A Pilot Study of Problem Formulation and Resolution in an Online Problem-based Learning Course
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.19173/irrodl.v7i3.248Keywords:
Online learning, problem-based learning, problem-solving, Constructivism, instructional design, content analysisAbstract
This paper discusses an exploratory study to investigate the existence, and nature, of student problem formulation and resolution processes in an undergraduate online Problem-Based Learning (PBL) course in Agricultural Sciences. We report on the use of a content analysis instrument developed to measure problem formulation and resolution (PFR) processes in online asynchronous discussions (Murphy, 2004a, 2004b) to analyze students' text-based, online discussions. The results offer evidence that students do engage in problem formulation and resolution and that these processes appear to be consistent with the PBL process carried out in this course. However, the nature of the PBL pedagogy, at least in this instructional context, ties the PBL problems to be solved tightly to a marked assignment structure and, therefore, appears to restrict the PFR process in its early and late stages.Published
2006-12-20
How to Cite
Kenny, R., Bullen, M., & Loftus, J. (2006). A Pilot Study of Problem Formulation and Resolution in an Online Problem-based Learning Course. The International Review of Research in Open and Distributed Learning, 7(3). https://doi.org/10.19173/irrodl.v7i3.248
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Section
Research Articles
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