Problem Based Learning

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Problem based learning is an instructional strategy in which students work together in groups to solve problems and then reflect on their experiences. It is used widely in medical education and has been praised for preparing students for clinical practice by simulating real patient problems and encouraging critical reasoning. This essay will discuss the main theory of problem based learning, how it is effective in the training of health professionals, and how it is in this efficiency it overcomes one of the many challenges it produces, and the benefit this brings to the students who learn through it. Problem based learning is largely acknowledged as starting in the McMaster University in Canada in the mid 1960’s.It was developed in response to an environment at the time of passive learning in the training of medical professionals, where a lecturers’ role was one of the provider of information, and the students’ to take on the large quantities of information being imparted. PBL focuses on learning for capability rather than learning for the sake of acquiring knowledge (Ngoew & Kong). It differs in approach in that learning is driven by open-ended and ill-structured problems that are derived from real case studies. The problems themselves are to facilitate specific learning objectives. Students work collaboratively in groups to engage in the problem-solving process as they learn and discuss the content related to the problem (Soloman 2007). This process involves the students initially generating questions or learning issues for self-study that will then be researched and discussed at the next tutorial. The lecturer now takes on the role of a “facilitator” of learning and does not provide expert knowledge; instead they encourage problem solving and promote discussion within the group. Any situation in nursing will require that firstly a student recognizes a

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