In an instructional exercise at the University of Newcastle (Australia), social work students, staff, and organizations role-play in a simulated city to solve complex problems in a realistic but safe learning context. Experience suggests the extended simulation technique is effective. (MSE)

A proposed problem-based course in clinical diabetes therapy at a pharmacy school is outlined. The interdisciplinary course requires students to develop or reformulate declarative and procedural knowledge in such a way that students' cognitive strategies are enhanced. Several sample clinical cases are appended. (MSE)

For three years, Center for Problem-Based Learning at Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy has been developing innovative programs in various K-12 settings. Students meet an "ill-structured problem" (like thorium waste) before receiving instruction. Teachers act as coaches and tutors, probing findings, hypotheses, and conclusions;…

Interviews with faculty in seven problem-based medical school curricula concerning use of student-generated learning issues found that uses of such issues have evolved in terms of content definition, direct examination planning, student evaluation, and curriculum review. Results also suggest these curricula may encourage development of…

The University of California, Davis, medical school's intensive summer preentry program for disadvantaged minority students, which previews the first year curriculum, has incorporated a problem-based learning component to augment and prolong its effects. Objective measures of course effectiveness are unavailable; however, self-esteem, study…

Although computer-based resources are appealing, there is little evidence that they are superior to less expensive traditional educational technologies in medical and dental education, and their introduction will be slow until we learn to benefit from them. However, the communications aspects of technology may be much more important and should be…

The president of the National Environmental Health Association (NEHA) discusses the current state of environmental education and suggests several key issues to address when designing programs: (1) the basis of the program must be sound, unbiased science; (2) critical thinking must be at the core of the learning experience to make it effective and…

Analyzes undergraduate general-chemistry laboratory manuals (n=10) and identifies illustrative verbs representative of the types of cognitive skills given in Bloom's Taxonomy. Finds that, although the majority of the manuals are similar in their lack of promoting higher-order cognition, a few newer manuals possess the requisite activities for…

Describes a summer institute curriculum used with 27 middle school students with disabilities who were identified as gifted in the visual arts, performing arts, engineering, or life sciences. The curriculum was real world, multidisciplinary, and problem based. Using a creative problem-solving process, students identified problems, developed…

Describes development and evaluation of eight computerized problem-based learning (PBL) cases in medicinal chemistry and pharmaceutics concepts. Case versions either incorporated concept maps emphasizing key ideas or did not. Student performance on quizzes did not differ between the different case versions and was similar to that of students who…

Comments on a set of five analyses that all examine the same data (the discourse of a problem-based learning group in medicine). Argues that each of the analyses is representative not only of a research tradition, but also of a distinct research language and, as such, can be analyzed on the basis of the expressive potential of that language. (SR)

A problem-based learning process in a social studies teacher's classroom encourages students to use their own learning profiles to assess individual test-taking skills, develop and implement strategies to improve performance, and monitor, regulate, and evaluate the success of their adopted methods. AMSOFT computer software divides exam subtexts…

Applies notions associated with adult-learning theory in a case study that explores issues associated with teaching computer use to seniors. Topics include peer-led instruction; late adopters learning technology; learning in retirement programs; andragogy; self-directed learning; problem-centered learning; and instructional strategies. (Author/LRW)

This article presents authentic assessment and instruction strategies that can be interwoven to ensure that students receive learning opportunities that allow them to seek solutions in a manner most consistent with their specific background knowledge and learning styles. Two examples from a fifth-grade classroom are presented. (Contains…

Describes a study of first-year medical students that tested the effects of problem-based tutorial group discussion on learning new information from a text. Highlights include effects of small-group instruction on cognition; randomized experimental and control groups; recall; and results that showed the positive effects of problem-based group…