Improving Education in Schools with Problem Based Learning

Posted by on April 11, 2013

Improving Education in Schools with Problem Based Learning

Many parents complain about the educational system, stating that their children are not coming home with the grades that they expect, nor are they being intellectually stimulated or interested in school at all. Many schools across the country are experiencing very low student achievement rates, which can be a result of a variety of factors. Many students find school boring, and don’t seem to have the attention span to listen to their teacher and internalize the information being provided.

Tackling this issue can be a complicated and challenging one, but not necessarily impossible. With the integration of unique teaching and learning techniques, such as problem based learning, student engagement in the classrooms can certainly be improved, resulting in higher grades and improved learning.

Using Problem Based Learning to Improve Education in the Classroom

problem based learning benefitsThe use of PBL as a tool in the classroom setting can result in amazing benefits for both teachers and students. The roles of the teacher and the student are altered somewhat in the problem based learning model, where the teacher becomes more of a facilitator, and the student becomes more interactive and productive. Essentially, the student becomes the facilitator, learning hands on rather than being a passive listener of lessons presented in a text book.

When the shift in focus turns to the student, the results can be astounding. Students are given projects to work on where a problem needs to be solved with adequate collaboration and teamwork with their fellow peers. The information that would have been dictated in a traditional format is presented in a much more interesting way with problem based learning, which results in students retaining the information more deeply. A true understanding of the lesson is achieved with PBL, which therefore helps in improving education in schools.  More importantly, it acts as a bridge between the classroom and real life.

The problems encountered in PBL units resemble those in real life situations. The concepts and lessons learned through these collaborative projects will provide these students with the tools they need to excel in the real world as they grow into adults. Traits such as problem solving, critical thinking, and working respectfully with others are extremely valuable in the real world, and PBL helps to develop those skills.

For more information on the benefits of problem based learning and PBL units ready for the classroom, visit www.PBLSuperstore.com for all the tools and resources you need.

 

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