Problem-Based Learning

Student Performance Objectives:

• The teacher candidate will accurately characterize Problem-based Learning (PBL)
• The teacher candidate will state the benefits of using PBL especially with respect to the following:
  -- what PBL does for the student and how it does it
  -- problem design characteristics
  -- provide examples of meaningful PBLs
  -- explain how PBLs can help students understand the nature and application of science
• The teacher candidate will describe the workings of the Know - How to Find Out cycle.
• The teacher candidate will relate cooperative learning strategies to the a PBL approach (following next class where cooperative learning strategies are detailed).
• The teacher candidate will explain how PBL is related to developing 21st century job skills as described in the P21 framework and definitions.

PHY 311 Course Syllabus

Problem-Based Learning:

Problem-Based Learning (A PowerPoint Presentation)

PBL Creation Scoring

Problem-Based Learning Interaction Guidelines

Know-Need to Know-How to Find Out form (editable MSWord document)

The Partnership for 21st Century Skills (P21) has developed a vision for student success in the new global economy. It is these skills that are so admirably promoted with the use of Problem-Based Learning.

• P21 Framework for 21st Century Learning
• P21 Framework Definitions
• The MILE Guide for Improving Teaching and Learning

WebQuest:

"A WebQuest is an inquiry-oriented activity in which some or all of the information that learners interact with comes from resources on the Internet.... After completing a longer term WebQuest, a learner would have analyzed a body of knowledge deeply, transformed it in some way, and demonstrated an understanding of the material by creating something to which others can respond." Bernie Dodge, San Diego State University. The WebQuest Page at SDSU

County Board Dilemma: A Low-Level Radioactive Waste Disposal Facility in Your Community? A WebQuest

County Board Dilemma: A Nuclear Power Plant in Your County? A WebQuest

County Board Dilemma: A Wind Farm in Your Neighborhood? A WebQuest

Office of the Governor: Energy Future of the State of Illinois

Non-WebQuest:

Olympic Dilemma: A Double Amputee in the Olympics?

PBL Rubrics:

Your expert essay should reflect the processes and procedures of critical thinking; your oral presentation should reflect critical thinking dispositions.

Expert Essay Scoring Rubric

Oral Presentation Scoring Rubric

Peer Participation Scoring Rubric

PBL’s on the Internet

Rendezvous with a Comet - A curriculum guide for the Challenger Learning Centers
Rendezvous with a Comet WebQuest (both created in cooperation with the ISU Physics Department)

Design a Space Alien - a WebQuest within Rendezvous with a Comet

Voyage to Mars - A curriculum guide for the Challenger Learning Centers
Voyage to Mars WebQuest (both created in cooperation with the ISU Physics Department)

Extreme Travel Adventure Challenge - a WebQuest within Voyage to Mars

IMSA's PBL Web site (see especially Cosmic Collisions)
http://www2.imsa.edu/programs/pbln/problems/

Contact Lenses: How Do They Work?
http://www.phy.ilstu.edu/~wenning/ptefiles/311content/probbaselearn/pblexamples/contactPBL.html

How can we Best Achieve Scientific Literacy?
http://www.phy.ilstu.edu/~wenning/ptefiles/311content/probbaselearn/pblexamples/scilitPBL.html

Creation Science in the Classroom?
http://www.phy.ilstu.edu/~wenning/ptefiles/311content/probbaselearn/pblexamples/creatsciPBL.html

Continue Funding the International Space Station?
http://www.phy.ilstu.edu/~wenning/ptefiles/311content/probbaselearn/pblexamples/issPBL.html

Achieving Scientific Literacy
http://phy.ilstu.edu/pte/311content/probbaselearn/pblexamples/scilitPBL.html

A Day in the Life of John Henry, A Traffic Cop
http://www.udel.edu/pbl/curric/acc12.html

Hip Bone Replacement
http://www.udel.edu/pbl/curric/hip.html

http://TeacherWeb.com/CA/CaliforniaStateUniversityFullerton/MrHoang The Importance of Circles, Elipses, and Parabolas
http://TeacherWeb.com/CA/McParland/ThePhysicsoftheSummerOlympics Physics of Summer Olympics
http://TeacherWeb.com/NY/LongIslandYeshivaforGirls/BhopalDisasterWebQuest Bhopal Industrial Disaster
http://TeacherWeb.com/CA/UniversityofRiverside/ExploringRollerCoasterPhysics Rollercoaster Physics!
http://TeacherWeb.com/CA/USD/Magnaquest Learning About Electromagnets
http://TeacherWeb.com/CA/YOU/Scienceprojects Using Satellites and GPS to Find Hidden Treasure
http://TeacherWeb.com/CT/CantonMiddleSchool/BuildaParkWithIsaacNewton The Laws of Motion and Theme Park Rides
http://TeacherWeb.com/FL/MiamiSunsetSeniorHigh/BalloonProject Building Hot Air Balloons
http://TeacherWeb.com/GA/GSU/LightandColor Light Waves and the Color Spectrum
http://TeacherWeb.com/IN/JoyElementary/SimpleMachinesLevel5 Simple Machines
http://TeacherWeb.com/IN/PurdueUniversityNorthCentral/clemons Planning, Budgeting, and Building a Bridge
http://TeacherWeb.com/KS/ShawneeMissionNorth/MrsKapaunsRollerCoasterWebQuest Designing a Rollercoaster
http://TeacherWeb.com/TN/RidgewayHighSchool/AnElectrifyingExperience An Electrifying Experience
http://TeacherWeb.com/OR/UniversityofPortland/BlackHoles Exploring Black Holes
http://TeacherWeb.com/VA/OldDominionUniversity/NewtonsLawsandUses Mr. Ripley's Quest for Newton's laws Web-Site

Other PBL Internet Resources

University of Delaware PBL Site
http://www.udel.edu/pbl/

Return to PHY 311 Course Outline

(Last updated 4/30/2010, cjw)