Same Ole' PBL, New World (Week 5 Posting)

Erik Nelson's article Elements of Problem-Based Learning: Suggestions for Implementation in the Asynchronous Environment is both an interesting read and germane to my work. Problem-Based Learning (PBL) is the offspring of the longer established constructivist model of learning, and is based on poorly-structured, student driven motivation. At first glance, this may seem ill-conceived, while continued thought may induce a deeper analysis of its' many variables, and lead the average skeptic to predict a worsened prognosis for these students. Thankfully, using the right carrot for bait, can catch any rabbit; this is how America's physicians have been trained for decades.

PBL specifically uses the student's environment to promote active learning, rather than allowing a professor to muddle through a power point slide deck. A shifting of traditional roles occurs within this new paradigm and the real world becomes the teacher, while the teacher plays the facilitator. I won't presume to bore you with a diatribe on PBL. I will, however, paraphrase Nelson and conclude that adaptations in PBL continually occur in an effort to strengthen critical thinking and problem solving skills in learners, while maintaining core values by remaining student-centered, collaborative, reflective, multi-disciplinary, and reflective (99). The transfer of knowledge across these new pedagogical highways can no longer be fully explained by Richards' traditional Rhetorical Triangle, but must be refocused within the ideology of Bob Johnson and an Expanded Rhetorical Triangle. [Brandt suddenly feels a needle-like sensation in the head as Kemp stabs his student's Voodoo doll repeatedly]. It is within an expanded analysis that we can better appreciate the user's needs and the additional dimensions of 'modality' and 'location.'

It is at this juncture that my newer work with tablet-based mobile medicine dissects the older PBL methodology. Collaborative learning can now be performed, facilitated, and analyzed between colleagues on-the-go and on different continents using affordable and ubiquitous technology. Of course this is a mere trailer for a more detailed movie yet to come (I thought Joe would enjoy the reference!). More detailed remarks and descriptions will be presented Monday in my formal proposal.--RB