Minimum Essentials for PBL
THE MINIMAL ESSENTIALS FOR PROBLEM-BASED LEARNING
Problem-based learning has become a popular term in education and is now often applied to educational methods and innovations that do not resemble what many of us working in the area of problem-based learning research and development would recognize as problem-based learning. It is unfortunate that many teachers have based their opinion of problem-based learning and what it can accomplish on observations of poorly designed or delivered interventions, unaware of the fact that they were not what problem-based learning can be as a learning method.
The following is a description of what I think should be the minimal essentials for any educational intervention to be called problem-based learning. Without them, the power of problem-based learning cannot be fully achieved.
This first description will be a generic description of the essentials adaptable to any discipline or curriculum. To show how they can be adapted to a specific curriculum a second description of these essentials for medical education follows.
In reviewing these essentials it is important to keep in mind the major objectives of the method.
The acquisition of an extensive, integrated knowledge base that is readily recalled and applied to the analysis and solution of problems.
The development of effective and efficient:
- Problem-solving skills
- Self-directed learning skills
- Team skills
GENERIC PROBLEM-BASED LEARNING ESSENTIALS
THE MINIMAL ESSENTIALS FOR PROBLEM-BASED LEARNING IN MEDICAL EDUCATION