Some subscribers Phys-L might be interested in a recent post "Does
Problem-Based Learning Work for Physics Instruction?" [Hake (2010)].
The abstract reads:
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ABSTRACT: John (Texas) Clement in his post "Re: Effects of Problem
Based Economics on High School Economics Instruction" wrote: "If
problem based physics did not work, why should problem based
economics work?" But that Problem-Based Learning (PBL) *can* work in
physics has been demonstrated by Barbara Williams who wrote
(paraphrasing) "The average normalized gains <g> for problem-based
honors courses at the University of Delaware in 1994, 1996, 1997,
1998, and 1999 were between 0.45 and 0.64." Those <g>'s may be
compared with the average 0.48 plus or minus 0.14 (std dev) of <g>'s
for forty-eight "interactive engagement" courses in
"Interactive-engagement vs traditional methods: A six thousand-
student survey of mechanics test data for introductory physics
courses" [Hake (1998a)]. In addition, Nathaniel Lasry's website
"Problem Based Learning for College Physics" <http://bit.ly/am20JY>
has attracted many teachers from throughout the world.
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To access the complete 13 kB post please click on <http://bit.ly/cprmLW>.
Richard Hake, Emeritus Professor of Physics, Indiana University
Honorary Member, Curmudgeon Lodge of Deventer, The Netherlands
President, PEdants for Definitive Academic References which Recognize the
Invention of the Internet (PEDARRII)
<rrhake@earthlink.net>
<http://www.physics.indiana.edu/~hake>
<http://www.physics.indiana.edu/~sdi>
<http://HakesEdStuff.blogspot.com>
<http://iub.academia.edu/RichardHake>
"Why does there seem to be so much confusion about what is and what
is not PBL? Problem-Based Learning, learning because you need to
solve a problem, HAS BEEN AROUND FOR CENTURIES. Indeed, in the stone
age, people learned skills and approaches to solve problems to
survive. They just didn't say to each other 'Hey, you are using PBL.'
"
Don Woods (2005)
REFERENCES [URL's shortened by <http://bit.ly/>]
Hake, R.R. 2010. "Does Problem-Based Learning Work for Physics
Instruction," online on the OPEN! AERA-L archives at
<http://bit.ly/cprmLW>. Post of 23 Aug 2010 14:14:15-0700. The
abstract and link to the complete post are also being transmitted to
various discussion lists.