Learning Theory: Cognitive Flexibility: Problem-Based Learning

Problem-Based Learning

• Overview:  Problem-based learning is a pedagogical strategy for posing significant, contextualized, real world situations, and providing resources, guidance, and instruction to learners as they develop content knowledge and problem-solving skills. In problem based learning, students collaborate to study the issues of a problem as they strive to create viable solutions.
  
  Unlike traditional instruction, which is often conducted in lecture format, teaching in problem based learning normally occurs within small discussion groups of students facilitated by a faculty tutor. Because the amount of direct instruction is reduced in problem based learning, students assume greater responsibility for their own learning, This arrangement promotes group processing of information rather than an imparting of information by faculty.
  
  Even though many of today's complex issues are within the realm of student understanding, the skills needed to tackle these problems are often missing from instruction. Typical problem solving taught in schools often tends to be situation specific with well-defined problem parameters that lead to predetermined outcomes with one correct answer.
  

More..............................  What is Problem-Based Learning?