I agree with Lewis and Ranald,

Our family has been homeschooling for over ten years using problem-based
learning without even knowing the term existed or that there had been
research done on this type of model, until recently. I would say that
problem-based learning is more an "attitude" than a "model". I think the
methodology works because the students have motivation, which comes from
using areas of interest to the individual and being a guide to help them
gather information and then, leaving the problem solving up the reasoning
skills of the students themselves. We never shove anything down our kid's
throats or make them do repetitive drills, instead, we just encourage them
to reach deeper into what ever has caught their interest. We found this is
the path to gaining critical thinking skills and leads them to areas of
interest that they didn't even know they had. Discovering along the way what
interests them and then offering support to reach deeper still into topics,
we found that our kid's learned what ever they needed to if they were
motivated. Above all else, I think that respecting the dignity of the child
as a thinker is essential in making this work. We have to be non-teachers,
and ready to research and learn ourselves  - right along with our kids.

We became aware of the problem-based learning model due to research we were
doing as needed in the process of making application to start a new Charter
School in Alaska. We are trying to create a homeschool/classroom school that
is geared to the individual student and his or her own interests. Basically,
just extending the methods we have been using in our family to the new
school. If anyone can direct us to related links or has any ideas or
suggestions about applying problem based learning in K-12 classrooms, they
would be most welcome.

Thank you for listening
Anna Roys
Homeschooling Parent in Big Lake, Alaska
----- Original Message -----
From: "Macdonald, Ranald F" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Saturday, August 28, 2004 4:24 AM
Subject: Re: Advice for someone new to PBL


I agree with Lewis.

One of the traps people fall into when looking at PBL is trying to find a
model they can copy, however inappropriate it may be to
their particular context.

What we need to get back to is look at our students in our context -
subject, level, institution, professional area - and
unpacking the term 'problem based learning' (or even problem-based
learning - with the hyphen). What does it mean to base learning
in your discipline/profesisonal area around problems, scenarios, triggers
(or whatever you want to call them), how will you
evaluate whether students are learning effectively and how will they develop
as lifelong learners?

My advice would be not to get too hung up on models but to look at learning
and how best to improve it. This often means include a
variety of experiences, including of assessment, rather than some of the
rather dry, formulaic approaches to PBL that have
appeared, with which students (and staff) readily get bored.

Keep it exciting and fun! If you want some real advice, look at how young
children learn or how your students learn new skills,
knowledge, etc. outside the classroom in their hobbies and personal life.
It's all problem-based!

Ranald

***************************************
Ranald Macdonald
Head of Academic Development
Learning and Teaching Institute
Sheffield Hallam University
***************************************

________________________________

From: Problem Based Learning on behalf of Lewis Elton
Sent: Fri 8/27/2004 18:08
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Advice for someone new to PBL



I am tired of the 'league table' approach to 'life, the universe and
everything'. The answer, as we all know, is '42'. The answer to your
question is that they all and several others are important, that they all -
and several others - are interdependent and their respective weights
different for different people and in different circumstances, and that by
the time that you have added them all together, the answer is probably 42.

Lewis Elton

At 16:34 27/08/04 , you wrote:
>I am writing to ask for your help with the following question:
>
>What's the most important advice you could give someone just starting to
use
>PBL?
>
>This could be things to do or things to avoid.  You may like to consider
any
>of the following areas ­ or others.
>- Curriculum design
>- Problem writing
>- Assessment
>- Facilitation
>- Team management
>- Student preparation
>
>The collected suggestions (fully attributed, of course!)  are intended to
be
>included in a chapter of a book that we are compiling.
>Many thanks
>Chris


**********************************
Lewis Elton
Hon. Professor of Higher Education
Educational and Professional Level
University College London
1 - 19 Torrington Place
London WC1E 6BT
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