EDTEC 700Using Problem-Based Learning

to Enhance Decision-Making Skills

Bernie Dodge, PhD

San Diego State University

Objectives

• Distinguish among problem-based, project-based and traditional learning

• Design a complete problem-based lesson

• Teach decision-making skills in the context of authentic problems

Logistics: Wikispaces

Self-Introductions

• Who do you teach or design for?

• What experience do you have with problem-based learning either as a learner or a teacher?

Experiencing PBL

• Divide into groups of 5 or 6

• Read the provided link

• Decide on what the problem is

Getting Del.icio.us

Log in to our Wikispace

Steps in PBL

1. Determine whether a problem exists.2. Create an exact statement of the problem.3. Identify information needed to understand

the problem.4. Gather information and organize it.5. Generate possible solutions.6. Decide on a solution. 7. Present the solution.8. Reflect on & evaluate.

Finkle and Torp, 1995

1. Determine whether a problem exists

• List what you know

• Look for…– Harm– Injustice– Waste– Unhappiness– …any deviations from the ideal

2. Create an exact statement of the problem

• What are the gaps between what exists and what should exist?

3. Identify information needed to understand the problem

• Facts

• Definitions

• History

• Players

• Experts

• Etc.

4. Gather information and organize it

• Google

• Wikipedia

• Library

• Newspapers

5. Generate possible solutions

• Quantity over quality at first

• Piggyback

• Think metaphorically

• Think positive

6. Decide on a solution

• Weigh and consider all choices

• Combine choices if needed

• Be able to justify your choice

7. Present the solution

Be…

• Organized

• Pithy

• Complete

• Persuasive

8. Reflect, evaluate, revise

• If you can implement the solution, do so and gather data on its effectiveness

• If implementation (by you) is not possible, return to your solution after some time and revisit it.

Traditional Learning

Problem-based Learning Project-based Learning

Exercise 2

PMI Technique

• Make a list of aspects of the choice to be made.

• Mark each one as Plus, Minus or Interesting

• Total up the number of items in each column

http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newTED_05.htm

PMI Technique

http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newTED_05.htm

Grid Analysis

• Create a table of important aspects of the decision (columns) and the things you’re choosing among (rows)

• Give a score for each choice for each aspect

• Weight the scores and calculate the sums.

http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newTED_03.htm

Grid Analysis

http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newTED_03.htm

Finding Problems to Learn from

• Start with outcomes

• Ask yourself: where is this skill or knowledge applied in the world?

• Find or fabricate a situation in which something is not optimal that requires that skill/knowledge.