublin. In this case study, the paper describes how PBL was introduced, the impacts of its introduction and the feedback received by students regarding PBL. PBL was introduced in these years to help students to become deep and active learners and to help them in the transition from passive note taker to researcher and lifelong learner.     

Understanding the prospect of success in professional training: an ethnography into the assessment of problem-based learning

One of the most fundamental innovations in higher education is the introduction of the method known as problem-based learning (PBL). While literature has largely focused on its learning goals and the transition from lectures to tutorials, little research has problematised why this is a successful methodology and what we consider as students’ success. Drawing upon various ethnographic techniques, the authors analyse PBL as a field of expectations in light of Expectation-Value Theory. Beyond merely showing that PBL is a culturally constructed practice, the article elaborates on how students’ expectations inform practices, performance and evaluation, which is important for assessing the successfulness of the method. By discussing students’ expectations, dynamics and power relations, the present article is a contribution to the research addressing what has come to be known as the ‘black box’ of PBL.     

Problem-based learning effectiveness on micro-blog and blog for students: a case study

Problem-based learning (PBL) is regarded as an effective learning strategy to enhance cognition not only in traditional learning but also in e-learning. In e-learning settings, blogs and micro-blogs can plausibly provide a platform to conduct PBL. Recently, most studies on blogs and micro-blogs have respectively probed satisfaction and learning effectiveness. However, little effort has been made to explore their effectiveness on learning. Therefore, this study explored an application of a PBL approach on a micro-blog and blog by seventh-grade students taking an information ethics course; in particular, the effect of a micro-blog and blog on student learning with different learning achievement levels. Moreover, results showed that the micro-blog had more effect on PBL for low achievement students compared to the blog. This study suggests that using a micro-blog for PBL is more appropriate for the sake of maximizing learning effectiveness, if generally considering students with different learning achievement levels.     

基于问题的学习模式在教育心理学课程教学中的应用

“基于问题的学习”（PBL）以情境性的、结构不良问题为核心,以描述与定义问题为导向,构成自己独特的学习过程模型,其问题对学习者的学习发挥导向、监控和评价功能。PBL模式在教育心理学课程中的应用需分析外部情境条件、学习者内部条件和问题特征等因素,与传统教学相比,PBL尤其关注师生关系的定位,重视学生之间的交流与合作,强调学生对知识生成过程的体验。     

基于问题的学习评价研究进展

基于问题的学习(problem-based learning,PBL)在医学教育领域已广泛应用。但是,目前为止还没有统一有效的PBL评价方法。发展与PBL教育理念相适应的评价体系是PBL有效实施的关键。本文旨在通过对近年来国内外PBL评价现状的梳理,为进一步研制系统的、科学的PBL评价体系提供借鉴。     

论基于问题式学习（PBL）的有效实施

基于问题式学习是一种与建构主义学习理论及其教学理论相吻合的教学模式,近年来受到教育界的广泛重视,但在我国中小学中实施要考虑其效度问题。只有充分理解和把握实施PBL的要素,处理好实施PBL的相关问题,才能使PBL的实施更有实效。     

Enhance low-achieving students' learning involvement in Taiwan's higher education: an approach via e-learning with problem-based learning and self-regulated learning

This study explored the effects of web-enabled pedagogies on students' involvement in learning. A series of quasi-experiments were conducted to investigate whether students' involvement increases over time if intervened, respectively, by problem-based learning (PBL), self-regulated learning (SRL), and their combinations. Two classes of 102 first-year students at a vocational school in a one-semester course were chosen for this empirical study. The results were generally supportive. The authors further discuss the implications for schools, scholars, and teachers engaged in e-learning.     

