Toward the Successful Implementation of Problem-Based Learning at the University Level

The knowledge-based society increasingly demands professionals possessing essential knowledge, and the ability to use this knowledge effectively in their work settings. In response to the requirement for these professionals, PBL is a promising educational method. This paper suggests an educational development program for faculty to implement problem-based learning(PBL). To implement PBL at the higher educational level, there is a need for a systemic approach. First, a well-designed educational plan for PBL is necessary. Before implementing PBL, both the instructor and the students should be prepared. Faculty members should be well informed on the characteristics of PBL, effective tutoring or facilitation skills, and how to design problems reflecting features of their own academic subject areas. Students also have to know the characteristics of PBL. Both of these groups need to be trained through workshops rather than through lectures. Second, a phase of design and implementation of PBL is necessary. PBL methods may seem to be intuitive and even unstructured because a problem is, in nature, unstructured and authentic. However, a closer look at PBL reveals that it is complex, carefully designed, and highly structured activity. Therefore, if it is poorly and incompletely designed, PBL can be a frustrating and exhausting experience for students and faculty members. Well-designed PBL can be an exhilarating and rewarding experience for both of them. Third, a phase of sharing PBL experiences is important: faculty members who have implemented PBL are required to share their experiences to help others enhance tutoring skills, and acquire practical information of students, contents, and what happened during PBL, and to develop PBL model in a specific domain. Based on the developed PBL model in a specific domain, PBL can be expanded and stabilized at the university level.