1. University of Delaware Problem-Based Learning Partnered with Emerging Technology: Putting Students at the Center of their Learning Institute for Transforming Undergraduate Education Mark Serva George Watson

2. University of Delaware Dela where?

3. The Way It Was... 1973 2008 Computation and Calculation scientific calculators, graphing calculators, laptops and notebooks, PDAs tablet PCs, gigabytes and gigahertz, ubiquitous computing

4. The Way It Was... 1973 2008 Communication and Collaboration e-mail, voice-mail, chatrooms, cell phones, text messaging, instant messaging, blogging, wireless connectivity

5. The Way It Was... 1973 2008 Collections and Connections Online Information: web catalogs, networked databases, Britannica Online, online newspapers, course websites, CMS and LMS, podcasting, wikis

6. Teachers (Digital Immigrants) may assume that students (Digital Natives) are the same as they were - that the same methods that worked for them when they were students will work for their students now. But that assumption is no longer valid. Our changing environment Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants, by Marc Prensky

7. Given the amazing advances in technology and the dramatic change in the environment of our students, Can we afford to continue teaching the way we were taught? An important question:

8. First, a quick exercise: 1. Individually, write down several words or short phrases that come to mind when you think of: Student-Centered Learning 2. In pairs or small groups, select three “most important”. 3. Finally, report out just one.

9. …the individuals learning the most in the typical classrooms are the teachers there. They have reserved for themselves the very conditions that promote learning: What I know best I have taught… Page 35, Huba and Freed, Learner-Centered Assessment on College Campuses: Shifting the Focus from Teaching to Learning, 2000 actively seeking new information, integrating it with what is known, organizing it in a meaningful way, and explaining it to others.

10. “The principal idea behind PBL is that the starting point for learning should be a problem, a query, or a puzzle that the learner wishes to solve.” Boud, D. (1985) PBL in perspective. In “PBL in Education for the Professions,” D. J. Boud (ed); p. 13. What Is PBL?

11. PBL is a learning approach that challenges students to “learn to learn,” working cooperatively in groups, to seek solutions to real world problems. What Is PBL?

12. PBL prepares students to think critically and analytically, to find and use appropriate learning resources, to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, to work well as members of a team. What Is PBL?

13. What are the Common Features of PBL? Learning is initiated by a problem. Problems are based on complex, real-world situations. All information needed to solve problem is not given initially. Students identify, find, and use appropriate resources. Students work in permanent groups. Learning is active, integrated, cumulative, and connected.

14. A Typical Day in a PBL Course

15. Presentation of Problem Organize ideas and prior knowledge (What do we know?) Pose questions (What do we need to know?) Assign responsibility for questions; discuss resources Research questions; summarize; analyze findings Reconvene, report on research; Integrate new Information; Refine questions Resolution of Problem; (How did we do?) PBL: The Process Next stage of the problem

16. Problem-Based Learning Partnered with Emerging Technology: Putting Students at the Center of their Learning

17. Technology is a Funny Thing…. My academic background: Degrees Teaching But… I can’t figure out 90% of the functions on my cell phone My 14-year old son figured out how to hook up my home theater system.

18. On the Other Hand… Our new Nintendo Wii offers opportunities for us as a family. My iPod helped me pass the time on the flight. My phone allows me to stay in touch with my family. Frustrations, quality of life.

19. Technology in the Classroom Those frustrations also occur when we teach. The only time you should use technology: - Enhances learning - Helps achieve learning objectives. What technologies have a high benefit yet low barrier to entry?

20. What Is a Wiki? Wiki Wiki versus WikipediaWikipedia All Wiki users have an inherent right to change anything on the page. Along with this right comes an expectation of mutual respect and trust - i.e., that participants will create an effective product that reflect multiple perspectives. One of the founders of Wikipedia once stated, “The only way you can write something that survives [in a Wiki] is that someone who’s your diametrical opposite can agree with it.” In other words, don't dictate—collaborate!

21. How Can Wikis Encourage Student-Centered Learning? Evaluation - make a judgment based on criteria Synthesis - produce something new from component parts Analysis - break material into parts to see interrelationships Application - apply concept to a new situation Comprehension - explain, interpret Knowledge - remember facts, concepts, definitions Let’s See What Wikis Can Do….

22. Wikis and the Journal Review Process Journal Reviews require analysis, synthesis, and evaluation. Can wikis provide that same level of intellectual stimulation?

23. Advantages of Wikis Simple to use and understand Can create a web-based resource for future classes Require students to think about how to improve existing content as well as integrate new content

24. SharePoint Facilitates Student-Centered Learning by allowing students to organize their teams. Features - Document Repository - Team Calendar - Announcements and Tasks - Alerts Let’s See What SharePoint Can Do….

25. Selection of Technology for Class Usefulness—Does it achieve your class’ learning objectives? Ease of Use—Does it reinforce the concepts, or create barriers to learning? Acceptability—Students will accept the technology and use it on their own. Cost—Can the university and students afford the technology?

26. Characteristics Needed in College Graduates High level of communication skills. Ability to define problems, gather and evaluate information, develop solutions. Team skills -- ability to work with others. Ability to use all of the above to address problems in a complex real-world setting. Quality Assurance in Undergraduate Education (1994) Wingspread Conference, ECS, Boulder, CO.

27. Other Reasons for Using PBL? Students learning to communicate in a common language. International Islamic University of Malaya Innovation and thinking ‘outside of the box’. Republic Polytechnic, Singapore Student engagement; learning ‘how to learn’. Inquiry-based approach, bringing research-like approach to thousands of students.

28. “The principal idea behind PBL is that the starting point for learning should be a problem, a query, or a puzzle that the learner wishes to solve.” Boud (1985)

29. UD PBL online PBL at UD www.udel.edu/pbl PBL Clearinghouse www.udel.edu/pblc This presentation www.udel.edu/pbl/yzu