Background
Problem Based Learning (PBL) is employed as a teaching and learning technique in a range of disciplines at the University of Birmingham. There is emerging evidence from recent research to demonstrate that with recent developments in technology, the principles of PBL can now be adapted for use within the virtual learning environment (VLE). With a reported increase in the numbers of students undertaking learning on a part-time basis at the University of Birmingham, such developments can potentially accommodate the more flexible learning needs of these students. Further, they could be used to complement, and/or reinforce other delivery methods (including face to face teaching), for example, where students are required to spend extended periods of time on placement.
Despite a wealth of subject specific resources relating to PBL, there is to date no generic resource for staff employed in Higher Education to support the development of PBL activities within the virtual learning environment. A recently awarded University of Birmingham Teaching Fellowship will be used to develop such a resource through funding a research project to run from October 2005 - 2006.
The proposed outcomes of the project are:
- the development of an interactive online resource in the form of a ‘Virtual Teaching and Learning Centre’ for staff seeking guidance and information about the possibilities that online PBL affords;
- a bank of reusable resources which can be accessed and utilised by staff in the construction of their own materials;
- dissemination of good practice to staff at the University of Birmingham.
Timeframe of Project (Indicative timeline and stages of the work)
The Project commenced in October 2005, and runs for a period of 12 months. The broad phases of the research are outlined below:
Phase 1 - Months 1-3
- Review of literature and existing initiatives both locally and nationally, to determine resources that have been developed to date and their relevance to the project.
- Semi-structured interviews with up to 10 professionals at UoB and other academic institutions, to broaden knowledge base in relation to PBL, and identify key factors that can be linked with effective practice in the use of PBL within a range of professional development programmes. To examine how these key factors can be applied in developing on-line resources for students studying at a distance.
- Develop Project website and bulletin board (access restricted to members of Project Team, Focus Group and Steering Committee).
- Establish ‘Project Focus Group’. The Focus Group will consist of representatives from members of staff in a range of disciplines at the University with interest in PBL and/or online learning. Members of Focus Group to provide input to design, development and evaluation of selected pilot materials as part of iterative research cycle.
- Meeting 1 of Project Focus Group.
- Establish Project Steering Committee.
- Meeting 1 of Project Steering Committee
Phase 2 - Months 4 - 9
- Design and develop first set of pilot learning resources, including structure and format of virtual ‘Centre’.
- Evaluation and feedback from members of Project Focus Group to establish appropriate content, style and format of resources within an iterative cycle of research. It is planned that feedback from members of the Focus Group will be collected through use of an online questionnaire, drawing upon a protocol developed as part of a recent research project at the School of Education. Opportunities for further face-to-face meetings will be offered if required.
- Meeting 2 of Project Steering Committee.
Phase 3 - Months 9 - 10
- Based on feedback from Phase 2 refine and further development of resources.
- Selected members of Project Focus Group from different subject areas to trial the resources within their own course of study (eg drawing on the resources to develop and run a short online PBL component for groups of students on their course).
- Evaluation and feedback from members of Project Focus Group as part of iterative cycle of research.
Phase 4 - Months 10 – 12
- Dissemination of findings as detailed above.
- To explore further research potential of project and commercial possibilities of marketing the product for use in HE settings outside of UoB.
- Meeting 3 of Project Steering Committee.
Project Focus Group
A Project Focus Group has been set up to provide input to the design, development and evaluation of pilot materials as part of an iterative cycle of research. The Project Focus Group consists of members from a number of disciplines at the University of Birmingham with an interest in PBL and/or online learning. If you are interested in joining this group please contact the Project Coordinator.
Project Steering Committee
The Project Steering Committee has been drawn from invited staff at the University of Birmingham with an interest in PBL and/or online learning and teaching within Higher Education. The main role of the Committee will be to:
- provide steer to the project in developing an on-line teaching and learning resource;
- evaluate the work of the project team against the planned timeframe and project outcomes.
Project Team
Dr. Mike McLinden
Dr Steve McCall
Danielle Hinton
Annette Weston
