Stoller PBL Article

In the article, "What Is Problem Based Learning?" Dr. De Gallow of The University of California outlines the outstanding points of PBLs, addresses critics' concerns, and explains how and why it is important to incorporate PBL in the classroom. PBL main points are similar to the Best Practices of Education. They include the following characteristics: student centered and experiential, inductive, builds on prior knowledge, context specific, complex and require metacognition, creates cognitive conflict, and collaborative. Although critics suggest that students do not know what is important for them to learn, and therefore may not reach their cognitive potential, Dr. De Gallow asserts that research shows learning occurring at a deeper level with PBL. He then provides specific tactics for teachers to use in their classes which will help them make PBL successful. For example, to create a student centered problem, teachers should create authentic problems that relate directly to the students' lives.

Reading the articles and documents about PBLs, I think that this method of "teaching as a facilitator" is the ideal way to teach. It is backed by research in the characteristics it promotes, especially the higher order thinking that must take place in order to solve the problem. Instruction could be differentiated easily so that all students can reach their personal potentials. It would be motivating to students as the problems relate more closely to their lives than traditional problems. Finally, it addresses the top complaints from employers about college graduates - poor verbal, problem solving, and collaborative skills. The only concern I would have is the practicality of implementing PBL in upper grades where the students are not used to that style of learning. I think it is important and should be used, but it would take a few years for students to adjust to the different approach. It would be much better if teachers would use PBL beginning in the earliest grades and throughout the upper grades.

De Gallow. (n.d.). What is problem based learning? Retrieved from http://www.pbl.uci.edu/whatispbl.html