What is Problem-based Learning?
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In this unit you will learn about Problem-based learning (PBL). PBL is a tool to increase student achievement and promote collaboration and cooperation between students and teacher. Further you will discover how the internet can enhance learning in the PBL curriculum.
In this module, you and your peer group will work together to answer the following:
What is problem-based learning and how can it enhance student achievement? As you work on this paper address specifically the following issues: How does collaboration and cooperation in PBL assist student learning? And how can technology enhance the PBL curriculum?
The following resources are available to assist you in answering these questions. Feel free to use any other resources that may be appropriate.
What
is Problem-based Learning?
This site developed by the Center for Problem-based Learning contains excellent
information regarding Problem-based Learning. This site will be used throughout
the course and students are encouraged to explore this site.
SCORE
Problem-Based Learning
This web site discussed what PBL is and the stages of PBL. It also provides
additional links and information
PBL
and the Lively Classroom
A brief article that describes how Problem-based learning transforms the classroom.
Before you begin you will need to identify your group members. Please use the groups navigation button on the left frame of Bulletin Board to find out the names of the people in your group.
Once you have identified your group members you will need to assign roles for your group paper. The following chart will give you information on each role and responsibilities.
The Presenter
The Presenter's role is to present the topic and start and
manage the topic discussion on the Group's Discussion Board.
To do so:
Make sure that you understand the Topic for
Module 2. The topic is broad enough to allow you to begin a conversation with
your group on the Group Discussion Board.
You begin this conversation by going to your Group's Discussion Board and
clicking on the Add Forum message button.
You then post a question for your group to respond to. For Example: You may
want to ask the group what they think are the essential features of PBL?
Although posting a startup question begins the discussion,
it is also the Presenters responsibility to manage and facilitate the discussion,
making sure it is organized and that everyone participates. Of course sometimes
team members do not participate as they should, making this difficult (if
not impossible), but every effort is to be made to engage all members.
Please NOTE: You are to use The Discussion Board found in your Group Area
-- Not the Main Discussion Topic Area! (NOTE: The Main Discussion Board Button
on the left is just for general information for the entire class.)
Team Leader
The Team Leader's role is to take the responsibility for leading
the cooperative group to produce the paper.
Your group paper should be approximately 3-5 Double Spaced Pages (12 pt).
The Team Leader is take the responsibility to
organize and assemble the paper. This is to be done during the Virtual Chat
to plan the paper and talk about the concepts from the readings discussed
on the Discussion board.
It is the Team Leader's responsibility to organize and lead the chat, so you
can assemble the paper. To effectively conduct a chat:
Plan a common time when everyone is available for the chat to be conducted.
You may also want to provide any instructions to help your members be prepared
to be successful in the chat.
Organize your thought's prior to the chat. To be most effective, make sure
you've read through all of your group's discussion on the discussion board.
Meet your group at the appropriate time and date. To get to the chat, click
on the "-- Group" link on the Main Menu and go to the Virtual Classroom
for your group. : The virtual chat is slow to load and will require 2 to 3
minutes using a modem.
During the chat plan how your group wants to organize the paper to best address
the Treatise Topic.
During the chat assign specific action items, where each member is responsible
for a particular part of the paper and when and how you will receive it. Generally,
it's best to have them send it to you as an attachment.
Once you've received the parts of the paper from your members and have assembled
the it, you are then responsible to Post the Paper in Discussion Area, so
the instructor and the assigned peers can evaluate your Group's Paper. This
should be done by posting a message to the Discussion Area and attaching your
paper(as an RTF document) to the posting. (Be sure that your team's number
& every member's name is on the paper.)
Observer/Commentator
It is the Observer/Commentator's role to observe and comment on the process
of writing a Group Paper.
Note: In those groups that have 4 members the responsibilities of the Observer/Commentator are to be shared (negotiated) between the two individuals assigned to that role for the Paper.
The Observer/Commentator is responsible for
taking notes of the group communication process. Specifically, the observer
is to write and post (in the Group's Discussion Area) a summary (attached
as an RTF doc) of the asynchronous discussion -- tying all of the concepts
together in a summary analysis of the topic.
The Observer/Commentator is also responsible for writing a summary of the
Chat. To complete this you will need to:
Obtain a copy of the Chat
Write a summary of the discussion & save the summary as an RTF document
Post it to the Group's Discussion Board
The final responsibility for the Observer/Commentator is to write a reflection
on the group dynamics that occurred during the creation of The Treatise. The
reflection is to discuss what went well and areas of difficulty in creating
the product. This document should be sent to the instructor.
Journal
After completing the paper. Take some time to write a journal entry about this experience. Note the difficulties and successes that you experienced and any problems that you encountered. You will use this journal to write your final reflection for the course.
You will be asked to review 2 other groups papers for this assignment using the rubric below. The group's that you will assess will be posted to the discussion board. Complete the assessment using the rubric below making sure to include your name and the group that you are assessing. When you have completed the assessment, e-mail a copy to the instructor.
| Powerful argument that was well articulated and organized | Powerful argument that was somewhat well articulated but could have been a bit more organized. | Good argument, but could have been better articulated and been a bit more organized | Weak argument, that could have been better articulated and organized | Weak argument that lacked articulation and organization |
5 |
4 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
You have completed Module 2. You are now ready to begin Module 3.