What is PBL?

“The learning which results from the PROCESS of working towards the understanding, or resolution, of a problem.”  Barrows and Tamblyn, 1980

PBL is a learner-centred approach whereby students work in collaboration to solve a problem.  It is influenced by constructivist, humanist, and socio-cultural learning theories.

The four pillars of PBL are:

• to advance knowledge and understanding
• to develop critical reasoning for reasoned decision making
• to gain self-directed learning skills (for life-long learning)
• to acquire team skills.

Origins:

In 1969, the medical school at McMaster University introduced a unique, hands-on approach called Problem-based Learning.  Its application within the medical education field was due to the medical graduates having a lack of practical skills.  Shortly after, a variety of different schools in different countries implemented the PBL theory.

Applications:

PBL is used in a number of different ways and across a multitude of different academic disciplines, including:

Architecture, Engineering, Law, Business Studies, Healthcare, Education, and Economics.

 

Video links:

What is Problem Based Learning?  Hull York Medical School (3mins 02secs)

Problem Based Learning at Maastricht University (4mins 38secs)

Problem Based Learning – A video from Stanford University (9mins 58secs)