What Is Problem Based Learning?

What is Problem Based Learning?

When one thinks of the typical classroom setting and curriculum, images of rows of students sitting in desks with a teacher at the front of the class dictating a lesson come to mind. The idea of the teacher disseminating information to students who then try to memorize it is the general structure of a class setting.

However, problem based learning turns the classroom into a much different setting. More interaction is involved, and much more student engagement is encouraged. In fact, there really is much less “teaching” from the teacher, and much more “student learning” with problem based learning.

Students at the Center of Learning

With problem based learning, the student is the focus of attention, rather than the lesson or the information. With “student-centred” learning, the students become much more engaged in their learning, and find their learning opportunities much more relevant. When students become more interested in what they are learning, they are much more likely to truly internalize and retain the information from their lessons.

What Does Problem Based Learning Look like in the Classroom?

Students involved in a problem based learning structure will be grouped with a small number of other students, who will then collaborate with each other in order to solve the task or problem presented to them. These “problems” are generally presented as a form of a case or challenge that will drive the students to come up with a solution. By learning in such a format, students learn how to think critically, solve problems, and work collaboratively with others.

The problems or projects are generally language based, but can include other elements of the curriculum including math, science, geography, history and social studies.  The teacher acts as a guide and facilitator, but the students must generate their own research, do the reasoning, solve the problem and make a presentation.

Students who are a part of PBL are being taught real world lessons and traits that will become valuable to them as they grow into adults and enter real world situations. The tools they take with them from their PBL projects will prove to be very useful later in life.

PBLSuperstore.com For All your PBL Needs

PBLSuperstore.com is an online resource for information, resources and ready-made units that can be immediately downloaded and used in the classroom setting. Teachers and home schooling parents alike can use these units to help engage their students and children for a truly unique and exciting learning environment.  The units are unique to the PBL Superstore and were specially designed for grades K-10 in the North American curriculum.

Visit PBLSuperstore.com today for all your PBL needs!

Project Based Learning – Science in the Classroom

Project Based Learning – Science Lessons

Project based learning dates back to Aristotle, but has been used in Canadian and American schools increasingly over the past 50 years. Teachers and students have benefited from project based learning since the 1960′s, when colleagues from McMaster University began developing a unique approach to student engagement in the classroom. Through teacher-facilitated assistance, students were able to learn about various topics and subjects through a much more stimulating and engaging method of learning. With student learning as the focus, project based learning can help students to develop skills that are highly useful later in life.

Project based learning has multiple uses – it can be used across all grade levels and across all subjects, including science. When introducing PBL, students are given projects to work on with a team of their peers.  They work collaboratively as they gather information to help them solve the problem they are assigned. As they dig deeper into the problem, they will eventually arrive at a solution, and thus develop their critical thinking and problem solving skills, followed by presentation skills.

Taking a project-based approach to science can make an often complicated and difficult subject highly enjoyable for all students involved. Fun science-based activities can be used in the science classroom to help students connect to the subject matter and promote a higher level of understanding of various science-based topics.

Science fair projects have always been a popular activity in science classes, which is a variation of project based learning activity. Students involved in these types of projects are given the opportunity to work with others to conduct research on a specific topic, solve scientific problems, and share what they found and learned throughout their investigation.

Project based learning units may also include science components and will allow students to:

• Develop a deeper understanding of  the topic through hands-on activities
• With guidance, do their own research and brainstorming
• Use the  platform to analyze the information they collect and make interesting discoveries
• Use critical thinking skills to solve the problem
• Have the chance to present their findings with their peers

As with any other project based learning assignment, students are able to develop critical thinking and problem solving skills that will prove to be invaluable as they enter real life scenarios.  PBL is the bridge between classroom learning and real life.

For teachers interested in bringing project based learning to their classrooms, the PBLSuperstore.com is the go-to- place for all PBL units. Our units are designed to be easily implemented into any classroom, and come with easy-to-understand instructions and support to make the implementation process go smoothly. Visit PBLSupertore.com for all your PBL needs and science project learning units!

How PBL Is Changing Education

How Project Based Learning Units are Changing the Way Our Students Are Taught

Many educational instructors firmly believe that what once worked in the classroom a decade ago - or longer - doesn't necessarily have the same effect on the learning environment in today's classroom. Times have changed, and researchers are finding the contemporary educational institutions and students require something added to the classroom in order to make their educational experience more relevant to today's world.

