1. Problem-Based Learning
by Linda Tavares
TO ORGANIZE EDUCATION SO THAT NATURAL ACTIVE
TENDENCIES SHALL BE FULLY ENLISTED IN DOING
SOMETHING, WHILE SEEING TO IT THAT THE DOING
REQUIRES OBSERVATION, THE ACQUISITION OF
INFORMATION, AND THE USE OF A CONSTRUCTIVE
IMAGINATION, IS WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TO IMPROVE
SOCIAL CONDITIONS. –DEWEY 1916, 1944 P. 137

2. Description
Problem-Based Learning (PBL) is a teaching
technique that educate by presenting students with a
situation that leads to a problem for them to solve.
After reading the following articles and book
excerpts, you are asked to pick a subject matter that
interests you and create a problem for your students
to use when engaging in a problem-based learning
experience.

3. Objective
The goal here is to share ideas as well as resources
which all EDTC 620 students might refer to as an
abundant resource for future lessons.
A Power Point Presentation is not required for this
assignment.

4. Assignement Description
After picking a subject that relates to your current
classroom, name and describe a current important
problem or issue which the subject matter addresses.
Perform a web search, looking for information that
relates to this problem and analyze the information
you find for possible use in an IT-based PBL lesson.

5. Procedure
Please do not create a formal lesson plan but DO
share the following information when you respond:
1. List the subject
2. Grade level
3. Topic
4. Problem
5. A brief explanation of how your lesson might be
implemented and why you feel it is a Problem-Based
Lesson citing references from the readings.
6. Respond to two of your classmate’s lesson ideas.

6. Sequence 1
I suggest the following sequence:
First read the following book excerpt from author
Robert Delisle titled “How to use Problem-Based
Learning in the Classroom” found at this link (read
pages iv, v, and 1 – 14):
http://books.google.com/books?id=9nZPZ6N27EEC&lp

7. Sequence 2
Second read the following book excerpt from
author Ann Lambros titled “Problem-Based Learning
in K-8 Classrooms: a Teacher’s Guide to
Implementation”. This includes the Problem-Based
Learning process with sample lessons and lesson
format ideas:
http://books.google.com/books?
id=Fynu9e5ImOMC&lpg=PR7&ots=bcdXZIkjMm&d
q=problem%20based%20learning
%20guide&lr&pg=PA8#v=onepage&q&f=false

8. Sequence 3
Third, if you are teaching at the middle or high-
school level, you might want to read “Problem-based
Learning in Middle and High School Classrooms”,
also written by Ann Lambros:
http://books.google.com/books?
id=DQHizOhPgXsC&lpg=PR7&ots=yCDH6TUoPR&
dq=problem%20based%20learning
%20guide&lr&pg=PA2#v=onepage&q&f=false

9. Sequence 4
Fourth, to inspire you with examples of problem-
based lessons, visit this site from Oregon University
that shares many different ideas:
http://www.uoregon.edu/~moursund/DigitalAge1/p
bl_book_chapter_3.htm

10. Optional
An additional reading found at the following website is:
“Problem-Based Learning: As Authentic as It Gets”, an
article by William Stepien and Shelagh Gallagher.
A brief description of the article is, “An innovative high
school is pioneering ways to engage students in solving
problems by having them take on the roles of scientists,
doctors, artists, and historians. In addition, the
Problem-Based Learning is helping other educators
learn these exciting techniques”.
http://www.coe.tamu.edu/~rcapraro/Questioning
%20and%20Discourse/StepienGalagherPBL.pdf

11. Outline
Name
Grade
Subject
Topic
Problem
Brief Explanation
Rationale

12. Example
Name: Linda Tavares
Grade: Fourth
Subject: Math/economics
Topic: Money
Problem: The PTA of our school has asked each class
to help raise money for needed equipment at our school.
They are asking our class to take part in a fundraising
drive by creating and selling a product at our school’s
next carnival. We must choose to create a product
which we can sell during our 1-day carnival that will
earn enough profits to purchase a new reading table for
our classroom (since the leg on our present table is
broken).

13. Example
 Brief explanation of lesson: I will begin my lesson when “one student
reads the problem aloud” (Lambros p. 6). Next, students create two lists,
one of “Facts” and “Need to Know” concerning the problem. Next, we will
discuss what more we need to know or identify “Learning Issues”, a list of
things they need to look up (Lambros p.7). Once we identify learning issues
we then divide into small groups. The students will work in groups of four
and will use laptop computers to investigate resources for purchasing
materials while the teacher takes on role of guide or facilitator. For
instance, if they decided the best product to create and sell would be
lemonade at a lemonade stand, they could visit sites such as Safeway or
Food Lion and find out the price of lemons, sugar, cups. They could visit the
cafeteria to ask for donations of pitchers and spoons. They must also
determine the cost of the table by visiting an office supply store online (or
classroom supply store). Once they have determined the cost of items, they
will need to determine how much lemonade they will need to sell to cover
the cost of the supplies and to make enough profits to purchase the
classroom reading table.

14. Rationale
Rationale:
This lesson is an example of a Problem-Based Lesson because the
lesson idea includes the classic PBL Process of creating a
problem that needs to be solved. It is an inquiry based lesson
where students must construct their own knowledge in order to
solve the problem.
The steps we would use would be to 1. Define the topic, 2. Identify
the problem, 3. Establish a timeline, 4. Identify the resources
needed to solve, 5. Form teams, 6. Identify possible solutions.
We will follow Table 1.1 from “Problem-Based Learning in K-8
Classrooms” and identify a “Facts List, Need to Know, Learning
Issues, Possible Solutions, New Learning Issues, and Defendable
Solutions” (Lambros p. 8).

15. References
Lambros, A. (2002). Problem-based learning in k-8
classrooms: a teacher's guide to implementation.
Retrieved July 20, 2010 from http://books.google.com/
books?
id=Fynu9e5ImOMC&lpg=PR7&ots=bcdXZIkjMm&dq=pro
blem%20based%20learning
%20guide&lr&pg=PA8#v=onepage&q&f=false