No

No

No / At the University of Bradford, the midwifery team have developed an innovative approach to the delivery of their midwifery programme. This includes the use of a spiral curriculum that is underpinned by problem based learning. A spiral curriculum is one that facilitates an iterative revisiting of topics, subjects or themes throughout the programme. The approach is not simply one of repetition but one that enables the student to achieve deeper knowledge with each turn of the spiral.

Thesis (M. Ed.)--University of Hong Kong, 1996. / Includes bibliographical references (leaf 72-82).

Thesis (M.Ed.)--University of Hong Kong, 1996. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 72-82). Also available in print.

Promising results from the use of problem-based learning (PBL) as a teaching method in medical programs have encouraged many institutions to incorporate PBL into their curricula. This study investigates how applying hybrid-PBL (H-PBL) in a microbiology laboratory impacts students' higher-order thinking as compared to applying a lecture-based pedagogy. The experimental design compared the learning outcomes of two groups of students: the control group and the H-PBL group, for whom PBL cases comprised 30% of the curriculum. Both groups were taught basic skills for the microbiology lab by the same instructor. Using the traditional teaching style for the control group, the instructor offered each student what they needed for their experiments. The H-PBL group practiced experimental design, data analysis, theory proposal, and created research questions by using six study cases that were closely linked to the area of study. The outcome was measured using a pre- and post- assessment consisting of 24 questions that was designed by following Bloom's taxonomy of learning levels. A one-way ANOVA was used to analyze the data. The results showed that for the first three levels of Bloom's taxonomy— knowledge, comprehension, and application—there were no statistically significant differences between the H-PBL and control group gain scores as determined by a one-way ANOVA. For the knowledge level, f (1, 78) = .232, and p = .632; for the comprehension level, f (1, 78) = .004, and p = .951; and for the application level f (1, 78) =. 028, and p =.863. On the other hand, the gain scores for the three higher levels—analysis, evaluation, and creativity—improved for the H-PBL group. The analysis level showed statistically significant differences, with f (1, 78) = 4.012, and p = .049. Also, there were statistically significant differences in students' performance at the evaluation level, with f (1, 78) = 11.495, and p = .001, and the creativity level, with f (1,78 ) = 23.432, and p = .000. In conclusion, the study results supported the value of incorporating hybrid problem-based learning (H-PBL) into the traditional microbiology laboratory curriculum.

Yes / The use of problem-based learning (PBL) in Health Professional curricula is becoming more wide spread. Although the way in which the tutor facilitates PBL can have a major impact on students’ learning (Andrews and Jones 1996), the literature provides little consistency as to how the tutor can effectively facilitate PBL ( Haith-Cooper 2000 ). It is therefore important to examine the facilitation role to promote effective learning through the use of PBL. This article is the first of two parts exploring a study that was undertaken to investigate tutors’ experiences of facilitating PBL. This part focuses on the methodology and the combining of innovative processes with traditional philosophical traditions to develop a systematic educational research methodology. The study was undertaken respecting the philosophy of hermeneutic phenomenology but utilised alternative data collection and analysis technique. Video conferencing and e-mail were used in conjunction with more traditional processes to access a worldwide sample. This paper explores some of the issues that arose when undertaking such a study. The second article then focuses on exploring the findings of the study and their implications for the facilitation of PBL.