Why Should Things Change?

Students should no longer be required to only take notes and memorize a certain amount of information provided during a learning session. Such almost 'mindless' learning doesn't necessarily prepare them for post-graduation responsibilities, nor does it adequately prepare them for real-world work and situations. This is why project based learning is used more frequently as a resource for teaching our kids valuable information and lessons, as well as to help better prepare them for life after high school as functioning adults in a work environment.

Why PBL?

Although project based and problem based learning has been around since the time of Aristotle, modern project based learning came about in the 1960's by a team of colleagues in medical school at McMaster University. These colleagues were observing how frustrated medical students were during their first few years of study, and how they really weren't engaged in their work. In order to change the usual method of learning, project based learning was introduced to help these students become much more interested, engaged, and involved in their projects.

Students involved in project based learning were placed in small groups where their collaborative and team efforts require them to come up with a solution to the problem they were assigned. This type of platform provided students with the opportunity to work cooperatively as a team, practice their critical thinking skills, and essentially become problem solvers.

These valuable skills are vital in the real world.

Students in elementary and secondary schools can also benefit greatly with PBL in the classroom in many ways, including developing:

- High-level communication skills
- Information retrieval skills
- Idea generation - Imagination - Brain Storming
- Critical thinking skills
- The ability to apply new information
- The ability to use information gathered to arrive at a solution to the problem
- Collaboration skills
- Presentation experience

How Teachers Are Affected by PBL

For teachers, no longer are they simply dictators of information to the students, but facilitators and guides. No longer are they simply standing in front of the classroom hoping that at least some of the students are paying attention. With the advent of project based learning units, teachers take on a role as mentors and facilitators, which allows them to suggest resources, direct progress and watch progress. As teachers see their students become more engaged and interested in their work, their jobs become that much more rewarding.


For teachers interested in learning more about project based learning, they can visit the PBL Superstore and learn more about the history, benefits and results. PBL is also ideal for homeschooled students. Since preparing, testing and grading projects can be overwhelming; teachers may want to access ready-made units that they can implement into their classroom right away. The PBL Superstore has ready to download projects for grades K-10. Research shows that introducing project based learning sparks engagement in students, and many schools have now made PBL a core part of the curriculum.

PBL – Problem Based Learning For the Innovative Educational Platform

Shifting the Focus to the Student’s Learning Experience

The traditional educational system is centrally focused on a particular curriculum that all students involved in the school participate in. Generally speaking, school curriculums are revolved around teachers who are required to teach specific subjects, with specific subject matter for students to memorize and learn.

Why Use PBL- Problem Based Learning?

Instead of simply scratching the surface with conventional learning and teaching methods, with students essentially just taking notes on subject matter after which they are tested on the information they retain through these particular lessons, project based learning works somewhat differently. For many students, conventional teaching and learning methods aren’t engaging, as the information initially learned is quickly lost shortly afterwards.

With problem based learning, students are required to take an active role while trying to solve a problem. This is facilitated through assigning a project of interest, in which students work collaboratively with other peers in order to complete the project and make a presentation.


The difference with this type of student learning is that problem solving and critical thinking skills are engaged and developed. Rather than teaching students lessons that very theoretical, problem based learning teaches students skills that are necessary to be successful in life as an adult. PBL bridges the gap between the classroom and real life and provides a guideline for students to develop their problem solving skills.

The projects that are worked on as a student group allow each participant to develop a deep understanding and interest in their work, which gives them a sense of pride in what they are accomplishing. When a student has a greater interest and understanding in their work, they are more likely to retain that information long after the project is completed in school.  Studies show that students doing PBL projects are more engaged, motivated and involved.

In order to utilize PBL- problem based learning in the classroom, teachers need the support of highly refined and outlined units that are developed specifically by experts in the industry. PBLSuperstore.com has a wide array of units that are ready for use for grades K-10 for a unique and advanced learning experience!

For more information on what project based learning is and how it can be highly useful in your classroom, visit www.PBLSuperstore.com today, and get access to ready-to-use, quality learning units for your educational setting.