Problem Based Learning (PBL)

PBL is a type of curriculum that allows for students to figure out the answer from working with the problem. It is a new concept of teaching because it is different than a teacher passing out a worksheet or lecturing. PBL involves students working together in groups and using their critical thinking skills to come up with a solution to a problem. The problems that are used in PBL's connect to real life to make it more appealing for the students. PBL's also require that the students are discovering the answer when working through the problem. Students have to identify what they know and what they do not know and explore different options to find an answer. Students use cooperative learning to complete PBL's because they are working together in a group. When students have come up with a solution to a PBL they should present their results in front of the class. PBL's are generally used when teaching science in the classroom. Teacher's play a different role in PBL they are not just giving the solutions they are helping their students work through the problem.