Problem-Based Learning and Adult Education

Problem-Based Learning
Upon reflecting on how to create a meaningful curriculum and what meaningful learning experiences look like, I noticed an emerging trend. That trend was the inclusion of problem-based learning. Now more than ever in the K-12 curriculum we hear that term. Play-based learning is also an educational buzzword. What is problem-based learning?

Adult Education and Problem-Based Learning
Last semester I was enrolled in a course called Constructing Knowledge. This course was unlike any course I had ever experienced in my MEd program. Speaking very honestly, it was unlike anything I had ever really experienced. Period. During this course, the facilitator threw us into the deep end of problem-based learning. He would give us some ideas to play with. To explore. But we were given a lot of freedom. A freedom that felt so foreign to most of us. We were used to direction and structure. We were used to working for marks and not the process of enjoying the journey. We couldn't relate to the process of learning when it felt so present. We had become so accustomed to be passive is our own learning. Our journey was typically wholly shaped by someone or something else.

The Struggle is Real
Throughout the course we were challenged to work in groups and explore topics that interested us with very loose limitations and structure. It felt like a struggle. That kind of freedom seemed like such a burden. Why was this so difficult?

As adult learners we should be willing to adapt. Unfortunately, through years of being a student we accept certain norms. We accept a passive role. We don't see ourselves as co-creators. Problem-based learning forces the learner to be active. To explore and participate. The main focus is the journey...not the destination. We tend to get caught up with the destination which is the mark when really how we got there, regardless of the number or letter, is the important part. The successes. The failures. The connections and lessons learned.

How to Integrate Tech to make PBL Seamless 
When introducing learners into a PBL environment for the first time, it can be helpful to use various tech-tools in order to help them acclimatize to the new learning process. It is also important to use tools that learners are familiar with or are easy to navigate. Tools that incorporate gamification can also make the process easier for students to engage with new information. For example, if students use Kahoot to teach a new concept or idea after presenting information, it will ensure that a majority of the students engage with the material in a meaningful way. Additionally, the gaming aspect makes the process more accessible and free of pressure. Kahoot is also easy to use and straightforward making the transaction of information seamless.