Hybrid Learning Guide for Faculty

Problem-Based Learning encourages students to learn through their own research and by determining which solutions to design and implement to address the problem. They should follow these steps:

1. Review the problem, which is typically ill structured, and clarify any unfamiliar terms.
2. Analyze and define the problem. (Instructor guidance may be provided)
3. Identify and organize the knowledge already available to address the problem, while recognizing and disregarding extraneous information given in the problem.
4. Determine what new knowledge is needed to solve the problem—the learning issues.
5. Organize and rank-order the learning issues, then set objectives for further research. (Instructor-provided references may or may not be provided.)
6. Divide the work among team members.
7. Conduct individual research according to agreed-upon deadlines.
8. Meet regularly to share research findings and conduct additional research as needed.
9. Merge their newly acquired and previous knowledge into what they consider to be the best possible solution.
10. Present their solution(s) in written or oral form.

In Problem-Based Learning, there is a central focus on collaboration and self-directed learning. Students work together to determine how they will organize their work, establish decision-making processes, and set evaluation criteria for developing solutions. Students are allowed to make mistakes -- and learn from them!