How do groups function in PBL?

Purpose of this Site

What is PBL?

Why PBL?

Theory
Research

PBL in the classroom

Group Dynamics

Individual Roles

Role of instructor

How to do PBL

Example Problems

Resources

Schools using PBL

PBL at Stanford

PBL Organizations

Ways to learn PBL

Teams are responsible for scheduling their own activities and deciding how to use their time to solve the problem and master the learning objectives.

Depending on the version of PBL, the teams have more or less responsibilty for determining learning issues and locating resource materials required to solve the problem.

Groups usually consist of 5 to 7 students. Each member of the group maintains a particular role throughout the duration of the project. The four possible roles are:

1. project leader - proposes meeting agendas, suggests division of labor, and develops the overall project plan.
2. facilitator - describes the process to be followed during the steps of the project plan, determines appropriate time to proceed in plan, and suggests adjustments to the plan as needed.
3. recorder - takes group notes of each meeting.
4. team member - takes individual notes, participates in discussion, and reviews resource materials.

Other PBL models include a mentor or tutor in the group. This is often a faculty member, but another student sometimes functions in this role. Research is mixed as to the domain-specific expertise required of the mentor. It is unclear whether subject expertise is necessary in order to be an effective tutor.

Organization of teams

Vertically organized teams: project leader makes crucial decisions are made if team is unable to reach a consensus.

Horizontally organized teams: crucial decisions are made by
majority vote.

From Bridges, Edwin M., Problem Based Learning for Administrators, 1992.

The individual plays an important role in PBL. This is outlined on the next page.