DEVELOPING A PROBLEM-BASED LEARNING MODULEPRACTICAL GROUP WORK SESSION

Rob Boast, Staffordshire UniversityRosemary Tomkinson, University of Manchester

THE BRIEF – THE V-C AGAIN . . . Your vice-chancellor, after reviewing the Green League

tables, has determined that one, of a number of responses that they would like to see implemented, is for all academic departments to incorporate a sustainability themed module into one ‘champion’ on-campus degree programme.

The v-c sees this module as being essentially a problem-based, student-centred module with students working in small teams developing a whole raft of graduate attributes / transferable skills along the way.

THE BRIEF CONTINUED . . . Your v-c understands that ‘one-size-does-NOT-fit-all’ and

so there are a number of design scenarios . . . but they ideally use technology supported learning.

Your team has volunteered / been encouraged to be a pbl-sustainability / skills champion!

Choose one of the scenarios (next slide) and a key set of a workable 12 week module meeting the key design criteria (see later).

Your v-c requires a 5 min ‘pitch’ of your champion module.

30 mins – go, good luck!

THE SCENARIOS . . .

Scenario 1: The NEW elective module at first year UG level, tailored across Science and Arts subjects with @120 students.

Scenario 2: The NEW elective module offered across the University, at both first and second year (co-taught), likely to attract 40-60 enthusiastic multidisciplinary students.

Scenario 3: The NEW module is a core module at Masters, tailored specifically for your post-graduate ‘sustainable development’ award (your choice of specific theme) of 90 international students.

THE DESIGN CRITERIA . . .

What would be the key ‘problem’ theme of the module?

What are the key needs / skills / attributes would the module try to develop?

What would be the key delivery challenges?

How might you ensure successful group working?

How might you use technology to support the learning?

What might be an appropriate assessment package for the module?

Outline any key challenges / obstacles

THE FEEDBACK . . . Opportunities Challenges