Types of PBL
From Woods, D. (1995) "Problem-based Learning: helping your students gain the most from PBL" Waterdown: Canada.
"PBL is a generic term. Forms of PBL that have been used include research, Case Studies, Guided Design, engineering design projects and, more recently, the McMaster Medical School model of PBL.
Research: an individual, perhaps with guidance from a faculty supervisor, diligently gathers data to resolve a dilemma or unknown. The search starts with the dilemma. Find a cure for cancer.
Case Study: a situation or case is posed. The task is to resolve it. Consider the balance sheet of Widget Company. Will the company prosper or go bankrupt?
Guided Design: a case is posed. Small groups worked cooperatively to work through a structured problem solving strategy to decide a course of action. The activities are structured ahead of time. At the end of each activity, the instructor gives feedback to each group before it can proceed with the next activity. Unsuspecting motorists have numerous accidents on bridges because in winter ice often forms on the surface of a bridge before ice forms on the highway. Reduce the number of accidents!
Engineering design project: engineering students are given a product to build or create. Design a plant to produce 20,000 metric tonnes per annum of acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin).
Medical School model: health situation is posed. Harry Blighter, a 23 year old unemployed truck driver, complains of a recent onset of double vision and head aches."