Problem-Based Learning in College Writing

• Problem-Based Learning requires students to use critical thinking and problem-solving skills to investigate personally relevant/socially situated problems.

• “Problem-based learning was pioneered by McMaster University Medical School in Hamilton, Ontario, about 30 years ago. From the beginning it seemed a spectacular success story in the use of case study teaching. Real patient problems became the entire basis for the curriculum. Inspired by this success, a couple dozen other medical schools in the United States and abroad also revamped their curricula around patient cases” (Herreid, 2003, p. 364).

• In Problem-Based Learning, students work in groups to organize their prior knowledge and research related to the current problem.

• Problem-Based Learning can result in persuasive writing tasks, in which students argue for their proposed solution. (2005-2006 Instructional Goal)

Bibliography

Herreid, C. F. (2003). The death of problem-based learning? Journal of College Science Teaching, 32.6, 364-366.

Problem-based learning. (2001). Maricopa Center for Learning and Instruction. Retrieved November 7, 2005, from http://www.mcli.dist.maricopa.edu/pbl/problem.html

Tags: course design