Positive Learning Outcomes Through Problem-Based Learning

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Positive Learning Outcomes Through Problem-Based
Learning

• Willie Yip
• Department of Computing

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Agenda

• The challenges to IT education and their
  solutions
• The adopted PBL strategy
• Learning outcomes
• Views of Students
• Reflection on the project
• Conclusion

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The challenges to IT education

• Challenge 1
• Rapid technological development in the IT-
  difficult to cover all relevant knowledge.
• New technology comes and goes obsolete easily.
• Curricula are over-full - high workloads for both
  teacher(s) and students.
• Solutions
• Adopt the PBL approach with good problem cases
• (reflect common and contemporary issues).
• Enables students to develop self-learning
  attitude, research capability and have
  breadth and depth of professional knowledge.

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The challenges to IT education

• Challenge 2
• Learning state-of-art knowledge may not be
  sufficient.
• Students need analytical, creative thinking and
  life-learning skills Skills for ill-defined
  problems.
• Students need to be equipped to be lifelong
  learners and able to adapt to technological
  change.
• Solutions
• Well-structured problems - develop knowledge
  acquisition and train specific skills.
• Ill-structured problems - develop critical
  thinking, creativity and problem-solving skills.
• Practise collaborative learning. Provide timely
  feedback good work is displayed.

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The challenges to IT education

• Challenge 3
• The competencies and knowledge are required to be
  identified in the profession. Strategies need to
  be devised to teach these competencies.
• Solutions
• The basic generic skills are analytical,
  problem-solving, creative thinking, teamwork,
  technical, leadership, and communication skills.
• A learning and teaching environment needs to be
  established. Assessments need to be designed for
  these skills and students be aware of
  contemporary issues in the profession.

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The challenges to IT education

• Challenge 4
• There is a need for lifelong learning and
  continuing professional development as the IT
  profession demands.
• Solutions
• Students should be taught to become active
  learners - learn how to acquire information.
• They develop collaborative learning experience,
  acquire the habit of raising questions for
  discussion.
• Encouraged students to develop research skills
  and self-learning ability, and to learn beyond
  the classroom.

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The challenges to IT education

• Challenge 5
• Information technology is the cause of these
  challenges, as it is the major factor in driving
  the pace of technological development and the
  knowledge explosion.
• Solutions
• Students need to use the potential of the
  Internet for information resources. They have the
  ability to employ efficient strategies to find
  relevant information and be able to understand
  and use the collected information. Students use
  IT for system project development.

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The challenges to IT education

• Challenge 6
• Relating theory to practice has always been
  problematic, and integrating the theory and
  professional practice components is essential.
  Students need to know how to apply theory to
  practice in problem solving.
• Solutions
• Real-life problem cases and application projects
  are offered, such that students are motivated to
  apply theory to practical situations. They learn
  the problem-solving process through hands-on
  experience.

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The adopted PBL strategy

• PBL strategy was applied to the Higher Diploma in
  Information Systems programme
• Students work in teams of 5-6
• 4 subjects are integrated for Information System
  Development
• The various stages of PBL are to be supported by
  technology tools
• Students gained some PBL experience in year-1
• Use real-life application problems offered by the
  SAO to integrate three subjects in year-2
• Moving from PBL to Action Project Learning

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Problem-based learning processes (Hybrid
approach) supported by IT

• Teaching learning resources are available on
  the Web
• Problem case - common systems development
  problems
• Students work in teams and use the Web in
• Problem analysis
• Identification of areas of learning
• Project planning
• Each student undertakes independent and
  small-group learning
• The progress of the students can be monitored and
  feedback is given via the Web
• Each group presents its finding through report
  and presentation
• The good work is displayed on the Web for
  Reflection

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Generic skills development
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IT support for Problem-Based Learning
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Learning Outcomes
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Comparison with the Faculty of Engineering
  The statistical results indicate a positive
learning outcome when compared with past
engineering graduates. The results show better
outcomes, including learning outcomes, critical
thinking, creative thinking, communication
skills, interpersonal skills, and
problem-solving.
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Comparison with the PolyU
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Students view on PBL APL
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Views of students

• Heavy workload No experience skills
• Value PBL experience teamwork
• The Web has information resources
• Easy online work submission
• Private area for group discussion
• Posting board to motivate their learning
• Leadership skills are important
• Learn project planning monitoring

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Successes Found

• Motivating students to perform better
• Relating theory to practice
• Enhanced critical thinking
• Enhanced analytical skills
• Enhanced communication skills
• Foster teamwork
• Better information search skills
• Better learning outcomes
• Enhanced tutorial participation

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Things did not work well

• Even though teaching materials are on the Web,
  students do not prepare for lectures
• Single subject in the entire programme to
  introduce PBL
• Too many problem cases
• Workload cannot be reduced to achieve the desired
  quality
• Current SFQ does not measure teaching quality for
  PolyU learning and teaching initiatives
• Limited resources

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Reflection

• PBL should be introduced in semester 1 year-1
• Subject appropriateness for PBL (development of
  generic skills)
• Subjects integration through problem cases
• Resources for Web site maintenance and supporting
  tools
• Need a team of teachers willing to work together
•  

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Conclusion

• Students benefit from PBL with IT support through
  the integration of several subjects
• Both problem cases and real-life projects
  provided better learning outcome
• Students have been motivated to learn better by
  posting their good work (reports presentations)
• Students learning activities have been found to
  be higher
• Hard work for both teachers and students