“Problem Based Learning is the basic human learning process that allowed primitive man to survive in his environment.’’ – Barrows and Tamblyn
Today the role of a teacher, from being ‘sage on the stage’ has shifted to ‘guide on the side’, as students take more responsibility for their own learning.Problem Based Learning- by the very term itself may seem to be a novel concept, but the fact of the matter is, that we humans have been walking this path ever since time immemorial, hence, it is a way of life, which has enabled us to traverse not only so far but also till the time creation exists and humans survive, this form of learning will remain an integral and indispensable part of our growth.
What is Problem Based Learning in simple words?
It is a student-centred approach in which students learn about a subject by working in groups to solve an open-ended problem. Now, this problem is what drives the motivation and the learning. Rather than teaching relevant material and subsequently having students apply the knowledge to solve problems, the problem is examined and defined first. Further on, the students must-
- Explore what they already know about the underlying issues related to it
- Determine what they need to learn and where they can acquire the information and tools necessary to solve the problem
- Evaluate possible ways to solve the problem
- Solve the problem
- Report on their findings.
EXPERIMENTS –
Top Two Projects Patented by the StudentsOf SAJS, Kanpur-
- ENERGY SAVING CHAIR – Sarthak Srivastava of Class IX along with his team mates designed an Energy Saving Chair based on the concept of Electromagnetic Induction i.e. converting mechanical energy to electrical energy.
- SOLAR GRASS CUTTER– Kushagra Dhingra of Class XI invented a Solar Grass Cutter which converts solar energy to electrical energy.
MAJOR BENEFITS-
- Promotes the development of critical thinking skills, problem-solving abilities, and communication skills.
- Fosters student-centred learning
- Upholds lifelong learning
- Prominence on comprehension not facts
- Constructive approach
- Reinforces interpersonal skills and teamwork
- Self- motivated attitude
- Enriches the teacher-student relationship.
Hence, Problem Based Learning, with its manifold blessings, opens a window to a range of diverse opportunities, where children become more observant and empathetic towards the real-world problems, and in the process develop in them skill sets, which prepare them better for life.
Written by – Ms. Rinku Pandey
PGT English
Seth Anandram Jaipuria School Kanpur.