Problem Based Learning in Physics

Problem based learning (PBL) is a learning strategy, where the learning process is led by a problem-solving activity. Before students learn some knowledge they are divided into groups and given a problem. In order to solve the problem, students need to learn new knowledge, and/or find out how to apply their existing knowledge.  The PBL is a good method for encouraging critical  thinking, cooperative learning, and enhancing problem solving skills by solving real-world problems.

A PBL session may begin by a mini-lecture introducing the relevant background. Then, the students are presented with a ‘real world’ problem. For example, let’s say the material  to be covered is  kinematics. Then, a problem might be a murder case. A body is found with two bullets in the heart, but one bullet missed the victim and is found stuck into a tree in the street. From the position  and direction of the bullet stuck in the tree it is possible to  deduce, using kinematics,  what was the initial speed of the bullet. A suspect is found with a handgun. Is he the murderer? The students are given ballistic information of the weapon and can compare with the speed that they deduced.

A  PBL session is structured in such away that there is a well defined problem (e.g, who is the murderer?) but initially it is not clear to the students how to find the solution using the  knowledge base that they already have (e.g, kinematics). No direct instructions are given, in contrast to usual  textbook problems. This simulates the situation in the real world. Thus, from a variety of information, some relevant and some not, the students have to come up themselves with how their knowledge is relevant to the case, and then use it correctly to find the solution.

It seems that this approach is mostly used  in some university level institutions but some materials are also appropriate for high-school level.

Have you tried  PBL  in your physics or science class? What do you think of this approach?

Here are some internet references for PBL method in general and its use in physics teaching:

1. Wikipeida article on PBL.

2. Youtube video on PBL in physics course:

3. PBL for college physics. Some projects are also suitable for high-school.

4. PBL in astronomy and physics in UK universities.