External links

Problem-Based Learning (PBL) has its origins in medical education - more specifically in the clinical aspects of medical education. For this reason it is often equated with case study methods. The kind of "cases" or "problems" in PBL environments are usually ill-structured and closely related to real-life situations, in fact they may often involve actual real-life scenarios. They thus pose situations which learners are likely to be faced with in real life. PBL can be said to be characterised by "carefully selected and designed problems that demand from the learner acquisition of critical knowledge, problem solving proficiency, self-directed learning strategies, and team participation skills." In a PBL setting learning is student centred and the teacher tends to act as a facilitator and resource guide rather than solely as a provider of knowledge and information. PBL is now widely used at all levels of education and for most disciplines. The links here will take you to sites which ought to provide you with a clearer understanding of PBL and give numerous examples of ideas you could adapt for your own PBL classes.

• Distributed Course Delivery for Problem Based Learning
  Comprehensive materials from a workshop conducted in 1996 by California State University in collaboration with San Diego State University, USA. Has detailed discussion of models of distance learning (distributed course delivery) using PBL.
  
• PBL Clearinghouse
  PBL Clearinghouse a collection of peer-reviewed problems and articles to assist faculty in using problem-based learning. Teaching notes and supplemental materials accompany each problem, providing insights and strategies that are innovative and classroom-tested. Beginners in PBL will benefit from ready access to a wide variety of field-tested problems; more experienced practitioners will benefit by having a peer-reviewed forum for their creative works. The service is free to academics but requires online registration (follow the steps under 'Apply to use the Clearinghouse').
  
• Problem Based Learning
  From Monash University, Australia. Detailed information of the use of PBL with links to a range of resources.
  
• A Personal Journey Towards A Problem-based Approach to University Teaching
  Roger Hadgraft, Monash University, Australia.
  
• Problem-Based Learning Assessment and Research Centre (PROBLARC)
  Based at the University of Newcastle, Australia. The web site describes the work of PROBLARC in detail (conferences, workshops, etc.) and has an excellent bibliography on PBL in the disciplines.
  
• Problem-Based Learning
  The mission of this initiative at Samford University, USA is to serve as a clearinghouse of information about PBL in undergraduate and professional education. Is packed full of information on the topic, including articles and links. An online version of PBL Insight, the newsletter of the Centre, is available.
  
• Problem-Based Learning
  From the Maricopa Community Colleges, USA. Describes PBL in detail with examples and a searchable archive of useful resources.
  
• Problem-Based Learning
  Online materials published in 1996 by Don Woods from Macmaster University, Canada.
  
• Scaffolding for Success in Problem-Based Learning
  A 1998 article from Tony Greening at the University of Ballarat, Australia. 'The focus of this paper is on the influence of the learning support structure in an environment (such as the typical PBL environment) that encourages student independence as one of its basic tenets. The immediate reaction might be to assume that it takes on a reduced importance in such circumstances. That assumption is challenged in this paper.'