The study investigated the effectiveness of Problem-based learning (PBL) in the Further Mathematics classrooms in Nigeria within the blueprint of pre-test-post-test non-equivalent control group quasi-experimental design. The target population consisted of all Further Mathematics students in the Senior Secondary School year one in Ijebu division of Ogun State, Nigeria. Using purposive and simple random sampling techniques, two schools were selected from eight schools that were taking Further Mathematics. One school was randomly assigned as the experimental while the other as the control school. Intact classes were used and in all, 96 students participated in the study (42 in the experimental group taught by the researcher with the PBL and 54 in the control group taught by the regular Further Mathematics teacher using the Traditional Method (TM)). Four research questions and four research hypotheses were raised, answered, and tested in the study. Four research instruments namely pre-test manipulated at two levels: Researcher-Designed Test (RDT) (r = 0.87) and Teacher- Made Test (TMT) (r = 0.88); post-test manipulated at two levels: RDT and TMT; pre-treatment survey of Students Beliefs about Further Mathematics Questionnaire (SBFMQ) (r = 0.86); and post-treatment survey of SBFMQ were developed for the study. The study lasted thirteen weeks (three weeks for pilot study and ten weeks for main study) and data collected were analysed using Mean, Standard deviation, Independent Samples t-test statistic, and Analysis of Variance. Results showed that there were statistically significant differences in the mean post-test achievement scores on TMT (t=-3.58, p<0.05), mean post-test achievement scores on RDT (t=-5.92, p<0.05) and mean post-treatment scores on SBFMQ (t=-6.22, p<0.05) between students exposed to the PBL and those exposed to the TM, all in favour of the PBL group. Results also revealed that there was statistically significant difference in the post-test achievement scores on TMT at knowledge (t= -23.97, p<0.05) and application (t= -11.41, p<0.05) but not at comprehension (t= -0.50, p>0.05, ns) levels of cognition between students exposed to the PBL and the TM. Based on the results, the study recommended that the PBL should be adopted as alternative instructional strategy to the TM in enhancing meaningful learning in Further Mathematics classrooms and efforts should be made to integrate the philosophy of PBL into the pre-service teachers’ curriculum at the teacher-preparation institutions in Nigeria. / Science and Technology Education / D. Phil. (Mathematics, Science and Technology Education)

Abstract The purpose of this paper is to examine the empirical research supporting the effectiveness, orineffectiveness of PBL as a teaching method. Secondly, if PBL is an effective method, what does researchsay about the relevance of PBL in connection to the Swedish secondary school curriculum. We took an indepth,critical look at the existing research to find any commonalities or any major contradictory findings.Results show that there is contradictory evidence regarding the effectiveness of PBL as a teachingmethod with the majority of support for PBL coming from the educational medicine field. Results also showthat very little research exists concerning how PBL relates to the guidelines set out in the Swedish Schoolcurriculum (GY11).After presenting the results we discuss the implications that PBL present as a teaching method, aswell as major problems encountered, and how these findings relate to the teaching profession in Sweden.Lastly, we discuss how further research could be beneficial to support the use of PBL.

Clinical psychologists’ experiences of training are under-represented in the research area, particularly in the field of transformational and experiential learning and its influence on trainees during their training. Yet, it is a growing topic of interest for training providers and commissioners. Understanding whether the current method of training, using problem-based learning at the University of Hertfordshire (UH), is effective in preparing trainees to work in the NHS as clinical psychologists may have wider implications for clinical psychology training and practice. This thesis aimed at exploring clinical psychologists’ narratives of identity changes through problem-based learning (PBL). For this purpose, I chose to explore their reflective PBL written accounts using a narrative analysis to identify plots and sub-plots of identity changes within their PBL stories. I knowingly took a social constructionist stance to frame this project as it reflects my constructions of clinical psychology and the epistemological choice of the UH course. This means that this research situates itself within a particular context and does not claim any truth, but proposes a constructed view on identity changes during training and their implications for clinical practice. The analysis enabled me to identity three main plots: ‘identity changes through the PBL group’, ‘experimenting with alternative roles and identities’ and ‘Identity changes through PBL & training’. The first plot was characterised by anxiety, vulnerability, tensions between individualism and collectivism and the impact of differences. The second plot was characterised by trainee psychologists finding the balance between process, task and reflections, sharing and connecting with others, changing their relationship with theories; and working to empower themselves. The third plot highlighted the demands of PBL and training and PBL’s place in training. These factors seemed to have influenced and contributed to identity changes in clinical psychologists engaged in PBL during their training at UH. The discussion highlighted which aspects of PBL relate to identity changes and their implications for training and clinical practice. To conclude, I shared my growing interest for further exploration. I also highlighted the ever-evolving nature of PBL and the importance of exploring its use in training and its implications for the professional development of trainee clinical psychologists. Finally, the project ends with reflections about the research process and epistemological considerations.