Problem-based learning refers to the concept of analyzing and solving a problem without any prior instructions given. This, in fact, means that a teachers presents the students “with a problem, not lectures or assignments or exercises” (Study Guides and Strategies, 1996). It is also a form of learning that is motivated by open-ended questions, which in turn means that there is no absolute “right answer” (Learning-Theories, 2015). Since students are not handed any content they become active in the completing the assignment, since it requires them to discover and work with the content necessary to solve the problem given (Study Guides and Strategies, 1996).

 

While students are completing the given assignment there are particular steps that are required to be achieved:

 

1) Examining and understanding what a student understands about the subject.

 

2) They are required to discover what they need to learn in order to solve the problem.

 

3) Develop the necessary social skills to achieve higher levels of performance. This one is for teamwork-based scenarios.

 

4) Provide evidence and thorough arguments to state your position on the problem, while being prepared to defend it from counter-arguments.

 

5) Develop flexible strategies to process information while meeting specific requirements for the assignment.

 

6) Practice life-based skills that will be needed after education (Study Guides and Strategies, 1996).

 

While students are learning to solve the problem, teachers take of the role of facilitators and mentors. They are to provide guidance and feedback to the students and not be a “source of solutions” (Study Guides and Strategies, 1996).  

 

The main benefits of problem-based learning include:

 

1) Development of critical thinking and creative skills.

 

2) Improves an individual’s problem-based skills.

 

3) Increases one’s motivation, as they are the ones finding and developing the solution.

 

4) Helps students to learn how to transfer knowledge they possess to new situations (Learning-Theories, 2015).

 

Of course there are problems with this style of learning, such as being difficult for the teacher to implement in class, especially when it cannot be guaranteed to be an effective learning experience for students (Learning-Theories, 2015). Despite the problems with this style of learning though, it can prove to an effective learning experience when it allows the opportunity to engage students; while providing them with life-based skills need after education.