For additional information on Problem-based instruction, please visit our Teaching Strategies page of the MNSU Instructional Design Services.  In order to implement a problem-based instruction lesson in your classroom, there are a few planning steps to consider.  Fill in the blanks with your lesson-specific information in order to plan your problem-based lesson.

1. Develop clear and measurable learning objectives (including cognitive and behavioral objectives) – based on Bloom’s Taxonomy

• Students will be able to {verb} {noun}.
• Students will be able to {verb} {noun}.
• Students will be able to {verb} {noun}.

Ex: Students will demonstrate the methods of organismal biologists, including observation, phylogenetics, experimentation, and form/function studies.

2. Identify the learning resources students will need to access at home before coming to class.  These resources are generally what you would normally do in a traditional lecture format class (lecture, videos, etc)

• Reading materials
• Watch instructional video xxx (name of the video) for xx minutes http://www…
• Exercise on worksheets, if any
• Suggest other learning resources

Ex:  Before class on Thursday, please watch instructional video #1.

Learning Resources my lesson will include:

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Technology Resources I will need to create the pre-class learning resources:

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3. Prepare the real-world, contextual problem that students will use to explore the content.  You can either create a problem or select one from an existing problem bank.  Follow the guidelines below for both selecting and creating a problem.

Garner’s (2010) suggested PBL problem elements:

• The topic of concern captures the attention and interest of participating students.
• Students are required to make judgments and decisions by analyzing a variety of options in choosing their best course of action.
• The proposed problem has a level of complexity that involves all team members in the data gathering and decision-making phases.
• Questions are open-ended and invite group members to participate.
• There is a direct connection between the PBL scenario and course learning outcomes.

Students should be able to answer the following four questions when working towards a problem solution:

• What do I know (about the problem or issue)
• What do I need to know to solve it?
• How do I get that information?
• How do I apply that information to determine a solution?

You can also use created problems from resources like the University of Delaware’s PBL Clearninghouse

My problem:

Ex: (From A Principles of Organismal Biology course)

200,000 people applied to be a part of the Mars colonization project. The 40 candidates that were selected have asked you, a biologist, to describe for them what plant or animal life might exist on Mars or what life might exist on Mars eventually through colonization, adaptation, and mutation. Based on your knowledge of Earth biology, what might a Mars plant or animal look like? How could you prepare the colonist for creatures or life they might encounter?

4. Define the procedures for in-Class problem analysis that your students will be completing. Let students know if they need to bring or prepare anything before class.   The idea is to create an active learning environment where students interact with the content and the instructor acts as a guide.   Activities should scaffold the students into the problem solution.

• Establish ground rules for participation
• Assign discussion groups or roles in the problem-solving process
• Students define facts and significant information surrounding the problem
• Pose challenging questions to further discussion
• Students define objectives and possible solutions

Activities students will complete analyzing the problem:

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Technology Resources my students will need to complete the analysis:

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Ex: Create a graphic organizer of your choice (graphic, infographic, flyer, blog, etc) that illustrates the lineages of life. Categorize them by one of the following: their biodiversity, anatomy, physiology, development, behavior, biogeography, fossil record, or ecology.  Then hypothesize how the lineage might be extended to include extraterrestrial life and add those branches to your organizer.

5. Identify any post-analysis activities that your students will be completing.

• Reflection
• Shift context – students see problem or solution from another point of view
• Follow up discussion
• Shift time frame – “what’s next?”, “How could this situation be different?”

Activities students will complete post-analysis:

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Technology Resources my students will need to complete the post-analysis activities:

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Ex: Write a counterargument to your problem solution.  Take the side of those who might not agree with your conclusions.  What alternatives or arguments against your theories exist?

6. Create the assessments that you will use for determining students’ mastery of the learning objectives.

• Formative/Summative
• Challenging questions
• Interactive quizzes
• Problem solution presentations

Ex: Using what you have learned in this class, present and describe a lifeform colonist might encounter in the Martian environment. Visuals, such as a drawing, would be useful to help the colonists identify possible lifeforms. Use the scientific method to present your lifeform hypothesis.

Assessment(s) I will use in my problem-based lesson:

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Technology Resources my students will need to complete the assessment(s):

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7. Verify that your assessments and activities align to the learning objectives.  Do they allow your students to demonstrate that they have achieved the learning objectives?