Benchmarks and standards have become an important part of the teachers' instructional focus since the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001. As educators they all recognize the importance of having high expectations of their students. Standards help schools articulate these expectations clearly to students, their parents, and the community. Yet, there…

Medical education has been shown to negatively influence student attitudes toward certain types of patient populations. Past research does not inform current educational practice because today's medical school environment is different from when most of the published research was conducted. There are more female students, curricular innovations…

Technology and design was added to the Northern Ireland curriculum in September 1992 and through it, teachers seek to address the need for pupils to understand the ever-changing man-made world by developing skills and understanding in its four elements of designing, communicating, manufacturing and the use of energy and control. To be effective in…

This study evaluated the effects of problem-based learning (PBL) in social work education. The participants were 132 second-year social work students who took the core courses of Social Work Theory and Practice and Skills Laboratory in the PBL mode. A 40-item scale was used to measure the students' perceptions of their social work knowledge,…

The purpose of the study was to determine the effect of problem-based learning (PBL) on critical thinking ability and content knowledge among selected secondary agriculture students in Missouri. The study employed a quasi-experimental, non-equivalent comparison group design. The treatment consisted of two instructional strategies: problem-based…

This book offers detailed descriptions of different approaches to curriculum integration and applies them to elementary, middle, and high school settings. Eight chapters in the book include: (1) "What Is Integrated Curriculum and Why Is It Important?" which sets the current context, and, by applying the story model, concludes that…

Introduction: This paper reports on part of a research project on relationships between learning methods and students' information behaviour in Finland. It has been suggested that student-centred learning methods, such as problem-based learning, influence students' information needs, seeking and use. The focus of this paper is on the concept of…

The Case-based Learning Day (CBLD) is a brief, self-contained exercise that is designed to introduce medical students and faculty to one of the methods which promotes active, self-directed learning of pre-clinical medical disciplines. The CBLD program and an evaluation of the program are described. (Author/RH)

Gives a brief historical survey of medical education and a description and discussion of the program at the Medical School at McMaster University. Problem-based learning in small group tutorials characterize much of the program. Advantages and disadvantages of the program are considered. (RH)

The innovative features of the M.D. program at McMaster University are problem-based learning, small-group tutorials, and the student responsibility for their own educational activities. A survey ascertained the faculty members perceptions about the program. (MLW)

Problem-based learning (PBL) is an educational approach that challenges students to "learn to learn"--students work cooperatively in groups to seek solutions to real-world problems and, more importantly, to develop skills to become self-directed learners. PBL is unique in its integral emphasis on core content along with problem solving.…

This paper discusses logic puzzles, often used with students in the mathematics classroom, in the context of foreign language education, highlighting them as tools for individual or class practice in a problem-based learning environment that combines challenges and entertainment. Benefits of logic puzzles in the foreign language classroom include…

This study examined issues that arose during the development and implementation of a modified form of traditional problem based learning (PBL) at one Canadian university. It explored PBL in the context of preservice education, investigating how it could be used to foster an inquiry based approach to preservice preparation and how preservice…

This study examined a civil engineering capstone course that embedded a sophisticated simulation-based task within instruction. Students (n=28) were required to conduct a hazardous waste site investigation using simulation software designed specifically for the course (Interactive Site Investigation Software) (ISIS). The software simulated…

Teaching methodologies, such as Problem Based Learning (PBL), have arisen in response to educational research that has found evidence that even though lecturing may be the most prevalent teaching tool it is arguably the least effective way to facilitate student learning. It is important then, for methods instructors to give preservice teachers…