Saturday, December 03, 2005

Handbook of Enquiry and Problem-Based Learning This online volume by the Centre of Excellence in Learning and Teaching, National University of Ireland in Galway, contains valuable chapters about the theory and practice of enquiry- and problem-based learning. Instructors in all fields will find the handbook useful but I also believe the approach is valuable for self-guided learners--both students in colleges and universities and solo learners. Students who are stuck in traditional lecture-based programs are especially in need of some perspective on how they can enrich their own learning. Several of the chapters include excellent web links to additional EBL and PBL materials. ______JH (Thanks to Stephen Downes for this resource.) _________ "Enquiry-based Learning (EBL) is used here as a broad umbrella term to describe approaches to learning that are driven by a process of enquiry. The tutor establishes the task and supports or facilitates the process, but the students pursue their own lines of enquiry, draw on their existing knowledge and identify the consequent learning needs. They seek evidence to support their ideas and take responsibility for analysing and presenting this appropriately, either as part of a group or as an individual supported by others. They are thus engaged as partners in the learning process." "Problem-based Learning is seen as a set of approaches under the broader category of Enquiry-based Learning. One of the main defining characteristics of Problem-based Learning, which distinguishes it from some other forms of Enquiry-based Learning, is that the problem is presented to the students first at the start of the learning process, before other curriculum inputs. Another defining characteristic of PBL is that in PBL tutorials students define their own learning issues, what they need to research and learn to work on the problem and are responsible themselves for searching appropriate sources of information." ______ Handbook of Enquiry and Problem-based Learning: Irish Case Studies and International Perspectives , Centre of Excellence in learning and Teaching. This comprehensive volume composed of about twenty individual essays not only offers a good grounding in enguiry and problem based learning but looks at them in practice, as each essay contains numerous examples and case studies. If you are interested in either approach to teaching and learning, then this volume is a must-read. Nice to see the free download and Creative Commons license, too. [] [Tags:] [] [Stephen's Web ~ by Stephen Downes ~ OLDaily RSS 0.91] 9:52:02 AM    COMMENT []