What Effects Does Problem-Based Learning Have on Student Learning Outcomes?

• In Event: 81.032 - MTCC Roundtable Session 37
  In Roundtable Session: 81.032-11 - Problem-Based Learning Effects on Engagement, Learning Strategies, and Outcomes

Abstract

What effects does PBL have on student learning outcomes? This question continues to influence the adoption and implementation of PBL. The answer to this question is still lacking. This paper responds to this question by analyzing and synthesizing the literature regarding the factors that influence the effectiveness of PBL to identify questions that designers and researchers should ask about results of learning. It explores salient characteristics of PBL compared with its’ analogous approaches in an effort to understand how features of each approach influence the effectiveness of learning outcomes. Further, the paper examines how PBL approaches define learning outcomes and how various learning outcomes are measured. A synthesis of research on the effectiveness of PBL will also be discussed.

Author

• Mahnaz Moallem, Towson University, Towson Maryland