The relationship between student-generated learning issues and self-study in problem-based learning

A major assumption of problem-based learning (PBL) is that learning issues, generated by students while discussing a problem, are used as guides for self-directed learning activities. This assumption, though basic to PBL, has never been tested. At the University of Limburg, the Netherlands, two procedures have been developed that reflect the extent to which students are able to identify important learning issues given a particular problem, and whether subsequent, independent, learning corresponds with these learning issues. The focus of the present article will be on the relationship between the two. We have explored to what extent student-generated learning issues are a major factor influencing the nature of students' self-study, or whether other factors may be involved in decisions on what to study and how much time to spend on topics selected. First, the production of learning issues was studied and represented as the percentage of overlap between learning issues raised by students and pre-set faculty objectives for each problem. The second procedure consisted of the administration of a Topic Checklist (TOC) which purports to measure students' actual self-directed learning activities. The TOC consists of a list of topics specifying the intended course content. Students were asked to indicate on a five-point Likert scale how much time they had spent studying each topic and to what degree they had mastered that topic. Third, learning issues and TOC topics were compared directly in a qualitative sense. Comparisons between the procedures revealed that a low proportion of variance of TOC scores could be predicted from the percentage of faculty objectives identified for each problem and the direct match between learning issues and TOC scores. It is concluded that scrutinizing student-generated learning issues and topics covered during self-study may provide information about what content is covered by students in tutorial groups. The discrepancy between the results of the measurements suggests, however, that learning issues produced during group discussion are not the sole source on which students base self-study decisions. Several other factors may be involved, such as tutor guidance, content already covered in previous units, issues raised during sessions with resource persons, and the nature of the learning resources available. Therefore, the relationship between learning issues and content covered during self-study is not as straightforward as is suggested.     

Students' experience of problem-based learning in virtual space

This paper reports outcomes of a study focused on discovering qualitatively different ways students experience problem-based learning in virtual space. A well-accepted and documented qualitative research method was adopted for this study. Five qualitatively different conceptions are described, each revealing characteristics of increasingly complex student experiences. Establishing characteristics of these more complex experiences assists teachers in facilitating students’ engagement and encouraging deeper learning.     

Problem-based learning as a facilitator of conceptual change

We investigated whether problem-based learning (PBL) can foster conceptual change. Students were randomly assigned to a PBL, lecture-based, or self-study group, all receiving instruction about the topic of Newtonian laws. Conceptual change was measured from pre- to immediate post-test (directly after instruction) and from immediate post-test to delayed post-test after one week. Results showed that the PBL-group outperformed both the lecture and the self-study group on the immediate post-test. This result supported the hypothesis that PBL can increase the likelihood of conceptual change. The PBL group also outperformed both other groups at the delayed post-test after one week; the decline in conceptual change from immediate to delayed post-test was similar for all three groups. Findings are discussed in terms of cognitive engagement.     

问题式学习(PBL)在高师公共心理学教学中的应用

高师公共心理学是高师院校一门重要的专业必修课,但目前实际的教学效果不佳,不能发挥应有的作用。可以借鉴目前欧美的一种新颖的上课方式——问题式学习(PBL),并应用于高师公共心理学教学中以检验其效果。     

Rethinking the roles of mentor and mentee in the context of student suicide

Student suicides and attempted suicides are on the rise globally, and the numbers continue to climb steeply in most Westernized countries. School personnel remain untrained and uninformed in the area of suicide; few teachers or administrators can accurately identify the characteristics of suicidal behavior and fewer still have any knowledge of appropriate ways to deal with deeply troubled students. This article uses a powerful and tragic story of a student’s suicide as a catalyst for rethinking the structure and goals of mentoring relationships. A new approach, pairing novice teachers whose pre‐service education curriculum included specific training in recognizing and addressing the emotional needs of students with mentors experienced in real‐world classroom dynamics and the effects of school culture on children could improve the school experience for many students and potentially reduce the number of suicides or attempted suicides.     

