According to Wikipedia, Problem-based learning (PBL) is a student-centered pedagogy in which students learn about a subject in the context of complex and realistic problems. They work in groups, identify what they already know, and how and where to access new information to resolve the problem. The instructor acts as a facilitator providing appropriate scaffolding of that process asking probing questions, providing appropriate resources, leading class discussions and designing student assessments.
How can PBL be used to help motivate students more?
I have read the article “Less Teaching and More Learning" by Susan Gaer.
In that, she has mentioned that the project-based approach has helped to motivate students to learn language for a purpose and promotes community among class members. I found that this is true in my Advanced Certificate in Human Resource Management Subjects (I coordinate the course and design assessment with teachers’ assistance). For example, the assignment “Designing an Orientation Program” for Introduction to HRM students, students improve their language and expand support among group members. For the assignment, students are grouped and they have to visit different companies to get information other than books and internet and design the program especially for that company, write a report and present to it the class. Students are quite motivated as they get to interview different companies, divide the work among themselves and help each other in practicing the presentation. In the process their language skills develop and their friendship strengthens.
Hi Roza
ReplyDeleteAs we have read in Susan Gaer’s article and you have highlighted in your blog post, the project-based approach promotes sense of community among class members. You have found that is true in your Advanced Certificate course and I have experienced the same in my Cultural Studies class when students divide in groups, get information, write a report, and present it to the class. Doing so, they develop their collaborative skills while their language skills improve.
As inquiry-oriented activities which can be done in groups, I have learned WebQuests offer an excellent pattern of project-based learning. When I visited your WebQuest “Improve your memory power,” I found in one of the questions students have to involve a friend and in that way, as you said, their friendship strengthens while they do the task.
Myriam