PBL IN AREAS OUTSIDE OF MEDICINE

Although the PBLI provides workshops, demonstrations, consultation and support for many medical and related health science disciplines (osteopathy, nursing, physiotherapy, physician assistant, chiropractic) if has also been active in working with teachers in areas outside of medicine.

Secondary Education

The PBLI has worked with high school teachers applying PBL to secondary education. In a cooperative venture between School District 186 in Springfield and Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, it developed problems and intensive teacher training programs in PBL for all the core disciplines in high school as well as art, music and other areas. It has also worked with teachers from many high schools around the country, particularly those with educationally disadvantaged and minority students (in a contract with Ventures in Education, Inc.). These are students who have traditionally not done well in conventional educational settings. PBL provides an equal and exciting opportunity for learning to all students. The almost immediate interest in PBL by teachers who have seen it demonstrated, and the excitement shown by students and teachers who become involved has caused intense interest and rapid dissemination. The method is perceived by teachers as the solution to many problems in K - 12 education. These include students who cannot reason, who cannot acquire and apply knowledge and skills, and who exhibit classic signs of boredom (distractive classroom behavior and absences). Teachers realize that PBL puts many things they have added to their traditional teaching (problem solving activities, collaborative learning, critical thinking exercises, independent study) into context and gives them meaning. PBL is now practiced at all levels of schooling from kindergarten to the 12th grade. In these settings, the teachers act as tutors with classes of up to 35 students with success. The students may break into collaborative study groups during self-directed learning. Once the students are accustomed to the method, the class may break into small tutorial groups with students taking on the tutorial role, as the teacher moves around the room. This specific PBL method is adaptable to a variety of educational settings.

Graduate and Professional Education

The PBLI has provided presentation, demonstrations, workshops, consultations and ongoing support for teachers, schools and organizations in business, education, engineering, law, veterinary medicine, computer science, social work and physics.

Other Areas

The PBLI now has an ongoing contract to provide PBL educational approaches for casework supervisors in state agency for child and family services.