Problem-based learning. PBL. These are words and acronyms that many of us have heard of, but what do they mean? Problem-based learning is a student-centered learning technique where students work in groups to learn more about a topic or subject through working on/solving an open-ended problem.
Some may ask, why is PBL useful? It allows students to develop collaborative learning and teamwork skills. PBL also teaches them to hone their research and presentation skills and allows them to self identify gaps in their knowledge on a topic or things they might want to learn more about. It promotes a student driven level of learning engagement, and can serve as a great way to approach complex, real-world issues in a classroom setting.
To help understand how PBL works and best practices for how to implement it in your classroom, check out these great resources and click on the labels attached to this blog post for links to previous posts on this topic:
Once the decision to use PBL is made, there are different types of problems that a teacher can choose to use with their students. Forked road problems have two different solutions "which" allows for student flexibility as there is more than one answer. In possibility factor based problems, students work to answer "why" the problem is occurring. With situation to be improved problems, students are given a scenario and work together to determine "how" it can be remediated, corrected, or improved. Effect-cause problems challenge students to identify "why" a problem is occurring and "what" caused it to occur. Each type of problem encourages collaboration, critical thinking, and research, and can be used with many different real-life situations/scenarios/issues.
PBL can be incorporated into all different types of ag courses. They can also be used for all different ages of students. Some examples for each type of problem in an animal science course are:
Forked Road: Should I dock the tails of my lambs?
Possibility Factor: Which bull should I choose based on EPDs?
Situation to Be Improved: How can I increase the wool production of my sheep?
Effect-Cause: Why are my goats losing weight?
To make PBL work effectively, teachers also can incorporate different levels and types of questioning to promote critical thinking and responses on the part of the students. With traditional lecture type instruction, students are normal asked recall and knowledge questions, and occasionally questions that ask them to use application skills. With PBL, teachers have the ability to utilize higher level types of questions such as analysis, synthesis, and evaluation. This allows students to practice convergent, divergent, and evaluative thinking, which are all things they will need to be able to use in college and their future professions.
Through PBL, not only can a teacher make their classroom a more engaging and student-centered place, but they will also be able to allow their students to experience true critical thinking. Students will have the opportunity to develop real-world problem solving, research, and collaboration skills. They will also be able to interact with their subject material in a way that is both interesting and exciting to them. PBL can turn the phrase "what's the problem?" from something with a negative connotation, to one that promotes learning excitement in your students!
Wow. This is a really intense question. Unfortunately we don't spend a lot of time teaching pre-service teachers about this. Refer to your Educational Psychology and Educational Theory texts for more information regarding this question. You can also utilized high school guidance counselors and professional development seminars offered at the high school level to build this skill set when you are out in the 'real world'.
Monday - KILE
Hmmm...I'm not sure what this means. Please contact me! (ddf@psu.edu)
Questioning Levels
Get Excited! This is coming on Monday!!
Teaching with just questions
This aligns with Inquiry Based Instruction. Just hold on! Its coming up soon AND you get to perform IBI in a lab!!!
What did you learn?
Key Characteristics of Effective Language in the classroom
How to break down questions for student to achieve desired task.
Questioning
Ways to build positive relationships with students through communication
The proper language to use to positively engage and encourage students and create positive attitudes!
How to set the stage!
Classroom management!!
Stating clear directions!
What do you want to learn more about?
How much should the use of language dictate our lesson objectives?
This is interesting. I would love it if you could provide some clarity. However, remember your objectives should be SMART and always contain a behavior, conditions, and criteria.
Phrasing Questions
So excited you want to learn more about this! Stay Tuned! More to come on Monday with Mrs. Rice.
Putting written out questions into the lesson plan, then not worrying when not everything goes as planned!
Awesome! Yes scripting out a lesson can really alleviate stress when your day doesn't go as planned!! You will learn more about this on Monday.
More practice writing effective questions
Mrs. Rice will definitely incorporate this into the lesson on Monday!