移动通信技术支持下的基于问题的学习

移动通信技术的高速发展给我们的学习方式带来了巨大的冲击。文章介绍了基于问题的学习(PBL)的定义及实施环节,比较分析了传统课堂中的PBL、网络环境下的PBL和移动通信技术支持下的PBL,阐述了移动通信技术支持下的PBL的巨大优势:学习不受时空的限制性、学习情境的真实性、交互的及时性、学习资源的丰富性等,并设计了移动通信技术支持下的PBL学习模式,以期为业内学者提供一定的参考。     

通过专业援助促进研究性学习质量的提高

研究性学习是一种自主、积极的学习方式,其开发和实施需要具有专业视野和专业才能的专家、学者、专业团体的支持和帮助。他们的专业援助将极大地促进研究性学习质量的提高。其援助的形式包括专家志愿者服务岗、虚拟专家库、专业团体和机构的培训服务、专业团体和机构的成果引入等方面。     

高师公共心理学问题式学习教学模式的构建

公共心理学是高师院校必修的一门教育类基础课程,针对该课程在教学中普遍存在的教学目标模糊、教学内容繁杂、教学方法陈旧和教学评价单一等一系列问题,在该课程教学中构建任务、情境、问题、角色和资源等五位一体的问题式学习教学模式,实现“教、学、做”一体化,能够使学生学以致用,在专业知识、实践技能和问题解决能力等方面得到有效提升,促进学生全面发展,最终适应社会的发展需求。     

Students' Perceptions of the Technological Supports for Problem-based Learning

This paper reports students' perceptions of the technological supports that assist problem-based learning (PBL). There are a number of tasks in the PBL processes, which can be supported by technological advances. A Web-based system has been developed to support the problem-based learning strategy. The system provides facilities to both teacher and students to facilitate learning and teaching. These include on-line teaching materials retrieval, a discussion area for problem analysis and brainstorming, a facility for project planning and monitoring, a private group area for the purposes of discussion, a facility for the submission of development work and learning resources, and a posting area to display good work to motivate students. The progress of the students can be monitored and feedback can be given to them. This paper presents a pilot study of student views of and preferences for various technological supports used to enhance learning effectiveness.     

The Impact of Scaffolding and Student Achievement Levels in a Problem-based Learning Environment

This study examined how scaffolds and student achievement levels influence inquiry and performance in a problem-based learning environment. The scaffolds were embedded within a hypermedia program that placed students at the center of a problem in which they were trying to become the youngest person to fly around the world in a balloon. One-hundred and eleven seventh grade students enrolled in a science and technology course worked in collaborative groups for a duration of 3 weeks to complete a project that included designing a balloon and a travel plan. Student groups used one of three problem-based, hypermedia programs: (1) a no scaffolding condition that did not provide access to scaffolds, (2) a scaffolding optional condition that provided access to scaffolds, but gave students the choice of whether or not to use them, and (3) a scaffolding required condition required students to complete all available scaffolds. Results revealed that students in the scaffolding optional and scaffolding required conditions performed significantly better than students in the no scaffolding condition on one of the two components of the group project. Results also showed that student achievement levels were significantly related to individual posttest scores; higher-achieving students scored better on the posttest than lower-achieving students. In addition, analyses of group notebooks confirmed qualitative differences between students in the various conditions. Specifically, those in the scaffolding required condition produced more highly organized project notebooks containing a higher percentage of entries directly relevant to the problem. These findings suggest that scaffolds may enhance inquiry and performance, especially when students are required to access and use them.     

论问题式教学法在《旅游市场调查与分析》课程教学中的应用

《旅游市场调查与分析》是高校旅游管理专业一门重要课程,且应用性极强。该课程的核心教学目标是使学生能够掌握并熟练应用各种旅游市场调查与分析方法,最终解决实际调研问题。文章结合这一教学目标主张将问题式教学法引入该门课程的教学过程。在分析了问题式教学法与《旅游市场调查与分析》课程的契合性之后,提出了应用问题式教学法的具体措施,以期提升该门课程的教学效果。