Problem+Based+Learning+(PBL)

=== Problem based learning (PBL) is an extremely effective teaching tool that can be used to engage students in content while learning problem-solving skills. The purpose of this series of assignments is to help you practice developing effective problem based learning activities for your classroom. ===

 As an introduction to Problem Based Learning, as well as the overall structure of a web quest, please go to What is Problem Based Learning? and complete the activity described. When you are done, you should be able to ...

1. Describe the characteristics of a Problem Based Learning lesson. 2. Describe the purpose and structure of a web quest. 3. Analyze different web quests to determine if they are true PBL lessons or not.

Problem Based Learning Part 2:
==== For this assignment, you are to design your own Problem Based Learning activity and publish it in the form of a web quest. You should post the link to your web quest, along with a description of the activity and the concepts covered, under the student work section below.====

==== The rubric being used to assess this assignment is has two parts. The first part counts towards your course grade; the second part is being used by your instructor to assess how well your PBL lesson meets NCATE standards. ====

 Web Quest Templates: [] []

Student Work:
@http://questgarden.com/103/56/0/100512115332/ Swetha Singari- This Problem Based learning activity deals with the recent oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. It allows students to learn about oil spills, how they occur, assess the impact of it in various perspectives on people, animals and economy.

==[] Tim Edison - I have developed a Problem Based Learning activity that is designed for students to explore the world of insects, disease transmission and environmental impacts of decision making. Students are encourage to use scientific inquiry as a way to solve the problem in Ouch, I think something bit me!==

[] Mitch Staroscik - My Problem Based Learning activity allows students to research and explore possible consequences of human interference with a river. They must comb through data, interviews, and primary literature in order to determine the cause of declining population richness in the Colorado River.

http://terraformingmarspbl.wikispaces.com/ Jennifer Olin - This problem based learning activity incorporates earth/space science, biology, and chemistry. It involves students performing research about biological, chemical, and geological components of Mars, comparing those components to earth, and developing a plan to terraform Mars into an earth-like planet. They will also be forming an opinion on whether they believe a project like this should be done. Forming this opinion requires them to look at the ethics of terraforming. They will then present their plan and opinion to the class.

@http://questgarden.com/102/62/9/100428130656/ Ashley Morgan- This PBL allows students to research a real-life situation in which a city wants to draw water from a new water source, however by doing this some environmental and habitat problems will arise. It will be the students' job to research the pros and cons of drawing water from this new water source and convincing the mayor (me) of the city to either say yes to the new water source or no. I developed this lesson because there was talk in my town about a new water source, but there were some issues that were standing in the way of allowing it to go thorough. I thought this would be a great idea to base my PBL assignment off of.

http://spring2010pblwebquest.wikispaces.com/ Sam Boyer - This PBL asks students to provide a recommendation to school board members and community leaders on whether they should continue with a development project that involves building new athletic facilities for the school. Students take on the role of an ecologist, geologist, and civil engineer to decide what impacts the development project will have on the local ecosystem. Their recommendation is to be based on their research. The final product of the assignment is a presentation of their research findings and final recommendation to school and community leaders.

In this PBL activity, the students are assigned with the task of picking an animal for a government project and creating a habitat for the animal at their local zoo, where they work. There are three roles, Zoologist, Nutritionist, and Ecologist. The students are required to do research to determine all of the animal's needs and then create a presentation to give to the manager of the zoo to prove they are ready to take on the animal.
 * Matt Tunno - Endangered Species PBL** http://endangeredspeciespbl.wikispaces.com/

This PBL activity asks students to provide solutions to the ill-structured problem of light pollution. Students will be confronted with the biological, astronomical, and physical impacts of light pollution. They will assess the affect of light pollution on flora and fauna, as well as star gazing. Students will also design a new lighting fixture that minimizes energy loss caused by light escaping upwards. They will research alternatives to keeping areas lit up while they are not in use by humans and seek ways to minimize deleterious affects to flora and especially fauna. http://turn-out-that-light.wikispaces.com/
 * Alexander Weiss - Turn Out That Light!**

This PBL utilizes the sciences of chemistry, medical terminology, anatomy and biology and asks students to diagnose their patients as well as invent their own patient to diagnose and treat. it is a fun way to review at the end of a semester and reviews quite a bit of terminology as well as other important aspects of science. It should also be fun for the students who are thinking about being a medical professional. http://biologywebquest.wikispaces.com/
 * Jennifer Nichols: Trauma ad diagnosis in the ER**

Alexander Chapman- Fuel Now or Water Later- Ethanol Alexander Chapman- I have developed a Problem Based Learning assignment that was designed to have the students explore the alternative fuels, such as Ethanol. Students will explore the benefits and drawbacks of building an Ethanol plant both to the industrial and environmental world. The students will draw their own opinions and debate if the plant should be built. @http://questgarden.com/102/92/5/100502132918/

Curt Dedic
I have developed this Problem Based Learning assignment to have students explore marine life. 25% of the earth biodiversity lies in coral reefs and they are important to marine life. This assignment will have students set up an environment in which they construct and have to make all the adjustments so that the environment will be self-sustaining. This will make students learn how to make a self-sustaining habitat that is balanced. This will teach students how closely connected organisms are with their environments. http://spring2010swtankwebquest.wikispaces.com/7.+Teacher+Page

Joe Armour - Renewable Energy I have developed a problem based learning assignment in which students will explore and research 3 kinds of renewable energy: Wind, Solar, and Biofuels. Students will be asked to choose 1 source of energy to present to "city council" to help solve the crisis of diminishing fossil fuels. The students will work in groups and have specific roles to come up with the best, most viable solution to the problem. Students will be responsible for a poster and powerpoint presentation. []

Dave Blackburn I have developed a PBL in which students will explore the problem at Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie. In Prairie Creek, there has been a great increase of mortality rate green sunfish, and each team of students must research possible causes and solutions to the problem. At the end each group must also present to the class their findings using a visual aid, and try to convince them that their course of action is the way to go.

http://mntp.wikispaces.com/

Lori Livas: http://whowillsurvive.wikispaces.com/ This webquest involves the students using the roles of meteorologist, zoologist, and biologist, in order to develop an action plan to save animals from certain states. The students need to research in order to find sufficient evidence to support their decisions and form their action plan. The students will get extra credit if they persuade the head scientist (the teacher) that their action plan is the way to go.

Dipti Hattangady: [] This webquest involves students working in teams in the form of an organisation 'Help is here' to help the country of Iceland recover from its recent volcanic eruption. Each student in the team is assigned a specific role such as Chief of medicine, chief of statistics etc and the team is required to present their plan of action to the Icelandic President.

Jenny Richardson @http://questgarden.com/103/00/1/100503133006/ "Too Much Garbage" engages students by informing them that their city landfill has filled up and they must devise a new plan for their garbage. They will work in teams of an environmental scientist, ecologist, and a chemist. They will research, write a report with an in-depth solution, and present it to the class. The class will vote as citizens of this city for the plan that they think will work best.